Staal Helps Pens Clip Wings

In what was advertised as the re-match of the Stanley Cup Finals both the Red Wings and the Pens fought like they would in a game six months from now. While there were some changes to both rosters the team look much like the ones that faced-off in late May, early June for the Holy Grail of Hockey; the Stanley Cup.

Early in the first period Sidney Crosby tipped the puck passed Chris Osgood for the first of the game and Sid’s fourth of the season. Miroslav Satan and Max Talbot assisted on the first of many goals on the night at 4:34.

But the Pens focus took a nose dive soon after Crosby`s goal and the Wings got themselves on the board at 13:21, Darren McCarty score with help from Maltby. Two minutes later the Wings took the lead with a goal from Tomas Holmstrom. Nik Lidstrom and Marian Hossa assisted at 15:19 on the power play.

Also in the first Pens defenseman Rob Scuderi took a shot to the foot and had trouble getting up from the ice. After leaving for the locker room he did return for one shift only to return to the locker room again. He is now listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.

Early in the second the Wings increased their lead to two goals with another power play goal while Mike Zigomanis was in the box. Johan Franzen had help from Hudler and Samuelsson at 1:09.

However three minutes later the Pens looked as though they could come back with a goal off of Max Talbot’s skate in front of the net. Talbot’s fourth of the year came at 4:14 with help from Petr Sykora and Sidney Crosby.

But the Pens dreams of a come back seemed to be ripped from them as the Wings got another goal in the second period; Pavel Datsyuk from Hossa and Lidstrom at 18:02. Also a goal early in the third made it look as though the Pens had no chance; Henrik Zetterberg with help from Hudler and Kronwall at 5:03 on the power play.

Evgeni Malkin, whose point steak is still alive, now at eleven games, had other plans for the final score of the game. His fifth goal of the season was scored on the power play with help from Miroslav Satan and Sidney Crosby at 6:57.

Bringing his team within one goal of the opposition Jordan Staal scored his third goal of the season, second in two games, and only first of the night. It was 8:09 of the third period when Matt Cooke and Mike Zigomanis helped to get their team back into the game.

But again the Wings had other plans, making it 6-4, at 10:14. Jiri Hudler scored his third with help from Draper and Samuelsson.

However Staal and the Penguins weren`t finished yet. Staal`s second of the night came at 15:51 with help from Matt Cooke and Kris Letang to bring the score to 6-5.

The tying goal perhaps brought back memories from game five of the Stanley Cup Finals. Jordan Staal got his third of the night completing his second career hat-trick, a natural hat-trick at that, and taking his team to overtime. The goal was scored at 19:37, the goalie pulled, and the extra attacker on the ice; with help from Evgeni Malkin and Alex Goligoski.

As if three goals weren`t enough for Staal he also chipped in with the primary assist on the game winning goal. He took the puck in the neutral zone and went into on a two-on-one with Ruslan Fedotenko as the seconds ticked down high above their heads. A cross ice pass set Fedotenko up for a great one-timer, his third of the year, and the game winner in overtime.

The three stars were 3. Sidney Crosby, 2. Jiri Hudler, 1. Jordan Staal.

Ryan Whitney (foot) and Sergei Gonchar (shoulder) missed the exciting game along with healthy scratches Paul Bissonnette and Mark Eaton.

Next the Pens take on cross state rival Philadelphia Flyers at home Thursday night. The puck is set to be dropped at 7:08.