Penguins

Final Pittsburgh flurry notwithstanding, for Canadiens fans the last game of the 2007-'08 hockey season was déja vu all over again.

From nhl.com

The best team in hockey won the Stanley Cup.

The gutsiest team in hockey made it close.

And Pittsburgh, battling back from a 3-1 deficit late in the third period, came within inches of sending Game 6 into OT.

So a series that started slowly turned into a classic. And the skill of both teams produced some beautiful hockey.

Henrik Zetterberg – the best two-way player in hockey – won the Conn Smythe Trophy.

The whole series was a triumph for smart, clean, thinking-person's hockey. 

More from nhl.com

At least for Game 6 tomorrow night, the Penguins have an edge.

Actually, two edges.

From nhl.com:

From nhl.com:

THE SKINNY

Jordan Staal wins a face-off against Dallas Drake in a pre-season game played at Joe Louis Arena on September 21, 2007. Wings win West | Pens win East

Both
these teams managed to finish at or near the top of the NHL standings
in 2007-08 despite injuries to key players. Detroit hit some bumps in
the road during the second half of the season without captain Nicklas Lidstrom and offensive defenseman Brian Rafalski, while Pittsburgh played a large chunk of its season without captain Sidney Crosby and No. 1 goalie Marc-Andre Fleury due to ankle injuries.

Several weeks into the playoff journey, two hockey-crazed cities will
duke it out through the two weeks to determine who will be the 2008
Stanley Cup champion. As a hockey fan, you truly couldn't ask for much
more than this.

Truth be told, this series pits Goliath vs. Goliath. Both teams possess superstar forwards, as Crosby is joined by Evgeni Malkin and Marian Hossa. On the opposite side of the ice, the Red Wings counter with phenomenal two-way forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk,
who combined for 189 points during the regular season and are finalists
for the Selke Trophy as the NHL's top defensive forward.

Both teams have also dominated their opponents in the postseason. The
Penguins stormed through the first three rounds, going undefeated at
Mellon Arena en route to a 12-2 record. They took a 3-0 series lead on
the Philadelphia Flyers
in the Eastern Conference Finals, lost Game 4 and then eliminated any
doubt with a 6-0 drubbing of their in-state rivals on home ice in Game
5 to advance to the final round.

Detroit also took a 3-0 series lead in the Western Conference Finals before dropping Games 4 and 5 to the Dallas Stars
-- their first two losses after a franchise-record nine-game winning
streak. But just like Pittsburgh, the Wings enjoyed a convincing win in
the clincher, coasting past the Stars 4-1 in Game 6 at Dallas' American
Airlines Center.

CRYSTAL BALL

Detroit will win if -- The
Red Wings skate with the Penguins. Unlike previous rounds, the
Penguins' skill level won't be miles ahead of their opponent. Detroit
must enter the series believing it can go toe-to-toe with Pittsburgh
and get the proper matchups against Crosby and Malkin, who will do
everything they can to keep goalie Chris Osgood busy. Detroit could help itself by finding a way to win at Mellon Arena -- something Ottawa, the New York Rangers
and Philadelphia were unable to accomplish in the first three rounds of
the Stanley Cup Playoffs. While the Red Wings have home-ice advantage
in this series, they'd certainly do themselves a service by picking up
a win or two in the Steel City.

Detroit will also be counting on All-Star netminder Chris Osgood – who replaced Dominik Hasek
as the go-to guy in the middle of Round 1 – to continue his solid play.
The 35-year-old allowed just nine goals in four games against Colorado.

Pittsburgh will win if -- Jordan Staal
continues to play an offensive role, which would take some pressure off
the shoulders of Crosby and Malkin. While Staal only scored 12 goals
during the regular season, the 19-year-old center has picked up his
offensive game considerably in the playoffs with six goals in 14 games.

Also, Marc-Andre Fleury
-- who has a 1.70 goals-against average this postseason -- must be as
reliable as he's been through the first three rounds. Fleury made a
couple of huge saves against the Flyers early in Game 5 before the
Penguins pulled away. Pittsburgh has clearly fed off the momentum its
goaltender has provided. Fleury has three shutouts this postseason.

SERIES SCHEDULE

Game 1: - May 24 @ Detroit 8 p.m. ET, VERSUS, CBC, RDS Game 2: May 26 @ Detroit 8 p.m. ET, VERSUS, CBC, RDS Game 3: May 28 @ Pittsburgh 8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS Game 4: May 31 @ Pittsburgh 8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS *Game 5: June 2 @ Detroit 8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS *Game 6: June 4 @ Pittsburgh 8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS *Game 7: June 7 @ Detroit 8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS * if necessary

FAST FACTS

Lidstrom * Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, who has played at least 15 playoff games in seven different playoff seasons, surpassed Steve Yzerman's franchise playoff record of 196 postseason games this season. * Detroit goalie Chris Osgood, who was 9-0 before losing Game 4 to the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference Finals, allowed more than two goals just twice during that winning streak. * Detroit defenseman Brian Rafalski, who played in the Stanley Cup Final three times with the New Jersey Devils, has been a minus player in just two of eight playoff seasons. Crosby * Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, who leads the team with 11 power-play points, is just third in average ice time among Penguins' forwards with 19:44 per game. * Penguins left wing Ryan Malone, who averaged 1.79 hits per game during the regular season, is averaging 4.43 hits per game in the Playoffs and is tied for the team lead with 62 in 14 postseason games. * Pittsburgh, which before this season had not won a playoff round since 2001, has allowed an average of just 1.86 goals against in this year's Playoffs.

X FACTORS Franzen Johan Franzen – Whether "The Mule" will be able to play remains to be seen, as concussion-like symptoms have forced him to miss the past five games. Should the 6-foot-3, 220-pound forward be cleared, he must make his presence felt in front of Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Franzen had 12 goals in 11 games before being forced to sit. Staal Jordan Staal – With so many players to choose from -- goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, defensemen Sergei Gonchar and Hal Gill -- Pittsburgh's best defensive forward still stands out. He leads the Pens' forwards in shorthanded minutes and centers the third line, which has proven to be a checking unit that can score. Staal alone has scored three goals in the past two games.

After 110 minutes of hockey, Petr Sykora sends the series back to Pittsburgh for Game 6.

Man of the Match: Marc-André Fleury, a Patrick Royesque 58 saves as Detroit had about a dozen chances to win the Cup.

 Some numbers from nhl.com for stats geeks to pore over while aiting for the puck to drop tonight:

Pertinent numbers from Detroit's 2-1 victory over Pittsburgh in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday night.

0 - Points by Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin
in the first four games of the series. Overall, he's had just two
points in his last eight games after getting 17 in his first 10. His
team-high five shots in Game 4 were one more than he managed in the
first three games combined.

1 - Games lost by Pittsburgh
in the playoffs when scoring first. The Penguins had been 11-0 when
scoring the first goal during the postseason.

1:26 -
Amount of time on Pittsburgh's two-man advantage in the third period.
It was the first 5-on-3 power play in the series. The Penguins couldn't
score.

2 - Seconds after Pascal Dupuis' penalty expired that Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom scored the Red Wings' first goal. Officially, the Wings were 0-for-3 on the power play and are 2-for-22 in the series.

3 - Penalties drawn by Pittsburgh's Adam Hall, who generated half of the Penguins' six power plays despite getting only 10:28 of ice time.

5
- One-goal victories for Detroit in the playoffs. The Wings are 5-3 in
one-goal games; Pittsburgh lost for the first time in four games that
were decided by a single goal.

6 - Goals scored in the
third period by the Red Wings in the first four games of the Stanley
Cup Final, compared to just one for the Penguins. Pittsburgh had
outscored its opponents 20-7 in the first three rounds of the playoffs.

7 - Hits credited to Detroit defenseman Brad Stuart, the most by any player on either side and 20 percent of the Wings' team total of 35, two more than Pittsburgh.

RED WINGS lead series 3-1 Sat May 24: Red Wings 4, Penguins 0 Game Highlights |  Photo Gallery Mon May 26: Red Wings 3, Penguins 0 Game Highlights |  Photo Gallery Wed May 28: Penguins 3, Red Wings 2 Game Highlights |  Photo Gallery Sat May 31: Red Wings 2, Penguins 1 Game Highlights |  Photo Gallery   Mon June 2: Penguins @ Red Wings 8:00pm ET - NBC, CBC, RDS *Wed June 4: Red Wings @ Penguins 8:00pm ET - NBC, CBC, RDS *Sat June 7: Penguins @ Red Wings 8:00pm ET - NBC, CBC, RDS * if necessary

d

8 - Consecutive Game 4s lost
at home by the Penguins. Pittsburgh's last Game 4 win at Mellon Arena
came when the Penguins beat Philadelphia in 1997 to stave off
elimination in a first-round series.

10 - Goals by Pittsburgh's Marian Hossa, who took the team lead when he scored a power-play goal in the first period.

11 - Power-play goals allowed by the Red Wings in this year's playoffs, including one each in Games 3 and 4 of the Final.

12
- Number of Pittsburgh players who blocked at least one shot. In all,
the Penguins blocked 21 shot attempts by the Red Wings, with Ryan Whitney, Brooks Orpik and Sergei Gonchar blocking three apiece.

15 - Faceoffs won by Sidney Crosby,
in 24 tries. His performance in the faceoff circle was a big reason the
Penguins won 32 faceoffs to just 22 for the Red Wings, the first time
they've topped 50 percent in this series.

17 -
Pittsburgh's winning streak at Mellon Arena before Saturday's loss to
the Red Wings. The Penguins hadn't lost at home since Feb. 24, when San
Jose won 2-1 in a shootout. They hadn't lost in regulation since
Boston's 2-1 win on Feb. 13.

18 - Times in 20 playoff
games that the Red Wings have out-shot their opponents, including all
four games of the Stanley Cup Final. They are 14-4 in those games.

19 - Marc-Andre Fleury's
winning streak at home, which ended with Saturday night's 2-1 loss to
Detroit. He hadn't lost since Nov. 21, when New Jersey won 2-1.

24 - Points in the playoffs by Crosby, the most of any player in this year's playoffs, after his assist on Marian Hossa's first-period goal. His 18 assists are also tops among all players.

28:23 - Ice time for Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, the most of any player on either team and well above his playoff-leading average of 25:50. Sergei Gonchar led the Penguins for the fourth consecutive game with 26:16.

30
- Shots on goal by the Red Wings, the fewest they've had in this
series. They reached the 30-shot mark for the 17th time in 20 playoff
games this year.

46.2 - Faceoff winning percentage of Detroit's Kris Draper, who was 6-for-13. He came into the game leading all players in the playoffs with a 64.3 percentage on draws.

65
- Shots at goal by the Red Wings, who had 30 on goal, 21 blocked and 14
that missed the net. Pittsburgh had 23 shots on goal, but only 42 at Chris Osgood - 10 were blocked and nine missed the target.

The game ends with Crosby jawing at Henrik Zetterberg.

For all the good it will do him.

Jiri Hudler scored the winner in a tense 2-1 game. The Red Wings have a 3-1 lead going home, and there's every chance this series will end Monday night at the Joe.

Turning point: Detroit killed off a 5-on-3 disadvantage in the third period. Pittsburgh managed but one shot.

The Penguins had 23 in the game to 30 for the Red Wings, who have had a shot edge in all four games. 

Number one star was the great Z, whose defensive play was superb ... and frustrating for Sid the Kid.

Who would have picked Adam Hall to score the winner?

It was that kind of game: unpredictable. Sidney Crosby scored twice and played his heart out as Pittsburgh clawed its way back into the Stanley Cup final. 

Detroit did not go quietly. Trailing all  night, the Red Wings got goals from Johan Franzen and Mikael Samuelsson to keep it close. 

Marc-André Fleury stood on his head – especially in the third period, when Detroit outshot the Penguins 16-5.

So, maybe this will turn into a classic final after all. 

It's not a must-win for Pittsburgh.

Game 2 is, however, a must-not-play-like-crap for the Penguins, who were pathetic over the last 40 minutes of Game 1.

Nicklas Lidstrom was not a dominant force for Detroit in the opener. Henrik Zetterberg scored the Wings' fourth goal, but the top line didn't carry the offensive load.

And still they romped.

The key was puck possession. Through the second and third periods, the Wings constantly had the biscuit – which means the Penguins didn't.

When you're losing faceoffs and chasing the puck all night, fatigue becomes a factor. And regardless of young legs and star power, you don't want to be tired against a team like Detroit.

The first goal of the series was a classic example. Coming off a shift by the Valtteri Filppula line during thwich the puck didn't leave the Pittsburgh zone, Mikael Samuelsson was able to accelerate and cash a wraparound against Penguins who were totally gassed (an unfortunate metaphor, with connotations of the Nazis conquering Antarctica).

All by way of saying the Penguins will have to be a lot better tonight. A second stomping and they're toast.

Check back later for live blogging. 

This will scare Nicklas Lidstrom.

In the wake of Pittsburgh's 4-0 loss in the opening game of the Stanley Cup final, Penguins coach Michel Therrien has juggled his lines for Game 2.

Ryan Malone moves up to Pittsburgh's top line, with Sidney Crosby and Marian Hossa.

Pascal Dupuis is demoted from the first line to the third and will play with Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy.

In an effort to get Evgeni Malkin in gear, high-energy Maxime Talbot takes Malone's spot with "Geno" and Petr Sykora.

Whew! Dizzy yet? There's one more:

Georges Laraque  will be a healthy scratch for Game 2. Gary Roberts takes his place on the fourth line with Adam Hall and Jarrko Ruutu.

Detroit, it is safe to predict, will stand pat for Game 2 – although Johan Franzen may be sufficiently recovered from concussion-like symptoms to rejoin a lineup that hasn't missed him.

Detroit started slowly, but when they hit their stride, in the second period, Game 1 turned into a laugher.

The Penguins had 12 shots in the first period, four in the second and three in the third.

Detroit had 36 shots on goal, another 15 blocked and 17 misses. That's 68 pucs buzzing in the enera direction of Marc-André Fleury, who couldn't be blamed for any of the four goals he surrendered.

So the series favourites draw first blood.

And Michel Therrien has some serious Xs ad Os to draw up for Game 2.

•  •  •

When Scott Oake asked Mikael Samuelsson what message the Detroit win had sent Pittsburgh, the game's first star said:

"The message? Whatever. We're a good team. That's the message."

And it came through loud and clear. 

Just to refresh your memory, hockey is a game played on ice, six to a side. The object is to propel a small disc of vulcanized rubber, called a puck, into ...

Is it all coming back to you now?

To ensure that a maximum number of Canadians – none of whom have any dogs in this fight – hear the dulcet tones of Bob Cole on the maximum possible number of Saturday nights, the National Hockey League had its two best teams, the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, cool their skate blades for almost a week.

I'm not expecting a great first period tonight.

But once the players find their legs, this has the potential to be the best Stanley Cup final in years.

I can't remember a series featuring this many bona-fide superstars: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marian Hossa, Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom.

As befits their superbly skilled rosters, both teams play up-tempo, positive hockey. At no time during this series will we think we're watching New Jersey vs. Florida. 

Nor is it llikely to resemble Anaheim-Philadelphia. The absence of thuggery will be profoundly disappointing for Don Cherry, but the rest of us will enjoy hockey the way it should be played. 

And it's an 8 p.m. start, just like in the good old days when you didn't have to rush dinner to see the game.

Dine at leisure, pop a cold one and settle into a comfortable seat.

This is going to be fun. 

Three more sleeps until the Stanley Cup final begins.

Ridiculous, as Cam Cole writes. The most eagerly anticipated final in years, matching the two best teams in the NHL, is almost guaranteed to get off to a stumbling start on Saturday.

The Penguins and Wings will have to shake off the effects of long layoffs. I'm not expecting a great first period.

While waiting for the puck to drop, you can read Michael Farber's characteristically brilliant analysis of the March of the Penguins and Mathias Brunet's look at the positional matchups.

My knee-jerk reaction, after watching Detroit easily eliminate Dallas, was to pick the Wings in six.

Now I'm second-guessing myself. The availability of Johan Franzen is a concern for Detroit, and Marc-André Fleury is capable of outplaying Chris Osgood. Jordan Staal had a great series against Philadelphia. And if the seriess turns into a street fight, Pittsburgh has the tougher warriors.

I'm still inclined yo go with the more experienced team that's won the more competitive conference. But it could be a great final ... once they get around to starting it.

Canada vs. Russia for the International Ice Hockey Federation Championship.

Flyers – Penguins V. 

Does it get any better than this?

Two great games are in prospect, and I'm not even going to whine about being indoors on a sunny afternoon.

I haven't watched the Worlds at all, but this game should be a corker. I'm looking forward to seeing Andrei Markov: it's been a while.

Markov is wearing number 52. He has three shots on goal, one assist, four minutes in penalties and is even in plus/minus. 

Later it's the Flyers trying to stay alive in Pittsburgh. Kimmo Timonen will be back and maybe Braydon Coburn, but I think the game will come down to whether Martin Biron can do what Marty Turco did yesterday in Detroit.

I doubt it. The best team in hockey may be in trouble heading back to Dallas, but the best team in the East should end it today. I think Michel Therrien will have the Penguins ready to rumble.

•  •  •

The buzz is that Pittsburgh can't afford to sign Marian Hossa. Primary suitors, come July 1, are the Canadiens and New York Rangers.

I'm still hoping for Mats Sundin. I think he'd solve more problems – size, grit, top-line centre – than Hossa would. 

Get out the brooms – maybe the ones that weren't used in Dallas last night.

Can the Flyers emulate the Stars by avoiding a sweep?

Do-able ... but not easy.

Pittsburgh is firing on all cylinders. And Philadelphia is not as good as Dallas.

Maybe the zebras will make things interesting by cocking up a goaltender interference call.

Whatever, it's just postponing the inevitable:

The Red Wings and Penguins will play for the Stanley Cup.

And the sooner they start, the happier we'll all be ... if only because CBC might be smart enough to assign Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson to the final.

Bit of a late post because our Gazette boss took the Habs I/O crew – me, Stubbs and Hickey (Mio was MIA), plus photographers and copy editors who work on the print pages – to lunch at The Keg.

I ate like a pig (as I always do when it's free), and I'm sitting here in a fair degree of gastric distress, waiting for the game to start. I think dinner will be a Bloody Caesar and some peanuts.

Setting up the post early today so I can go spend some time with my dear 91-year-old mother.

Mike Ribeiro: Phone home. Whatever she tried to teach you didn't take.

Maxim Talbot will be back in the lineup for the Penguins for Game 2.

Hey, if Pittsburgh wins topnight can we proceed directly to the Penguins-Red Wings all skills/all the time final that we want to see?

That way hockey will be over before the end of the month and we can can get out and enjoy the sunshine. 

Same deal as last night: feel free to vent if you're watching the game.

Let's hope the zebras do a better job. Bill McCreary was brutal. The 5-on-3 was ridiculous, the Holmstrom goal should have been disallowed.

That said, Dallas was exhausted and Detroit was .... well, Detroit.

Pittsburgh will be Pittsburgh tonight. But can Philadelphia, sans Timonen, be Philadelphia?

Pierre McGuire thinks the Penguins will go right after Braydon Coburn and R.J.F. Umberger.

Hope it's a decent game. I was watching a movie by the end of the second period last night.

... that the screaming gladiator on TV is one of my acid flashbacks.

That dipstick didn't REALLY walk up from the Senators' room onto centre ice.

What a pathetic, jive -ass franchise.

Worse than Toronto.

And now that cop is going to sing.

Go Penguins! 

Who would have thought Canadiens would get goals from Michael Ryder, Christopher Higgins, Saku Koivu ... and still lose?

Back to the drawing board for the shut-down game.

As Mike Komisarek learned – and he will learn, because Komisaurus is a bright guy – cross-ice passes can be dangerous ... especially when you're protecting a one-goal lead and Evgeni Malkin has just left the penalty box.

As Alex Kovalev should have known, penalties are not good in tie games.

Ditto for Roman Hamrlik, who had Canadiens playing shorthanded for two minutes while they were trying to regain momentum late in the third period.

Mo was fickle last night.

Coming back from 2-0 and 3-1 deficits,  Canadiens seemed to  have the wind in their sails. But the PP during Malkin's penalty was a mess, and the wind shifted suddenly when he brought the Penguins back.

Canadiens defenceman Roman Hamrlik rides Penguins' Tyler Kennedy into the boards.
Dave Sandford, NHLI via Getty Images

Lineups | Preview | Recap | Game Summary | Event Summary | Boxscore | Boone

PAT HICKEY
The Gazette

The Canadiens found out how the other half lives as they ran out of miracles Thursday night. Montreal came back from a 3-1 deficit to take a 4-3 over the Pittsburgh Penguins, but Evgeni Malkin took over from there to lead the visitors to a 5-4 win.

Malkin, who has picked up his game since superstar teammate Sidney Crosby was sidelined with a high ankle sprain, scored his 35th goal on a breakaway to tie the game at 4-4 at 10:22 of the third period and then assisted on Sergei Gonchar's power-play goal at 10:58 for the game-winner. He had a goal and two assists and continues to lead the NHL in scoring with 82 points.

Canadiens fought back from a 3-1 deficit and took a 4-3 lead early in the third period, but then the roof caved in.

A bad cross-ice pass by Mike Komisarek: bada-bing, the league's newest superstar, Evgeni Malkin, scores.

An ill-advised charge by Roman Hamrlik: bada-boom, Sergei Gonchar scores from the point – the Penguins' second-power play goal ... and one among many on which Cristobal Huet did not look great.

It's a safe bet we'll see Carey Price against Columbus on Bob Gainey Night. And maybe, after two five-goal games, we'll see the Canadiens getting back to defensive hockey.

Which would please the Captain.

"The odds of winning when you're down two, three goals are pretty slim," said Saku Koivu. "You can do it once in a while, we've had a few highliights. But I think right now we just have to relax and get that focus back, not think about what's happened or what's in front of us."

It's the oldest cliché in team sports: one game at a time. In the case of Canadiens, it's time to get back to their D game.

"At this point in the season, we have to realize we do have enough offence to score the goals, which was a question mark earlier," Koivu said. "Right now, what's really made us successful is a defence-first mentality. And that's what we have to get back to – not necessarily playing a fancy game or a pretty game but an effective one."

• • •

Their Russians were better.

First star of the game: Malkin, one goal, two assists, four shots, plus-2

Third star: Gonchar, one goal, four shots, three blocked shots, plus-one

Alex Kovalev: Two assists, but two giveaways (a generous estimate), minus-1 and in the box when the winning goal was scored

Andrei Markov: one assists, three giveaways, minus-2

• • •

Canadiens definitely hhad the worst Frenchman on the ice.

Huet gave up five goals on 30 shots, looked shaky all night.

Christopher Higgins had a point (as he usually does) when he said the loss wasn't "a boo-worthy game."

But the dissatisfied fans who serenaded their heroes off the ice had a point, also. The Bell Centre are getting tired of paying heavy bread to watch the Canadiens lose.

Especially when the loss is to a team deprived of its best player – and reduced to 16 skaters. Sidney Crosby stayed in Pittsburgh, Colby Armstrong stayed in the room after one shift and Adam Hall stayed on the bench for 54 minutes.

Dany Sabourin, however, was able to go the distance. The stat sheet says Sabourin stopped 31 shots and La Presse's François Gagnon counted 15 scoring chances. But I'm less generous.

The Penguins' defensive scheme, which Michel Therrien probably started devising as Crosby's feet hit the boards Friday night, effectively clogged the slot and prevented the few Canadiens inclined to go to the net from doing so.

So the shots came from far and wide. Sabourin saw them all and stopped them all. I don't remember many screened shots, rebounds or second chances.

The Canadiens had 17 shots in the second period. But with a one-goal deficit and the game still out there to be won, the home team managed five shots in the third period, while the Penguins had 11.

Which helps explain the chorus that followed the final siren.

Links updated Sunday 7:16 am 

Canadiens' Mike Komisarek celebrates his 26th birthday by getting in the face of protesting Penguin Jarkko Ruutu at the end of the first period.
Christinne Muschi, Reuters

Lineups | Preview | Game Story | Game Summary | Event Summary | Boxscore | Boone's Blog | Fisher column | Post-Game Audio: Carbonneau Komisarek Huet

Somewhere in Pittsburgh, nursing a badly swollen ankle in front of a TV, Sidney Crosby surely enjoyed a hockey game in Montreal.

On Montreal ice, Penguins goalie Dany Sabourin had a whale of a good time, leading the visiting Pittsburghers to a 2-0 victory over the Canadiens.

Crosby disappointed his fans – and those who hold membership cards in his anti-fan club – by missing tonight’s Penguins’ Bell Centre matchup against the Canadiens. Sid must cool his heels to get a prognosis on the ankle he badly sprained Friday at home against Tampa Bay, having slid awkwardly into the Mellon Arena boards. He's due to have an MRI on Monday.

But Captain Crosby’s Penguins did just fine without him in Montreal, Evgeni Malkin capping a tremendous game at centre on Pittsburgh’s first line with an empty-net goal in the final minute.

The Gazette's Pat Hickey from this morning's game-day skate, with audio clips from coaches Guy Carbonneau and Michel Therrien and Pittsburgh's Ryan Whitney discussing the absence of Sidney Crosby, injured last night in the Pens' game against Tampa Bay.

No problem.

"You have to give them credit, they played a good road hockey  game," said birthday boy Mike Komisarek after Pittsburgh hung a 2-0 shutout on the Canadiens.

Without their captain, the  Penguins played a "simpler game" Komisarek added.

"They were solid in the defensive zone, they protected the slot and their goalie played well. We had a tough time getting in front of him and creating havoc."

Dany Sabourin made 31 saves for the shutout. Komisarek felt the game might have turned if the Canadiens had "one play, one spark, one shift to get us over the edge."

The win moved the Crosby-less Penguins into first place in the Atlantic Division for the first time this season.

"If you have the second most points in the Eastern Conference, you have to be a good team," said Saku Koivu. "Sometimes it happens when a team loses a key player. Everyone wants to show they're more than aa one-man team." 

Pittsburgh  was a three-man team: Sabourin, Evgeni Malkin and Georges Laraque, who set up Jeff Taffe for what proved to be the winning goal.

Is it me, or is this an HD Monty Python sketch?

Did you love the shot of Lindy Ruff freezing his butt off in a windbreaker? I can't wait to see what Michel "Mean Mr. Mustard" Therrien is wearing.

Jim Hughson found the opening "spine-tingling". I thought it was the latest example of the American tendency to conflate patriotism and sports.

And let's not forget to add a healthy dash of militarism. Too cloudy for fighter jets, but no probem: nothing says hockey like helicopter gunships.

Water droplets on the camera lens. That's it, I'm outta here. There has to be a football game being played in a warm place.