Penguins Free Agency: Malone's rights go to Tampa Bay
By Dave Molinari
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
June 29, 2008

The Penguins have known for a while that Ryan Malone and Gary Roberts wouldn't be part of their lineup next season.

Yesterday, general manager Ray Shero made certain the team will have more than good memories to show for their departures.

He traded the negotiating rights to Malone and Roberts, both of whom are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents Tuesday, to Tampa Bay for a conditional draft choice in 2009.

The draft choice will be a fourth-rounder the Lightning acquired previously from Dallas unless Malone signs with Tampa Bay, in which case it will be upgraded to a third-rounder.

Malone, the first Western Pennsylvania native to play for the Penguins, made $1.45 million in 2007-08 and appears to be in line for a salary of about $5 million. If the Lightning doesn't reach an agreement with him, Columbus, Minnesota and the New York Rangers, among others, could enter the bidding.

Roberts, 42, figures to take a cut from the $2.5 million he got last season. He had to waive a no-trade clause before the deal could go through, which suggests he will at least consider signing with Tampa Bay.

With Malone and Roberts out of the mix, Shero holds exclusive negotiating rights to 10 unrestricted-free-agents-to-be who finished the 2007-08 season on the Penguins' major-league roster for two more days.

Although he has yet to work out new contracts with any of them, that shouldn't necessarily be construed as evidence that Shero doesn't want -- or won't be able -- to strike deals with at least some. Negotiations are sure to intensify, beginning today.

"When things are time-sensitive, they get a little more urgent on both sides," Shero said yesterday.

Mind you, not all 10 are in play for the Penguins, at least at the moment. Center Kris Beech and goalie Ty Conklin don't appear to have a place in the team's plans and winger Marian Hossa has made it known he plans to see what he can get on the open market.

Retaining defenseman Brooks Orpik is a front-burner issue and, while the parties have imposed a virtual blackout on information about the negotiations, the Penguins probably shouldn't expect to do it for less than $3.5 million per season.

Some inside the organization believe the Penguins still have a realistic shot to keep Hossa, who has rejected an offer believed to have been worth about $7 million per season over five years. Still, if Shero moves aggressively to re-sign role players such as Jarkko Ruutu, Pascal Dupuis and Adam Hall, among others, before Tuesday, the Penguins might not have the space needed under the league's $56.7 million salary cap to comfortably accommodate a new deal for Hossa.

Players and prospects currently under contract to the Penguins who figure to play in the NHL during the coming season, and their cap hits, are:

Forwards -- Sidney Crosby, $8.7 million; Evgeni Malkin, $3,834,200; Petr Sykora, $2.5 million; Jordan Staal, $2.2 million; Max Talbot, $675,000 and Tyler Kennedy, $541,667.

Defensemen -- Sergei Gonchar, $5 million; Ryan Whitney, $4 million; Darryl Sydor, $2.5 million; Hal Gill, $2,075,000; Alex Goligoski, $984,200; Kris Letang, $835,000 and Rob Scuderi, $712,500.

Goalie -- Dany Sabourin, $512,500.

In addition to negotiating with his unrestricted free agents, Shero is trying to work out a long-term deal with goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and new contracts for Malkin and Staal, although their current ones will remain in effect through the 2008-09 season.

Draft looks quiet for Penguins
By Rob Rossi
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 20, 2008

OTTAWA -- Early to rise on Thursday, Penguins director of amateur scouting Jay Heinbuck continued preparing for an NHL entry draft in which he is not scheduled to pick a prospect until the fourth round.

That would be Saturday - meaning Heinbuck and his staff expected to watch the proceedings tonight at Scotiabank Place, where the first round is scheduled to begin around 7 p.m.

"It's a strange feeling," Heinbuck said. "As of now, we're just sitting at our table for the first three rounds. But a lot of teams would love to be in that position, because we're in that position after our team went to the Stanley Cup final."

The Penguins surrendered their 2008 first-round pick to Atlanta on Feb. 26 as part of the package to snag right wing Marian Hossa and forward Pascal Dupuis. They lost their second-round pick that day, too - sending it to Toronto for defenseman Hal Gill.

Acquiring right wing Georges Laraque from Phoenix at the 2007 trade deadline cost the Penguins their third-round pick for this draft.

Those players, three of 12 from the Cup final roster set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, were pivotal in helping the Penguins come within two victories of a championship.

Center Evgeni Malkin carried his fair share of that load.

Malkin spent yesterday in Russia with his family, but he was the focus of speculation-fueled buzz. Canada's capital city awoke to an Ottawa Sun report that Penguins general manager Ray Shero has offered Malkin to the Los Angeles Kings for a package that would include rights to pick second in the draft.

Shero is not commenting on off-season dealings and never makes a habit of addressing trade rumors.

Malkin's agent JP Barry told the Tribune-Review there is no validity to the Sun's report.

Conversations with numerous parties independent of the Penguins and Malkin's camp indicate there is virtually no chance of a trade. The Penguins can sign Malkin to a contract extension on July 1, and it is widely believed the sides will agree on a long-term deal not long after that date. Shero and Barry are expected to meet this weekend at the draft.

If the Penguins were open to dealing Malkin, they would surely request a royal ransom from the Kings, who own the rights to top defense prospect Jack Johnson - the third overall pick in 2005.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was the first overall pick that year. He and Johnson are close friends.

Landing the second overall pick in this draft would put the Penguins in position to choose from a group of four top defensemen prospects, according to International Scouting Services general manager Matt Ebbs.

"We think the second pick will be Zach Bogosian (Peterborough, Ontario Hockey League)," Ebbs said. "But that's not to say it won't be Drew Doughty (Guelph, OHL), Luke Schenn (Kelowna, Western Hockey League) or Alex Pietrangelo (Niagara, OHL).

"Those four comprise a group of defensemen any team would want. Bogosian and Pietrangelo are the full package. Doughty is more offensive, and Schenn more stay-at-home."

Ebbs labeled defense as a "strong point" in the first round, which will be wrapped up tonight, with the remainder of the draft scheduled for Saturday. ISS has 12 defensemen ranked among the top 30 players. The NHL's central scouting bureau has placed 15 defensemen among its best 30.

"It's a pretty deep draft (for defense)," Heinbuck said. "And there are some obvious names (overall) that go fairly deep."

Heinbuck, Ebbs and most everybody within the NHL expect center Steve Stamkos (Sarnia, OHL) to be the first selection. He is a consensus No. 1-rated player by central scouting and other independent scouting services such as ISS.

Tampa Bay, which won the Cup in 2004, is slated to select first overall and is not expected to move from that position.

Reportedly on the verge of signing star center Vincent Lecavalier to a lengthy contract extension, Ebbs said Stamkos will give Tampa Bay another franchise-caliber player.

"He is that type of player, and I think he'll play this season," Ebbs said. "I wouldn't call him a perfect specimen. But he is strong overall - gifted offensively with a strong attention to defense. You talk to him, and you kind of go, 'Wow!' He's got that gift combination of skill and poise for an 18-year-old."

Malone to test free agency
By Rob Rossi
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 18, 2008

Left wing Ryan Malone said Tuesday he plans to opt for free agency -- a significant blow to the Penguins' chances of trading him for a pick in this weekend's NHL Entry Draft.

"We will not talk to anyone until July 1," said Malone, who will become an unrestricted free agent on that date.

Talks between Malone's camp and the Penguins hit a wall last week, and the Pittsburgh-born Malone is warming to the possibility of continuing his NHL career outside of his hometown.

Penguins officials, including general manager Ray Shero, are currently preparing for the NHL Draft Friday and Saturday in Ottawa. Those preparations include conversations with several clubs about acquiring early-round picks.

Shero is not commenting on off-season dealings.

The Penguins do not pick until the fourth round. Their first-round pick was included in the package sent to the Atlanta Thrashers on Feb. 26 for right wing Marian Hossa and forward Pascal Dupuis. The acquisition that day of defenseman Hal Gill from the Toronto Maple Leafs cost the Penguins their second-round pick. And their third-round choice was shipped to the Phoenix Coyotes on Feb. 27, 2007, as part of a deal for right wing Georges Laraque, also set to become an unrestricted free agent.

The Penguins had hoped Malone could net them a needed early-round draft choice, perhaps from the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are known to have serious interest. The Columbus Dispatch reported Tuesday the Blue Jackets could strike a deal with the Penguins to acquire Malone's rights for possibly a second- or third-round draft pick.

Those plans now appear to be dashed because the Blue Jackets will not deal a draft pick to the Penguins unless Malone provides a guarantee he will sign with Columbus.

The Dispatch reported that the Jackets are willing to offer Malone a four- or five-year deal worth at least $4.5 million annually. The Penguins are not willing to go much beyond $3 million annually for Malone, who posted a career-best 27 goals and 51 points during the regular season.

Pens make Hossa their priority
By Rob Rossi
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 14, 2008

The Penguins have made signing right wing Marian Hossa to a long-term contract their No. 1 priority, according to several players, agents and team officials who spoke to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review on the condition of anonymity.

All other offseason moves will be determined by the Penguins' success or failure in this pursuit of Hossa, who scored 12 goals and recorded 26 points in 20 Stanley Cup playoff games skating alongside star center Sidney Crosby.

During season-ending meetings with general manager Ray Shero on June 6, several Penguins players were told the team would push hard to reach terms with Hossa, who can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.

Shero declined comment Friday.

The Penguins elected yesterday to file for salary arbitration with goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, denying him the chance to become a restricted free agent on July 1 and guaranteeing he will play in Pittsburgh next season.

The decision allows the Penguins to temporarily place on the backburner talks with Fleury about a long-term extension and focus solely on a new contract for Hossa.

Hossa, 29, is believed to be seeking a deal for five years or more. He expects to command no less than $8 million in annual salary on the open market. However, he said after the Stanley Cup final that he would "take less to play on a good team."

The Penguins, a Cup finalist, plan to test that claim. Their offer is likely to be worth nearly $50 million over seven years - a marginal raise on his 2007-08 salary of $7 million.

Hossa was acquired by the Penguins Feb. 26 along with forward Pascal Dupuis from Atlanta for forwards Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, top prospect Angelo Esposito and a 2008 first-round pick.

The Penguins are expected to impose a deadline for Hossa to accept their offer, possibly after next weekend's entry draft in Ottawa. Their efforts to sign other potential unrestricted free agents - specifically defenseman Brooks Orpik and left wing Ryan Malone - would be affected by that decision.

A player likely affected by Hossa's decision would be center Jordan Staal, who is eligible to sign an extension on July 1. He is entering the final season of a three-year entry level deal.

Indications are that talks of Staal's potential extension could last into the upcoming season. He will count $2.2 million against the salary cap in 2008-09.

Center Evgeni Malkin, set to count $3.8 million against the cap next season, is in a situation similar to the one facing Staal.

Malkin said Thursday at the NHL Awards Show in Toronto that he expects to sign a five- or six-year extension "soon" after July 1. The Penguins' focus on a deal for Hossa should not affect Malkin's possible extension.

An MVP finalist after leading the Penguins with 47 goals and 106 points, Malkin added he would accept an annual salary less than the $8.7 million due Crosby each of next five seasons.

Crosby signed an extension last summer that will pay him $43.5 million through the 2012-13 season.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said during the Cup final he believed the salary cap would increase by at least $3 million for the upcoming season. The current cap stands at $50.3 million, and the Penguins are committed to about $34 million in total players' salary for 2008-09.

Twelve players from their playoff roster can become unrestricted free agents July 1. Hossa is the Penguins' prime target, followed by Orpik, who earned slightly less than $1 million last season.

Orpik, praised by team officials and coaches and opponents during the Penguins' playoff run, told the Penguins he would accept less than market value for a deal of at least five seasons. Several agents speculate he will command above $4 million annually on the open market.

Malone and the Penguins are believed to be far apart on a new contract. He is expected to lean toward testing the free-agent market, where the Columbus Blue Jackets will likely make a play for his services - possibly with an offer near $5 million annually over five years.

Pens file for arbitration with Fleury
By Joe Starkey
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 14, 2008

The Penguins on Friday elected to file for salary arbitration with goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, which means Fleury cannot become a restricted free agent July 1 and therefore cannot receive an offer sheet from another team.

The NHL's arbitration hearings occur from July 20 to Aug. 4. Fleury and the Penguins can continue to negotiate a long-term contract in the meantime. If they go to arbitration, a judge would render a one- or two-year award after hearing arguments from both sides. Fleury would get to choose the length of the contract.

"I want to impress that this is their right under the (collective bargaining agreement), and we don't interpret it as an aggressive move or out of line at all," said Fleury's agent, Allan Walsh. "Marc-Andre wants to stay in Pittsburgh and wants a long-term deal. We will continue working with Penguins management toward that goal."

Penguins general manager Ray Shero released a statement, saying: "By filing for salary arbitration, it gives us extra time to continue to negotiate a contract with Marc-Andre. As a result of the filing, Penguins fans are assured that Marc-Andre will be under contract to our club for next season. ... We remain committed to negotiating a contract with him in the near future."

Teams can only take a player to arbitration once in his career, meaning that if Fleury does not sign a long-term deal, he could be eligible for restricted free agency - and an offer sheet from another team - on July 1, 2009.

Fleury, 23, can become eligible for unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2010, based on having seven years of NHL experience.

This season, Fleury finished 19-10 with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. He starred in the playoffs, posting a 14-6 record with a 1.97 GAA and a .933 save percentage. His save percentage was best in the league among goalies who played in 10 or more playoff games.

Pens' Malkin says extension coming
By Rob Rossi
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 13, 2008

TORONTO -- Evgeni Malkin did not leave the NHL Awards Show at Elgin Theatre on Thursday night with either the Hart Trophy or the Lester B. Pearson Award.

But he said the prize he really covets -- a long-term contract extension with the Penguins -- is on its way.

"I'm thinking maybe five or six years," said Malkin, set to enter the final season of his three-year entry-level deal. "I'm an easy guy to deal with. I'd love to stay in Pittsburgh."

The NHL's collective bargaining agreement forbids the Penguins from signing Malkin to an extension until July 1. Malkin said he expects the extension will be signed "soon" after that date.

Malkin added that his annual salary did not need to top the $8.7 million teammate and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will average each of the next five seasons. Crosby signed a five-year extension worth $43.5 million last summer that picks up this season.

Neither Penguins general manager Ray Shero nor Malkin's agent, J.P. Barry, could be reached for comment.

Malkin denied various reports he is seeking a deal in the range of the 13-year/$124 million contract signed by Washington's Alexander Ovechkin in January.

He also shrugged off speculation the Penguins will trade him this summer to create salary-cap space necessary to sign several impending free agents, including forwards Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone and defenseman Brooks Orpik.

"Those are just rumors," Malkin said, through an interpreter. "I don't even pay attention to those."

Malkin said that he also tried to avoid criticism cast his way during the Stanley Cup final -- the initial four games of which he was held without a point.

Malkin finished the Stanley Cup playoffs with 22 points in 20 games -- fifth among all players. But he recorded only five points over his final 10 postseason contests, including just three in the Cup final, which the Penguins lost in six games to Detroit.

Illness, Malkin said, was partially to blame for his decline in production.

"I didn't have an injury or anything; I just had a little fever," Malkin said. "I wasn't ready for the final. It was probably just me. I lost my game. At the end of the final I thought I found my touch again, but it was too late."

Pens' Hossa wants Cup over cash
By Kevin Gorman
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 7, 2008

Marian Hossa said for the first time Friday that he will entertain the idea of taking less money to play for a Stanley Cup contender, and believes the Penguins fit the bill as a great team.

The high-scoring right wing figures to command a top salary when he becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.

"If I wanted to make a couple more dollars, I would probably just re-sign with Atlanta," said Hossa, whose 12 goals and 26 points in the playoffs were exactly what the Penguins were seeking when they acquired him from the Thrashers on Feb. 26. "But I'm glad Pittsburgh got me here. This was a fun journey for myself and a great experience. I hope I can stick with a great team like this. ...

"There's always a limit, but I'd rather take a little less and play on a good team, definitely."

Penguins general manager Ray Shero did not speak to the media yesterday, when players cleared out their lockers at Mellon Arena. But Captain Sidney Crosby made it clear that he does not want to enter next season the way he did this one -- without a high-scoring winger to make best use of his talent as a set-up man.

Crosby, whose five-year, $43.5-million extension begins this fall, said yesterday that he is willing to drop his tag as the team's highest-paid player in order to keep his right-hand man in Hossa.

"I want to play with him," Crosby said. "He's a great player. I hope it works out that he's able to stay. He's a great person. He works hard. I enjoy playing with him. As we played together more and got used to each other, things started to happen, and it was a lot of fun out there. It would be a lot of fun to keep playing with someone like that. I hope it works out."

Hossa reciprocated the affinity for playing alongside Crosby -- he scored 10 points in 12 regular-season games and, counting the playoffs, finished with 36 points in 32 games with the Penguins -- but put the onus on Shero to keep them on the same line.

"Sid is an incredible player and even better person," Hossa said. "But there's lot of players to be signed. We'll see what's going to happen. I'm sure Ray's going to do everything he can to keep everybody together."

At 29, Hossa is in position to secure a long-term deal with a substantial raise on his $7 million salary of this past season.

Crosby said he would neither meddle with management about whom to keep and how much to pay nor persuade his teammates to give the Penguins a hometown discount the way he did last July.

"That was my choice," Crosby said. "Every guy works hard to earn a certain amount of money. I'd never put pressure on them to do that because that's solely up to them. They work too hard to do that. That's a personal thing.

"Hopefully, we can keep everyone. If not, you wish the guy good luck and move on. That's probably the hardest part, knowing that there's not going to be the same guys here."

Disappointed Pens know roster will change
By Alan Robinson - AP
USATODAY.com
June 6, 2008

PITTSBURGH - At the very moment the Detroit Red Wings were holding their Stanley Cup parade Friday, the Pittsburgh Penguins were saying goodbye and heading off into a shorter-than-usual off season.

The next time they meet, some won't be wearing Penguins uniforms, a certainty given the NHL salary cap that prevents good teams from staying together for a long time.

"You want to say goodbye to everybody because a couple of these guys we battled with won't be there next year and we'll have to play against them," forward Max Talbot said. "That's the sad part of hockey."

For the Penguins, knowing this team can't stay together - Coach Michel Therrien called it "a really tight family" - created the same kind of disappointment that followed their 3-2, Game 6 loss to Detroit in the Stanley Cup finals two days before.

The players shook hands, wished each other a good summer, packed up equipment bags that were loaded with their uniforms and several large team photos and met with Therrien and, in some cases, general manager Ray Shero.

Shero figures to have a difficult off season as he tries to keep the key components of one of the NHL's youngest but best teams. Among those who could leave via free agency are forwards Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone, Jarkko Ruutu, Gary Roberts, Georges Laraque, Pascal Dupuis, Adam Hall and Jeff Taffe and defensemen Brooks Orpik and Mark Eaton.

With star Evgeni Malkin and 19-year-old forward Jordan Staal both about to enter the third and final years of their entry contracts, and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury eligible for restricted free agency, it's not possible for all to return.

Hossa, who had a team-high 12 goals during the playoffs, is likely on top of Shero's must-keep list. But Hossa also figures to be the most expensive free agent to re-sign, and that may make it difficult to give Malkin, Staal and Fleury the kind of money they could make on the open market.

A year ago, Crosby re-signed for less money - an average of $8.7 million per season through 2012-13 - to help keep the Penguins together. Hossa, who meshed so well with Crosby after being added at the Feb. 26 trading deadline, is willing to do the same thing.

Hossa expects his agent, Rich Winter, to start talking with Shero soon.

"I'd rather take less and play on a good team," Hossa said. "Hopefully, I can return here and be part of this organization but, with the salary cap, I know how hard it is. There's lots of players to be signed, so we'll see what's going to happen."

Among the least likely to return are Malone and Orpik. Despite their contributions to only the third Stanley Cup finalist in Penguins history, they're likely to make more on the open market than Pittsburgh will pay them.

Roberts, still a fan favorite at age 42, may retire rather than move on to another club. Ruutu, Laraque and Dupuis may get multiple offers as free agents. Losing Orpik, Ruutu, Laraque and Roberts would substantially reduce the Penguins' physical presence.

"I think we're all optimistic Ray's going to do the best job he can at keeping everyone together," Crosby said. "We had a lot of success. I'm sure he doesn't want to change too much, if he can."

Crosby and Therrien agreed the Penguins' inexperience proved to be a major factor in their Stanley Cup finals loss.

Each of the final four games was decided by one goal, but the Red Wings put the Penguins in a big hole by outscoring them by a combined 7-0 in the first two games in Detroit.

"We were trying to feel it out a little bit. Before we knew it, we were down 2-0," Crosby said. "We wanted to work so hard and making sure that didn't happen, we didn't focus on what made us successful. We got caught running around and chasing a little bit."

Therrien said, "When we got to Detroit, it was a different feeling, a different pressure. Those first two games over there, our guys were tense."

Still, Therrien is proud that a team with so many players in the early 20s competed well against the NHL's deepest, most experienced and most successful team.

"They're 20 years old, 19, 21 years old, and they've got tremendous potential," Therrien said. "But we have to remember they're still 20. ... Next year, those players will have that extra year of experience and that will help them and, for me, I'm going to use them a little bit differently - but still not like a player who's 28, 29, 30 years old. In two months, they're not going to gain five years of experience."

Notes: Crosby, who disclosed after last season's playoffs that he had a broken foot, said he had the "normal bumps and bruises." ... Therrien's contract is up after next season. He hopes to meet shortly with Shero to discuss an extension. .. Crosby on the playoff run: "We gained a lot of experience pretty quickly." ... Roberts was not on hand for the season-ending player meetings with Therrien.

Penguins will not be same squad after this run for the Cup
By Wes Goldstein
CBSSports.com
June 5, 2008

PITTSBURGH -- There never figured to be enough Visine to go around the Pittsburgh Penguins dressing room after Game 6.

Not with so many red eyes caused by more than a really draining loss in the Stanley Cup Finals. The tears around the room had a lot to do with being beaten by Detroit of course, but for many of the players, the melancholy came from knowing they won't get a chance to do this again.

Not as the same group anyway.

The salary cap and the free agent market this summer will see to that because the Penguins have nine players eligible to the open market and franchise goalie Marc-Andre Fleury scheduled to be a restricted free agent.

"It's tough, the last game you play with all your friends," defenseman Ryan Whitney said wistfully. "We have a lot of building blocks, but this team will never be together again completely."

That's something the players didn't have to think about until after their grueling series with the Red Wings ended and they were glad for that. The Penguins are a young, close-knit team that is made up in large part of players drafted and developed together in the organization. Even their coach Michel Therrien came up after a stint with Pittsburgh's top minor league team.

They have grown together in the last three seasons around captain Sidney Crosby, the face of the NHL, and super talent Evgeni Malkin. They have gone from being the East's last place team and nearly moving out of town, to becoming a serious Stanley Cup contender. On paper, Pittsburgh seems to have the talent foundation to potentially become a latter-day version of the 1980s Edmonton Oilers.

The Penguins certainly came of age with a great playoff run through the East, but they didn't face Detroit all season and were clearly overmatched in this series by the Presidents' Trophy winners. There were a variety of reasons for it, but none more important than the overall experience Detroit had on the NHL's biggest stage.

Still Pittsburgh had enough character to make it a real series, and under ideal circumstances the players would get to benefit from having gone through it together. That was a critical factor in the ultimate success of those Wayne Gretzky/Mark Messier-led Oilers, who were swept in their first Finals (1983) by the New York Islanders, but used the lessons to win four Stanley Cups over the next five seasons.

"It was disappointing because we got to the Stanley Cup and didn't win," Messier said during an appearance at the Finals. "But if you look at it from the bigger picture as a learning process, you start building. When we got back that next year, we had a better idea of what to expect."

Eventually those Oilers broke up because the small-market franchise couldn't afford its top stars. The Penguins organization knows what that's like after going bankrupt a couple of times and selling off stars for the same reason not that long ago. But now Pittsburgh is being forced to pick and choose because of the salary cap, which means the team will look very different at training camp in September.

Call it the price of success under the NHL's current economic system, and a double-edged sword for a talented team like Pittsburgh. While the Penguins were on a great run through to the Finals, several of their pending free agents played well enough to increase their market value significantly. And general manager Ray Shero has to deal with that while looking ahead to the summer of 2009 when the contracts of MVP candidate Malkin and Jordan Staal expire.

"It's going to be a challenge for Ray to keep our team together," Penguins owner Mario Lemieux said. "With the salary cap, it's going to be difficult to make it all work. You have to make choices, tough decisions which I assume we're going to face."

Pretty soon, too.

Of the Penguins' nine unrestricted free agents, three -- forwards Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone and defenseman Brooks Orpik -- have probably priced themselves out of the Penguins' range with exceptional playoffs.

Hossa developed a tremendous chemistry with Crosby and had the best post season of his career, should command a salary of $8 million to $9 million a season. Malone, the Pittsburgh native who went down to block shots in Game 5 with cotton stuffed in the nose he broke for a second time a few moments earlier could be looking at a salary of up to $5 million a season. Orpik, the punishing defenseman whose string of body blows late in Game 3 helped create Pittsburgh's first victory of the Finals, should be in the same neighborhood.

Shero might be able to bring one of them back to help keep the Penguins moving forward as rapidly as they have been. But the team won't move into its new money-making arena for another couple of years, so he'll have to strike a balance between budget and levels of success the team can afford. Shero also has to decide which of the older role players he wants and at what price. That list includes forwards Pascal Dupuis, Adam Hall, Jarkko Ruutu, Gary Roberts, Georges Laraque, and backup Georges Laraque and backup goalie Ty Conklin.

"We've got a great group; it's tough," Crosby said.

Penguins set team attendance record
Pittsburgh Business Times
June 5, 2008

The Pittsburgh Penguins set a team attendance record during the 2007-2008 season, selling out every regular season and playoff game, the hockey club announced Thursday.

The new attendance total was 888,653 fans over 52 games. Average attendance was 17,089, despite Mellon Arena's seating capacity of 16,940. The Penguins sell standing-room-only tickets for each game.

The team's previous attendance record was 847,204 over 53 games during the 1990-1991 regular season and playoffs, the first year the team won the Stanley Cup, with Captain Mario Lemieux. The average attendance that season was 15,985.

This season marked the first time in Penguins franchise history that every game was a sellout.

The Penguins' season ended Wednesday with a 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup Final. Detroit won the series, four games to two.

Jarkko Ruutu quotes:

"Obviously we got pretty far, but it's disappointing. I don't think we can be happy about losing in the final.” "You usually play for one thing, and winning is the only thing that matters."

"We just hoped something would happen.” "But it didn't go in. There's no excuse...... It's frustrating. It's not fun."

Game 6: Pens reach end of the line
By Rob Rossi
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 5, 2008

They will ask the same question for months, possibly years and maybe the rest of their lives.

What if?

The Penguins will never find a satisfying answer.

Their championship dream died Wednesday at Mellon Arena in a 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final.

Detroit won the best-of-seven series, 4-2, to win its 11th NHL title and fourth in the past 11 seasons.

Right wing Petr Sykora believes the Penguins will embark upon an equally successful run.

He also knows they missed on several chances to start that run this season.

"I think back to Game 4, if we would have scored on that 5-on-3 and tied the game, win the game, go back to Detroit, 2-2, win there ..." Sykora said from a somber Penguins' dressing room last night. "All the finals are one mistake here and there."

The Penguins made too many in this series to beat a Red Wings squad that was best in the NHL from beginning to end.

That question - what if? - will dominate talk among the Penguins who return next season.

Right wing Marian Hossa does not figure to be one of them.

Acquired Feb. 26 at the NHL trade deadline to solidify the young Penguins as championship contenders, Hossa made the most of his three months in Pittsburgh - especially in the playoffs, where scored 12 goals and totaled 26 points.

Hossa, along with several key contributors - including Pittsburgh-born left wing Ryan Malone and defenseman Brooks Orpik - can test the unrestricted free-agent market on July 1.

Hossa's final goal this postseason came with 1:27 remaining in Game 6, and it pulled the Penguins within a goal of the Red Wings, who had taken a 3-1 lead at 7:36 on playoff MVP Henrik Zetterberg's 13th tally.

Hossa nearly tied the score when he almost flipped a puck past Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood. His close-range backhand-to-forehand shot beat Osgood, but failed to cross the goal-line as it slid through the goal crease.

It would not have counted, as time had just expired.

What if?

"It was close," said captain Sidney Crosby, who finished his second NHL playoff tied with Zetterberg for the individual scoring lead at 27 points.

The Penguins went 2-for-5 on the power play last night - the rate of success they hoped to achieve in the series.

But they finished only 5-for-27 (18.5 percent) with the advantage in the Cup final, and failed to score twice on 5-on-3 chances that lasted well over a minute.

That first failure - midway through the third period in Game 4, when they trailed by a goal in what would become a 2-1 loss - cost them a chance to even the series.

The second failure - midway through the first period last night when they trailed 1-0 - may have cost them a chance to force a deciding seventh game Saturday at Joe Louis Arena.

What if?

Center Evgeni Malkin, held without a point in Games 1 through 4, finally scored his 10th playoff goal last night - at 15:26 of the second period to cut the Red Wings' lead in half, 2-1.

Malkin scored only that goal and totaled just three points in the Cup final. He finished the playoffs with 22 points, but only four over his final 11 games.

"I was sick," Malkin said through an interpreter. "But I don't think it was a major factor."

The final four games of this Cup final were decided by a goal. The Penguins opened the series with consecutive shutout losses in Detroit, and lost twice in a row at Mellon Arena, where they had won 17 consecutive games before Game 4.

What if?

"This team is going to be good for a long time," Sykora said. "We just came up a couple of games short."

Squandered chances doom Pens
By Mike Prisuta
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 5, 2008

At least they had their moments.

One occurred when Marian Hossa, working behind the Red Wings' net, found Sidney Crosby on the half-wall.

Crosby found Evgeni Malkin on the other side of the ice.

Malkin found the back of the net with a slap shot that went right through Chris Osgood.

Malkin raised his stick with one hand and let the frustration ooze from his body, as the adulation of 17,000-plus washed over him.

Malkin, mostly a no-show in the Stanley Cup final, was finally cleansed.

Malkin, the guy the Penguins desperately needed to get going to force a Game 7 on Saturday in Detroit, was at last redeemed.

Another such moment materialized with just 1:27 to play, when a power-play, sixth-attacker goal by Hossa gave the Mellon Arena faithful one more reason to scream.

But in the end "Whiteout Night" became "Lights Out Night" on Wednesday night.

The Penguins battled but ultimately surrendered Lord Stanley's Cup to Detroit, 3-2.

For the Red Wings, Os-good that ends good.

For the Penguins, their frustration literally extended to the final second, when yet another opportunity, this one off the stick of Hossa, refused to go into the net.

The first of those occurred less than three minutes in, when a punishing check by Ryan Malone produced a turnover in the Detroit end, and Petr Sykora found himself with the puck and all the time and space he needed.

Sykora, who had picked a spot that was barely perceptible when he ended the marathon that Game 5 had become, this time hit Osgood right in the Winged Wheel on his chest.

In the offensive end, that was the story of the series for the Penguins.

Such opportunities too often eluded them.

They didn't get a ton of them, but they had enough to expect that they'd have scored more than 10 goals in six games.

The Red Wings didn't generate many chances themselves in Game 6, but as the contest wore on they once again became the beneficiaries of the type of goals you simply can not surrender in the Stanley Cup final if you hope to ultimately hoist the Cup.

The first of those in Game 6 made it 2-0 at 8:07 of the second. Marc-Andre Fleury gave up a bad rebound and then permitted a follow shot by Valtteri Filppula to squirt between his legs and in.

The second, credited to Henrik Zetterberg, was actually knocked into the net by Fleury after experiencing another five-hole issue.

Those were the only two even-strength goals scored in Game 6.

In the defensive end, such developments were the other story of the series.

Fleury was heroic enough to cement himself as the Penguins' franchise-goaltender-in-waiting in Game 5, but he was nonetheless too often too inconsistent in the series, too susceptible to goals he'd like to have back, goals that became even more damaging considering the problems the Penguins' were having at the other end.

It was a series in which the Penguins proved they could play with the Red Wings.

When they're able to play consistently with teams of such caliber, they'll beat them.

They didn't get the goal-scoring or goaltending they needed this time.

Stanley Cup final ratings improve
Associated Press
June 5, 2008

NEW YORK -- Television ratings for the decisive game of the Stanley Cup final were double the last Game 6 in 2006.

The Red Wings' clinching 3-2 victory Wednesday over the Penguins drew a 4.4 overnight rating and a 7 share on NBC, the network said today. The Game 6 between Edmonton and Carolina two years ago earned a 2.2.

The rating is the percentage watching a program among homes with televisions, and the share is the percentage tuned into the broadcast among those households with TVs on at the time.

Overnight ratings measure the country's largest markets.

Young Penguins down but vow to march again
By A.J. Perez
USATODAY.com
June 5, 2008

PITTSBURGH - The face of a distraught Sidney Crosby showed the only consolation prize the Pittsburgh Penguins captain took from his first Stanley Cup Finals run.

"This feeling," Crosby said with his eyes welling up. "It's not a good feeling at all. It's not something I want to experience (again)."

Crosby scored the Penguins' first two goals of the Finals in Game 3, but those would be his only goals of the series. His line, however, remained productive throughout, and he finished with four assists, including one in Detroit Red Wings' 3-2 season-clinching victory in Game 6 on Wednesday.

In a season interrupted 28 games by a high ankle sprain, Crosby said he left the Finals with some "bumps and bruises and nothing broken." Overall, he was proud of how his team battled back from a 2-0 deficit in the Finals, which included a 4-3 victory in triple overtime on Monday that sent the series back to Pittsburgh.

"As the series went, I think we definitely got better," Crosby said. "In Game 1, I thought we were guilty of trying a little too hard and running around. After Game 1, I thought we got our feet underneath us."

At a locker nearby, Pittsburgh forward Evgeni Malkin concurred.

"When we came to Detroit for the first two games, we didn't know what to expect," Malkin said through an interpreter. "We were pretty nervous. We're a young team, and for most of the guys this is their first Finals. We learned we can play and we can play against anybody."

He said after Wednesday's game he had the flu late in the conference finals against the Philadelphia Flyers, an illness that carried over into the first couple games of this series. Malkin, who finished second in scoring in the regular season with 47 goals, was roundly criticized for his lack of offensive punch late in the playoffs.

"I didn't think about that," Malkin said. "I tried to score every game, especially today."

The Penguins were out shot 192-120 overall in the Finals, and Pittsburgh was outscored 17-10 in the series.

"We got beat by a quality team," Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said. "They showed it all through the regular season and through the playoffs. They played really well. They were tough to play against and the hockey god was not on our side tonight. But they deserved to win the Stanley Cup."

This was the Penguins' first trip to the Finals since 1992, when Mario Lemieux led Pittsburgh to its second consecutive championship. Now the team's chairman and co-owner, Lemieux was a voice of reason in the locker room after the loss.

"This is certainly a big step," Lemieux said in his first interview of the Finals. "It's always disappointing not to win in the Finals, but we feel that we'll be back and we'll be much better next time."

Crosby and the Penguins will learn valuable lessons from long playoff run
The Canadian Press
June 5, 2008

PITTSBURGH - Next time he's in the Stanley Cup final, here's betting Sidney Crosby will be able to better fill out his playoff beard.

He'll certainly have more experience under his belt. The 20-year-old superstar centre and captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins was the best player on his team in this year's NHL playoffs. Especially in the Cup final when a few of his teammates looked in awe of being on the game's biggest stage.

Crosby put up 27 points (6-21) in 20 playoff games, tied for the playoff lead with Conn Smythe Trophy winner Henrik Zetterberg. Like his fellow Detroit star, Crosby was a consistent performer from the first to the last game of the post-season. He had two goals and four assists in the six-game loss to the Red Wings in the Cup final.

But all that meant nothing Wednesday night. He dearly wanted his first Cup title in only his third year in the NHL. He'll undoubtedly get another shot.

Whether his team makes the Cup final a regular venture remains to be seen. The Penguins have a number of unrestricted free agents this summer, including trade deadline acquisitions Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis, winger Ryan Malone, defenceman Brooks Orpik, tough guy Georges Laraque, winger Jarkko Ruutu and veteran forward Gary Roberts.

The 42-year-old Roberts may have played his last game Wednesday night although that decision will wait for another day.

Still, there's a young core still in place. Star centre Evgeni Malkin, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, centre Jordan Staal and defencemen Kris Letang and Ryan Whitney should be around for a few more years.

Fleury had a sensational playoff, one that signalled the franchise goalie has arrived after being chosen first overall in the 2003 NHL entry draft. His 55-save performance Monday night kept the Penguins alive in the Cup final. The Penguins are set in goal.

Malkin had a breakout regular season, earning him a nomination for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, but his performance in the Cup final wasn't up to his standards. He was limited to one goal and two assists in six games against Detroit and finished the post-season with two goals and three assists in his last 10 games.

There was talk that he may have been sick with the flu at the beginning of the final. He did come on late in Game 5 on Monday and was outstanding throughout Wednesday in Game 6, scoring his first goal of the final.

But it was too little, too late. The Cup final loss stings for Pittsburgh, but the reality is that the Penguins have come a long way from being the league's doormat in 2003-04 and 2005-06. Part-owner Mario Lemieux also helped save the team from relocation when his group was able to negotiate a deal with the city to build a new arena, which begins construction next month.

The Penguins have a bright future on and off the ice.

"Obviously Mario and his group, keeping the team here, and the new rink coming and the franchise-type players and the youth they have here, and marquee names to sell a franchise, it's a great situation," Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock observed Wednesday. "And the people are excited about their team.

"And I think it's fantastic for them. They had really great teams here for a number of years. Things weren't so good for a while. And it's great to see them back and the city looking like it does."

Red Wings win Cup for 4th time in 11 seasons
By Ira Podell
The Associated Press
June 5, 2008

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Hockeytown is home to the Stanley Cup - again. Using a little Motown magic on the road, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in 11 seasons Wednesday night with a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 of the finals.

The celebration came two nights later than expected. The Penguins forced the series back to Pennsylvania by tying Game 5 with 34.3 seconds left in regulation and winning it shortly before 1 a.m. in Detroit on Petr Sykora's power-play goal in triple overtime.

Undeterred, the Red Wings hit the road and wrapped up their fourth straight series on the road in these playoffs. Detroit is third in NHL history with 11 Stanley Cup titles, trailing fellow Original Six clubs Montreal and Toronto.

Just like in Game 5, things got a little dicey for the Red Wings, who allowed Sergei Gonchar's power-play goal with 1:27 remaining that got the Penguins to 3-2. Pittsburgh had already pulled Game 5 hero Marc-Andre Fleury to create a 6-on-4 skating edge.

With the final seconds ticking down, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby put a backhander on goal that Marian Hossa just missed with a tip at the right post.

It set off a pile-on celebration behind the Detroit goal for the Red Wings, as the disappointed fans in Mellon Arena saluted their club once more with a chant of "Let's Go Pens!"

In the best night for Swedish hockey since the national squad won the gold medal at the 2006 Turin Olympics, defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom became the first European captain of a Stanley Cup champion, and Henrik Zetterberg, who had a goal and assist in the Cup clincher, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

His goal 7:36 into the third period pushed the Red Wings' lead to 3-1. He tied teammate and countryman Johan Franzen for the playoff lead with 13 goals, and matched Crosby for the postseason scoring crown with 27 points.

Lidstrom is one of five players to be the Red Wings for their four most recent titles (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008).

Crosby came close in his third NHL season to adding a Stanley Cup title to his resume that already includes a scoring title and a league MVP award.

Brian Rafalski gave Detroit a 1-0 lead in the first period and Valterri Filppula doubled it in the second. Chris Osgood made 20 saves and improved to 14-4 in the playoffs after taking over for No. 1 goalie Dominik Hasek in the first round of the playoffs against Nashville. Osgood allowed only 30 goals in 19 games.

Detroit earned its final two victories of the championship series in Pittsburgh, where the Penguins won their first nine postseason games. Until the Red Wings came to town, the Penguins hadn't lost at home since February.

Pens, Wings tired but inspired
By Rob Rossi
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 4, 2008

He smiled, because Max Talbot always smiles.

But his smile seemed slightly off, as did his words - understandable, considering he was working on about three hours of sleep.

"Physically, you just try to do what's going to make you feel better," Talbot said Tuesday afternoon - hours after the Penguins prevented the Detroit Red Wings from winning the Stanley Cup with a stirring, triple-overtime victory in Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena.

"But I think physically, it's more mentally than anything - if you can understand what I'm saying, because I can't."

Talbot likely meant to say: The Penguins will not think about the physical toll extracted from playing 109 minutes, 57 seconds of hockey to reach Game 6.

Neither they nor the Red Wings expect the epic and exhausting Game 5 to affect the outcome of Game 6 tonight at Mellon Arena. Nobody associated with either club will care much about the fifth-longest Cup final game in NHL history when the puck is dropped shortly after 8 p.m.

Detroit leads the best-of-seven series, 3-2, and will attempt for a second consecutive game to win the Cup.

The Penguins will attempt to force a deciding seventh game with a victory.

Players on both sides say that is the story.

Fatigue and momentum - popular discussion points yesterday among media members covering the series - are merely words.

"It's more mental," Red Wings center Kris Draper said. "Physically, you wake in the morning, here we are back in (Pittsburgh), just realizing you have to re-energize. You have to recharge. And you have to be ready to go.

"We're going to be ready to go."

Prior to the series, much was made of the Red Wings' vast playoff experience. But now all of those Cup final appearances - this is their fifth since 1996 - allegedly work against them.

MARATHON MEN

The Penguins' 4-3, triple-overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings lasted 109 minutes, 57 seconds. Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood spent the entire time on the ice, and counterpart Marc-Andre Fleury (109:17) trailed by just the 40 seconds he spent on the bench while the Penguins used the extra skater to score the tying goal late in regulation. The Red Wings finished with 10 players logging at least 30 minutes of ice time, and the Penguins had nine. Here are the five skaters for each side who recorded the most ice time in the game:

Penguins Players and Times:

Ryan Whitney - 50:46
Rob Scuderi - 43:42
Brooks Orpik - 42:11
Hal Gill - 40:02
Sidney Crosby - 34:37

Red Wings Players and Times:

Nicklas Lidstrom - 45:24
Brian Rafalski - 42:06
Niklas Kronwall - 42:00
Brad Stuart - 38:42
Henrik Zetterberg - 37:55

A long series favored the young-legged Penguins, remember?

Plus, momentum is on the side of Sidney Crosby and Co., right?

The Red Wings were 35 seconds from winning the Cup when Talbot scored Monday to send Game 5 into overtime.

There is a way to describe a blow like that - crushing.

Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom is not buying that description.

"When you're in the middle of everything, you don't think about that," Lidstrom said of the Red Wings' missed opportunity. "It's afterwards when you realize we did have a great chance to win. But we didn't.

"You have to put that behind you and move on to the next game. With the experience that we have, we can put a game like that behind us and just be focused on the next one."

Of course, the Penguins expected those words from Lidstrom.

They suspect those words are designed to disguise a shaken sense of confidence.

"We've got the momentum going right now," said right wing Petr Sykora, who snapped an eight-game drought in Game 5 with his winning goal at 9:57 of the third overtime.

"They kind of had it in their pocket."

Crosby knows the Red Wings will sleep well all summer if they close out the Penguins tonight.

He pledged yesterday to focus on Game 6 in order to assure the Penguins of a Game 7.

"Any time you go through something like (Game 5) and come out with a win, to see the way everyone kept battling and didn't give up - it certainly means a lot to everyone," Crosby said. "Having gone through that, I think we're better for it.

"We're in the same position we were going into last game. So our focus is on just playing desperate, and that's it."

Pens' Fleury flourishes under pressure
By Kevin Gorman
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 4, 2008

It was a playful gesture, yet a telling one for the goaltender who stumbled out of the gate and fell facemask-first onto the ice in his initial appearance at Joe Louis Arena.

As Al Sobotka rallied Detroit Red Wings fans with the traditional tentacle twirl of an octopus before Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final, Marc-Andre Fleury squirted at him with his water bottle.

"It was an accident. I just missed my mouth by a little bit," Fleury said with a sly smile. "After the first two games, I thought I'll give him a little something back. And we won, so it's good."

IN FULL BLOOM

Before his Game 5 performance, Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury had been overshadowed in the Stanley Cup final by the Red Wings' Chris Osgood, who has faced 14.4 fewer shots per game. Here is a statistical comparison of their series play:

Stanley Cup final series:

Fleury

Record: 2-3
Goals allowed: 14
Shots against: 192
Saves: 178
Goals-against average: 2.88
Save percentage: .927

Osgood:

Record: 3-2
Goals allowed: 8
Shots against: 120
Saves: 112
Goals-against average: 2.00
Save percentage: .933

Stanley Cup Game 5:

Fleury

Goals allowed: 3
Shots against: 58
Saves: 55
Save percentage: .948

Osgood:

Goals allowed: 4
Shots against: 32
Saves: 28
Save percentage: .875

His signature stop came at 17:00 of the second period, when he dropped into a split to make a toe save and block Mikael Samuelsson's shot with his left boot. Although Fleury allowed two third-period goals, he withstood a barrage of shots. The Red Wings attempted 27 shots over the third period and first overtime, and the Penguins rallied as Fleury turned them away in the extra periods.

"It's funny how much, as a player, you feed off the confidence of your goaltender and just a big save, especially in the playoffs," said Penguins radio color analyst Phil Bourque, who likened it to the glove stop of Petr Stastny against the New Jersey Devils in the first round in 1991. "I think of 'The Save' by Frank Pietrangelo. It's incredible how much confidence and energy you get from a goaltender standing on his head like that.

"Frankie's save was one of those where he just flung it out there and Stastny basically shot it into his glove. That was a hope and a prayer. I think Marc-Andre Fleury knew what he was doing. It just incredible effort by him to be leaning so far to his right and get so far to his left in a blink of an eye. Not taking anything away from Frankie's save, but it was just an incredible individual, athletic play by Fleury."

It was a coming-of-age moment for the 23-year-old Quebecois, proving why he was the first overall pick in 2003. Penguins coach Michel Therrien, who once played with Hall of Fame goalie Patrick Roy, called Fleury's performance "phenomenal." Fleury contemplated whether it was the best game he ever played, admitting that "it was certainly the toughest and the longest."

If nothing else, his teammates were in awe. Now, they want to maintain momentum and alleviate the pressure on him.

"He was just making save after save," captain Sidney Crosby said. "And, obviously, you're happy to see him make those saves. But you don't want to force him into that position all the time, either. So he really was the savior for us."

911th rooting for Pens from afar
By Jeremy Boren
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 4, 2008

The Penguins' white-knuckled quest to win the Stanley Cup has engrossed fans who are fighting terrorists half a world away in Afghanistan.

After a political squabble over zoning laws blocked two 40-by-85-foot banners of Penguins players from going up Downtown last month, Councilman Jim Motznik wanted to find a unique way -- or place -- to show Pittsburgh's hockey pride.

With a little help, he picked Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan.

Air Force Sgt. Timothy P. Crane, a reservist and Pittsburgh police officer, wrote to Motznik after he read about the banner controversy and asked him to send a Penguins banner that he and other members of the 911th Airlift Wing could display.

"As far as I know, we're not violating any zoning codes in Afghanistan with that banner, which is a good thing," Motznik said.

Motznik got the banner from Penguins President David Morehouse. The troops received the banner four days after it was mailed to them and sent back a picture of it hanging behind a group of Penguins fans at an airplane hangar on base.

"When the Pens win the cup, we will fly the banner on a combat mission fighter aircraft, sign it, and return it to (Councilman) Motznik," Crane wrote in an e-mail.

As for any hope of getting some ice time while living in Afghanistan's desert, Crane wrote: "The ice hockey thing is as difficult as trying to get a glass of cold milk -- virtually impossible."

Pens on ice: Drinks for the Cup
By Karin Welzel
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 4, 2008

If a crowd is gathering at your house to watch tonight's hockey game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings, some Penguin-theme libations are in order.

Sip a White Russian in honor of No. 71, Evgeni Malkin, and No. 55, Sergei Gonchar, both from Russia. Use Scandinavian aquavit to make an icy lemon-flavored cocktail to cheer on No. 37, Jarkko Ruutu, from Helsinki.

Canadian whiskey and brews are musts -- 10 Penguins hail from Canada, including No. 87, Sidney Crosby; No. 27, Georges Laraque; No. 25, Maxime Talbot; and No. 29, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

If you prefer wine, pop a cork for No. 18, Marian Hossa, who hails from Slovakia, where wine is produced and enjoyed at dinner tables. And in honor of Petr Sykora, from the Czech Republic, offer a toast with Pilsner Urquell, a favorite brew from his homeland.

Oops -- can't forget the All-American boys. No. 38, Adam Hall, of Kalamazoo, Mich.; No. 44, Brooks Orpik, from San Francisco; and No. 12 Ryan Malone, from Mt. Lebanon, deserve a round of Pittsburgh brews.

Here are a few more hockey-related cocktails to enjoy:

THE SNOWPLOW

Aquavit is a clear Scandinavian liquor made from grain or potatoes and flavored with caraway seeds. You also can serve it straight -- make sure it's icy cold -- with a beer chaser. This recipe is from "Holiday Cocktails Deck" by Jessica Strand (Chronicle Books LLC, $13.95).

1 ounce aquavit

6 ounces lemonade

Lemon slice, for garnish

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the aquavit and lemonade, then stir. Set the lemon slice on the rim.

Makes 1 serving.

CANADIAN COCKTAIL

Mittie Hellmich, author of "Mini Bar Whiskey: A Little Book of Big Drinks" (Chronicle Books LLC, $7.95), says this orange liqueur-laced drink is "mellow," and custom-made for Canadian whiskey lovers.

2 ounces Canadian blended whiskey

1/2 ounce Cointreau

2 dashes bitters

1 teaspoon superfine sugar

Ice

Add all of the ingredients to a cocktail shake. Shake vigorously. Strain into an ice-filled old-fashioned glass or a chilled cocktail glass.

Makes 1 serving.

LUCKY SEVEN

The quest for the Stanley Cup is a seven-game series, right? This variation on the martini comes from "Big Easy Cocktails" by Jimmy Bannos and John DeMers (Ten Speed Press, $15.95 paperback).

3 ounces premium vodka

1 3/4 ounces peach schnapps

3/4 ounce freshly squeezed orange juice

1/4 ounce cranberry juice

Ice

1 peach slice, for garnish

Combine the vodka, schnapps, orange juice and cranberry juice and shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with the peach slice.

Makes 1 serving.

WHITE RUSSIAN

This recipe is from "The Everything Bartender's Book" by Jane Parker Resnick (Adams Media Corp., 1995).

1 1/2 ounces vodka

1/2 ounce coffee liqueur

1/2 ounce cream

Ice

Combine the vodka, coffee liqueur and cream in a shaker half filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into an old-fashioned glass over ice.

Makes 1 serving.

RUSSIAN KAMIKAZE SHOOTER

Into a mixing glass nearly filled with ice, pour 2 ounces vodka and 1 teaspoon Chambord. Stir. Strain into a shot glass.

ROSY CHEEKS

This nonalcoholic drink has the sophistication of a well prepared cocktail, says Mary Lou Heiss and Robert J. Heiss, authors of "Hot Drinks: Cider, Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Spiced Punch and Spirits" (Ten Speed Press, $16.95).

1/2 cup red grapefruit juice

1/2 cup cranberry juice cocktail

1/2 cup guava juice

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

Combine the grapefruit juice, cranberry juice and guava juice in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Lower the heat and continue to simmer until just heated through, for about 5 minutes.

Add the lime juice, stir and serve straight up in sherry or port glasses.

Makes 4 servings.

Red Wings try again to close out Penguins
By Alan Robinson
The Associated Press
June 4, 2008

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Detroit Red Wings are playing a game they didn't want to play, in a city where they don't want to be, against a growing-confident Pittsburgh Penguins team they were certain would be long gone by now.

Such are the perils of the Stanley Cup finals where, as the Red Wings discovered during a riveting but heartbreaking Game 5, no lead is truly safe and no team is safely eliminated until the final horn sounds.

Fifty-eight minutes won't do it. Neither will 59 1/2 minutes, as the Red Wings were reminded during their history-making 4-3, triple-overtime loss Monday night that cut their lead to 3-2 and sent the series back to Pittsburgh for Game 6 on Wednesday night.

The Stanley Cup was unpacked and spiffed up, so close the Red Wings could touch it. Only they couldn't after Pittsburgh's Max Talbot tied it with only 34.3 seconds remaining and Petr Sykora won it in the third overtime, giving the Penguins new life in a finals that appeared over.

"Afterward, you realize we did have a great chance to win it. But we didn't," Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "So that's it. You have to put that behind you and move on."

Still, the disappointment was tangible. No NHL team has gone so deep into an elimination game with a lead only to have it yanked away, teased and tempted by the Cup before having it stowed for another night.

The Red Wings returned to Pittsburgh determined to make that Wednesday night, rather than waiting for a Game 7 back in Detroit on Saturday in which there would be no guarantees. No even for a team that once led the series 3-1.

"We still have a great opportunity here," defenseman Brian Rafalski said. "That's how you have to look at it. No one said it's going to be easy. And it's not going to happen, and obviously didn't happen, in five games."

The Penguins' goal? To make sure it doesn't happen in six games, either, and the franchise plays the first Stanley Cup Game 7 in its history.

To do that, the Penguins need some carryover momentum from one of the most remarkable wins in team history, more goaltending like they got during Marc-Andre Fleury's 55-save game - and a belief.

Mostly, the belief that they've gotten into the Red Wings' heads and created doubt that wasn't there when Detroit won the first two games at home by a combined score of 7-0.

How rare was Pittsburgh's comeback? No team in 72 years, or since the 1936 Maple Leafs against the Red Wings, extended the finals after scoring in the final minute of regulation in a potential elimination game.

"They kind of had it in their pocket, and it (is) going to be hard for them to get up for this game," Sykora said. "So I think it's going to be a huge game."

For the first time since the Penguins were founded in 1967, the Stanley Cup will be in Mellon Arena, ready to be presented.

Only it can't be to them, hence their determination that the Cup be packed up yet again and sent back to Detroit where, for the first time, the Penguins would also have a chance to win it.

"Let's make sure, this our last game in Pittsburgh, (that) we're going to really make sure that it's going to be pretty special," coach Michel Therrien said.

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock's thinking is a team that won all three of its previous series this spring on the road will put aside the disappointment, shove aside the bad memories and respond with the kind of game that will win the Cup.

"As tough as it was at times (in Game 5), we're up 3-2 in the Stanley Cup finals and let's get ready," Babcock said.

Babcock believes the Red Wings will be calmer and more poised on the road, away from the distractions and the incessant talk about victory parades and Stanley Cup displays. Even though the Penguins are 9-1 at home in the playoffs and have won 17 of 18 there.

"I think being on the road is a great thing," Babcock said. "We've closed out every series on the road. As far as carryover from that (Game 5), it's a lesson learned. They're good players. It won't happen again. Sometimes you need to be reminded."

The Red Wings' worry is they've given the Penguins reason to believe, an opening they can exploit, a chance they shouldn't have had.

"We're still here, still battling, and we still have an opportunity here," Sidney Crosby said.

The Red Wings, with five players who can win their fourth Stanley Cup with the team, hope this is where their edge in age and experience pays off against the young, feisty Penguins.

"We're a confident team, we're a confident group," Kris Draper said. "We feel that we can come into another team's building and be successful."

So successful, they don't leave without the Stanley Cup this time.

"I think when we play on the road, it brings out the best in our team," goalie Chris Osgood said. "It has all year, and it will again (in Game 6)."

Hey Tiger Woods, who cares what you think. You said that nobody watches hockey. I think you need to look at the ratings. Somebody must be watching. Would your fans stay up until 2:00 a.m. (that includes post-game coverage) to watch you play golf? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz LOL

Stanley Cup finals ratings improve again
June 3, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) - The triple-overtime thriller in the Stanley Cup finals Monday night drew the highest ratings for a Game 5 since 2002.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' 4-3 win to avoid elimination against the Detroit Red Wings earned a 4.3 overnight rating and an 8 share on NBC. That's a 79 percent increase over last year's 2.4 for Game 5 between Anaheim and Ottawa.

It was the best Game 5 rating since the Carolina-Detroit matchup in 2002 drew a 4.5.

Game 4 on Saturday earned a 2.3 national rating and 5 share, up 21 percent over last year's 1.9.

The rating is the percentage watching a program among homes with televisions, and the share is the percentage tuned into the broadcast among those households with TVs on at the time. Overnight ratings measure the country's largest markets.

DETROIT - JUNE 02: Petr Sykora #17 and Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate after Petr Sykora scored the game winning goal against the Detroit Red Wings during game five of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 2, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. The Penguins defeated the Red Wings 4-3 in triple overtime to set the series at 3-2 Red Wings. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

Penguins Stay In Cup Chase
By Ira Podell
Associated Press
June 3, 2008

DETROIT - The pizza was perfect for Petr Sykora and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Deep in overtime and the season hanging in the balance, Sykora scored a power-play goal 9:57 into the third extra session to give the Penguins a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night and send the Stanley Cup finals back to the Steel City for Game 6.

"We basically just had to keep the fluids going, get some food in you," Sykora said. "We had some pizza coming. We had some power bars and stuff like that."

Asked if the pizza was Little Caesar’s, the company founded by Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch, Sykora flashed a smile.

"Domino’s," he said.

That delivery was right on time, but none of would have been possible without Maxime Talbot’s goal with 34.3 seconds left in regulation that brought Pittsburgh into a 3-3 tie.

Undaunted with the Stanley Cup inside Joe Louis Arena, the Penguins kept the trophy out of the hands of the Red Wings for at least a few days. The series resumes in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.

Another win there, and it will be back to Detroit for Game 7 on Saturday.

"If we can come up with the win, it’s going to be a lot of pressure on them," Sykora said. "But you just worry about the game on Wednesday, and hopefully we can get it."

With Jiri Hudler serving a 4-minute penalty for high-sticking Rob Scuderi and causing a cut, Sykora wound up in the right circle and ripped a drive past Chris Osgood to end the marathon that lasted 4 1/2 hours and ended at 12:46 a.m.

"I was just praying for blood," Scuderi said.

Overtime heroics are nothing new for Sykora, who ended the fourth-longest NHL playoff game in a fifth extra session on April 24, 2003, during Anaheim’s run to the Stanley Cup finals. That team was coached by current Detroit bench boss Mike Babcock.

"We have a great thing going right now. We just wanted to win this game," Sykora said. "We didn’t really look ahead. Now we’re going back home. We’ve got nothing to lose. We know what we have to do and hopefully we can bring it back here to Detroit."

The Red Wings, who fell to 9-2 at home in the postseason, gave the Penguins their first loss in Pittsburgh on Saturday in Game 4 to set up their championship chances.

Early on, a Penguins’ win in this one seemed likely after they scored twice in the first period and carried a 2-1 lead into the third. However, the Red Wings tied it on Pavel Datsyuk’s power-play goal at 6:43 and went ahead for the first time 2:40 later when Brian Rafalski scored.

The party was on in the final minute. Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was on the bench, the Pittsburgh net was empty and the seconds ticked down toward Detroit’s fourth Stanley Cup championship in 11 seasons.

Talbot put the fans back into their seats when he saved the Penguins’ season with a second whack of the puck at the left post in the final minute of regulation. Fleury kept them alive with a brilliant 55-save effort, including 24 in overtime.

Now, the treasured trophy will go back into its crate and head to Pennsylvania where the Red Wings will have another shot at their 11th title in franchise history.

"You were that close, and then, ‘Oh, tough,’" Babcock said. "I think it’s natural to feel bad for us for a bit, and feel bad for yourself. But it’s the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s not supposed to be easy."

Sykora’s goal ended the fifth-longest game in Stanley Cup finals history. The second assist went to defenseman Sergei Gonchar, who missed the first two overtime periods after crashing headfirst into the end boards in the second period. Gonchar took the ice to help Pittsburgh’s struggling power play.

"The game was so long. I wanted to help our guys," Gonchar said. "I started feeling better at the end of the second overtime, so I thought there was a chance. Anyway I could help. I had to come back, so the goal was wait until the power play. They put me on the ice for the power play and we scored."

That unit finally clicked on its fifth chance - including three in overtime - after converting only twice in 17 chances during the first four games.

Road teams have won 10 of the past 12 overtime games in the finals and are 15-4 since 1990.

Marian Hossa and Adam Hall put the Penguins in that position by scoring 6:04 apart in the first.

Darren Helm cut Detroit’s deficit in half in the second, and the raucous home crowd was primed to carry the Red Wings home in the third. Datsyuk struck for the tying goal 22 seconds after Tyler Kennedy went off for hooking, the Red Wings’ first power-play goal in four chances on the night.

By then, the chants of "We Want the Cup" filled the old rink. Penguins coach Michel Therrien called his timeout with 11:41 remaining, but it would have been helpful just 1:04 later when Rafalski put the Penguins on the brink of elimination.

Johan Franzen sent a pass out front to Rafalski, who skated in from the right point and ripped a drive through a crowd in the crease and into the net. It was Rafalski’s third goal of the playoffs.

The bubbly was certainly on ice when Talbot - the extra skater on for Fleury - tied it.

Hossa swept a pass from the corner that bounced off Osgood’s left leg and came to Talbot. With a second jab, he got the puck through. The Penguins bench erupted in celebration as Red Wings players skated slowly as they realized how close they had come.

The Red Wings outshot the Penguins 13-2 in the first overtime and kept the puck in the Pittsburgh end for most of it. Detroit, however, took the only penalty but killed it off without much difficulty.

Fleury knocked aside Datsyuk’s drive 6 1/2 minutes into overtime and then fought off a rebound try by Valtteri Filppula. Tomas Holmstrom, who returned from a one-game absence caused by an injured hamstring, got the puck while he was alone in the slot only to have his spin-o-rama attempt kept out by the Penguins’ 23-year-old net minder.

Pittsburgh’s best early overtime chance came from Evgeni Malkin, the MVP finalist, who earned the first assist on the winning goal for his first point in the series. Malkin took a pass from Jarkko Ruutu as he came off the bench and fired a drive from the right circle that bounced off Osgood’s arm before he gloved it.

Each team received a power play in the second overtime, and both penalties came in the offensive zone.

Pittsburgh earned its second goalie interference penalty after regulation when Dan Cleary drove hard to the net and bumped Fleury near the right post. The Red Wings failed to get a shot on Fleury after Sykora hooked Niklas Kronwall in front of the Detroit net following a scoring chance.

Fleury remained sharp and made 20 saves through two overtimes. He kept his cool even after losing sight of the puck, which popped over him and landed on top of the net.

With "The Joe" decked out in red and ready to rock, the Penguins drained the juice out of the building in the first.

Hall’s goal was particularly deflating because the puck was shot into the net by Kronwall with 5:19 left in the period.

Detroit seemed poised to end the series on home ice, where the Red Wings outscored the Penguins a combined 7-0 in the first two games of the series.

But just as they did in the Western Conference finals against Dallas, the Presidents’ Trophy winners dropped Game 5 with a chance to wrap things up.

The Penguins' Petr Sykora celebrates his winning goal in the third ovetime of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup final at Joe Louis Arena, June 2, 2008. - Chaz Palla/Tribune-Review

Petr is principal in Pens' 3OT win
By Rob Rossi
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 3, 2008

DETROIT -- Petr Sykora called it. He just wasn't exactly sure he would see it.

"Calling the shot, it was just between the periods, it was something stupid I said," Sykora said early Tuesday morning after he scored his first goal of the Stanley Cup final - at 9:57 of the third overtime - to give the Penguins a stirring 4-3 victory in Game 5.

"I said, 'Guys, I'm going to get one.'"

He did, helping the Penguins get the one they needed to send this Cup final back to Pittsburgh.

The Red Wings lead the best-of-seven series, 3-2. But the Penguins can force a winner-take-all seventh game with a victory Wednesday night in Game 6 at Mellon Arena.

No mater what turn this series takes from here, the Penguins proved in Game 5 they belong on the NHL's grand stage.

"Is it over? Is the series over?" defenseman Brooks Orpik defiantly asked Monday morning.

Yep, the Penguins showed for work at Joe Louis Arena around 10 a.m. Monday and left before 2 a.m. Tuesday.

Between those hours, they played almost two full hours of physically taxing, mentally draining playoff hockey.

Game 5 lasted 109 minutes and 57 seconds - the fifth-longest contest in Cup final history.

"It's a long game," defenseman Darryl Sydor said. "But we live to play another day."

Two teammates are quite responsible for that.

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury played the game of his life - "I'd say so, yeah," he said - and made 55 saves, including 24 in the overtime sessions.

Those extra-session stops were necessary after forward Max Talbot stuffed a shot past Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood with 34.5 seconds remaining in regulation.

That goal, Talbot's third of the playoffs, tied the score, 3-3.

It was a must-have goal in a must-win game.

The Penguins trailed the series, 3-1, entering Game 5. The Red Wings and their fans were ready to celebrate a fourth championship in 11 seasons.

But the Penguins stunned everybody with two first-period goals.

They had failed to score at Joe Louis Arena in Games 1 and 2.

Last night, right wing Marian Hossa tallied his 11th of the playoffs at 8:37 of the first period. Forward Adam Hall netted his third, and second of the Cup final, at 14:41.

The Red Wings inched close at 2:54 of the second period on center Darren Helm's third playoff goal.

Detroit owned the third period - out-shooting the Penguins, 14-4 - and tied the score, 2-2, on left wing Pavel Datsyuk's power-play goal at 6:43.

Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski tallied at 9:23 to put his club ahead, 3-2.

Hope seemed lost for the Penguins.

But hope was all they had.

With Fleury pulled for an extra attacker as the final seconds of the third period ticked away, Talbot waived twice at a rebound of Hossa's shot. Talbot's second whack slipped past Osgood.

"Biggest goal of my life," Talbot said. "Not the prettiest, but the biggest."

Detroit fired 13 shots Fleury in the first overtime. He was game.

The Penguins - down to five defenseman because of Sergei Gonchar's back injury, the result of a third-period collision with the end-zone boards - started to gather speed after the fourth intermission.

A double-minor high-stick penalty to Red Wings center Jiri Hudler at 9:21 of the third overtime provided the Penguins four minutes of power-play time.

Gonchar, who had not played since 17:11 of the third period, stepped onto the ice with his aching back.

With their power-play quarterback in-hand, the Penguins took command.

Gonchar and center Evgeni Malkin assisted on Sykora's winning goal - his first in eight games.

Malkin had failed to register a point in four previous Cup final games.

"It was great when we saw Gonch coming back," Sykora said. "When you have him on the point, it changes the whole power play. He made a couple good passes.

"Luckily, I got a great pass from (Malkin). I missed a one-timer before probably by 20 feet. ... He made a beautiful pass. I tried to put it upstairs and it went in."

Game 5 Period Roundups
By Kevin Gorman
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
June 3, 2008

FIRST PERIOD

So much for the scoreless streak.

The Penguins ended a span of 128 minutes, 37 seconds without a goal in the Stanley Cup final at Joe Louis Arena when Marian Hossa flicked a wrist shot past Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood at 8:37 for his 11th goal of the playoffs and a 1-0 lead.

Adam Hall extended the Penguins' lead to 2-0 at 14:41 with an unassisted goal when his shot off Osgood's pads was errantly deflected into the net by Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall.

The Red Wings' best scoring chance came around the 18-minute mark, when Penguins defenseman Darryl Sydor whiffed at the blue line, allowing Detroit center Darren Helm a breakaway against goalie Marc-Andre Fleury.

Helm's shot, however, sailed wide left of the net.

HIGHLIGHT: Maxime Talbot set up Sidney Crosby's pass from the right of the cage to Hossa, whose wrist shot went top-shelf, stick-side past Osgood for a 1-0 lead at 8:37. It was the 25th point for Crosby, who leads all scorers in the playoffs.

LOWLIGHT: The Penguins had three turnovers and never attempted a shot on their first power play, as Crosby lost the puck once and Evgeni Malkin twice, the first on a blind backhand pass to center ice, the second as he crossed the blue line.

GOALS: 1. Penguins, Marian Hossa (Sidney Crosby, Pascal Dupuis), 8:37; 2. Penguins, Adam Hall, 14:41.

SHOTS: Red Wings 8, Penguins 7.

KEY STAT: Hossa's goal was the Penguins' first shot on net and moved him into a second-place tie with Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg among playoffs scorers at 23 points.

PENALTIES: Brooks Orpik, Penguins (hooking), 2:06; Penguins bench (too many men on ice), 4:15; Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit (tripping), 5:24; Maxime Talbot, Penguins (roughing), 10:50; Kirk Maltby, Detroit (roughing), 10:50.

POWER PLAYS: Penguins 0-1; Red Wings 0-2.

BEST HIT: There were no bone-jarring shots exchanged, but Penguins center Jordan Staal slid into the boards in his defensive end and drew a tripping penalty from Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk that gave the Penguins their only power play.

SECOND PERIOD

After the Penguins got an assist from the Red Wings on a goal in the first period, they returned the favor.

Detroit center Darren Helm's shot skipped off the skate of defenseman Rob Scuderi, who hit the ice in attempt to block it, and through goalie Marc-Andre Fleury's five-hole at 2:54. It was Helm's second goal of the playoffs, and Kirk Maltby got the assist.

That trimmed the Penguins' lead to 2-1, but the Red Wings couldn't score again despite several strong chances, as Fleury turned away 11 of the 12 shots he face.

The Penguins had early opportunities to extend their two-goal lead in the first 30 seconds after a pair of Red Wings turnovers, but Maxime Talbot's shot sailed wide right of the net, and Detroit goalie Chris Osgood made a pads save on Jordan Staal's slap shot.

Moments later, Sidney Crosby missed when the puck slipped off his stick, and Osgood stopped an Evgeni Malkin backhand.

HIGHLIGHT: Fleury made the most spectacular save of the series on a Red Wings 2-on-1, reading Valtteri Filppula's last-second pass to Mikael Samuelsson and doing a split to stop the shot from the right side with his leg pads at the 17-minute mark.

LOWLIGHT: The Penguins lost two key players to injuries in a 1:18 span. First, defenseman Sergei Gonchar tripped over Fleury's skate after the spectacular save and crashed head-first into the boards. Then, forward Ryan Malone took a Hal Gill slap shot off the face near the crease at 18:39 and immediately left the ice.

GOALS: 1. Detroit, Darren Helm (Kirk Maltby), 2:54.

SHOTS: Red Wings 12, Penguins 7.

KEY STAT: Gonchar had logged 16:54 of ice time, most of any Penguins player, and was plus-two at the time of his injury.

PENALTIES: Kirk Maltby, Detroit (interference), 5:48; Sidney Crosby, Penguins (high-sticking), 10:18.

POWER PLAYS: Penguins 0-1; Red Wings 0-2.

BEST HIT: Maltby upended Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik after crossing the blue line into the Red Wings' offensive zone. Maltby, however, drew an interference penalty on the hit.

THIRD PERIOD

With the Red Wings ready to celebrate a Stanley Cup championship for the 11th time in franchise history, Maxime Talbot hit the mute button at Joe Louis Arena.

The Penguins forward shoved the puck past goalie Chris Osgood at 19:25, tying it at 3-3 and ultimately sending Game 5 into overtime.

It was Talbot's third goal of the playoffs and first of the final, with assists by Marian Hossa and Sidney Crosby, who regained the playoffs scoring lead with his 26th point.

Until the final minute, the Red Wings had dominated the period, as Henrik Zetterberg set up a pair of goals. The Red Wings turned a one-goal deficit into a lead.

Detroit forward Pavel Datsyuk deflected Zetterberg's pass for the game-tying goal that made it 2-2 at 2:15, and defenseman Brian Rafalski took Zetterberg's feed and fired a shot from the right slot past goalie Marc-Andre Fleury for the game-winner at 9:23.

Soon after, Detroit fans were chanting, "We want the Cup!"

When the period ended, those fans were in a stunned disbelief.

HIGHLIGHT: Talbot stunned the Joe when he rebounded Hossa's miss to the right of the cage and slipped a shot past Osgood with 34.3 seconds remaining, preventing the Red Wings from clinching the Cup in regulation.

LOWLIGHT: Only 22 seconds after Tyler Kennedy drew a hooking penalty, Datsyuk positioned himself in front of the net and deflected a Henrik Zetterberg pass between Fleury's legs to tie it. Then, four minutes later, Brian Rafalski rifled a shot past Fleury to give the Red Wings a 3-2 lead.

GOALS: 1. Detroit, Pavel Datsyuk (Henrik Zetterberg, Brian Rafalski), 2:15; 2. Detroit, Rafalski (Zetterberg, Johan Franzen), 6:43; 3. Penguins, Maxime Talbot (Marian Hossa, Sidney Crosby), 19:25.

SHOTS: Red Wings 14, Penguins 4.

KEY STAT: Fleury faced almost twice as many shots as Osgood (34-18) in regulation, including 14 in the third period, but both had three stops.

PENALTIES: Tyler Kennedy, Penguins (hooking), 6:21.

POWER PLAYS: Penguins 0-0; Red Wings 0-1.

BEST HIT: It wasn't a legitimate "hit," but Talbot delivered a shot to the gut of the Red Wings' faithful with his late tying goal.

OVERTIME

After 49 minutes, 57 seconds of overtime play, Petr Sykora scored a power-play goal to give the Penguins a 4-3, triple-overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

It was the seventh Cup final game to extend to triple overtime and the fifth-longest in history.

Sykora's goal, his first of the Cup final and sixth of the playoffs, was assisted by Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar, who returned to the ice for the first time since crashing head-first into the boards late in the third period.

Despite getting a pair of power-play opportunities in the first two overtimes - both on goaltender interference calls - the Penguins came away empty. This time, they wasted little time.

Sykora's goal came 36 seconds after Detroit center Jiri Hudler drew a four-minute high-sticking penalty after drawing blood from Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi.

HIGHLIGHT: Not only was Sykora's game-winning goal his first of the Cup final, but it also marked the first point of the series for Malkin, who had missed on several scoring chances.

LOWLIGHT: The Penguins twice got breaks in both overtime periods when the Red Wings (Henrik Zetterberg and Dan Cleary) were sent to the penalty box for goaltender interference, but they came away empty both times.

GOALS: 1. Penguins, Petr Sykora, 9:57 (third OT).

SHOTS: Red Wings 24, Penguins 14.

KEY STAT: Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 55 of 58 shots, including 14 in overtime despite a barrage of scoring chances by the Red Wings.

PENALTIES: Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit, (goaltender interference), 17:25 (first OT); Dan Cleary, Detroit (goaltender interference), 3:41 (second OT); Petr Sykora, Penguins (hooking), 17:44 (second OT); Jiri Hudler, Detroit (double minor - high sticking), 9:21.

POWER PLAYS: Penguins 1-3; Red Wings 0-1.

BEST HIT: As Penguins forward Max Talbot advanced the puck through the neutral zone, Detroit defenseman Brad Stuart waited and then popped Talbot in the chest and knocked him off his skates at 15:49 of the second overtime.

DETROIT - JUNE 02: Jarkko Ruutu #37 and Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate after Petr Sykora scored the game winning goal against the Detroit Red Wings during game five of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 2, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. The Penguins defeated the Red Wings 4-3 in triple overtime to set the series at 3-2 Red Wings. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Fleury stands tall for Penguins in Game 5 win
By Mike Householder
Associated Press
June 3, 2008

DETROIT (AP) - Marc-Andre Fleury leaned back against the locker room wall, his hat on backward, still wearing his pads and skates.

Teammates, already showered and ready to leave, filed past, giving him high-fives along the way.

Fleury deserved to take a breather, considering he just turned aside 55 shots and almost single-handedly staved off elimination for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“It’s pretty tiring, what can I say?” Fleury said.

“I still think you win as a team, you lose as a team. I just tried to do my job.”

Thanks to the goalie’s Herculean effort Monday night, the Detroit Red Wings’ planned Stanley Cup celebration was put on ice for at least a couple more days.

The young net minder has been outshined by his veteran counterpart, Chris Osgood, for much of the series, but it was the former overall No. 1 pick who stole the spotlight in the Penguins’ 4-3 triple-overtime win in Game 5.

“That’s going to be huge for him,” Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said. “He was outstanding tonight. He was outstanding in overtime, and both goalies obviously played really well.

“But no doubt Fleury, probably his most important win in his career.”

Apparently the Penguins goalie and his youthful teammates didn’t get the memo about Detroit’s plan to celebrate another Cup for the Red Wings.

One game from elimination and playing at Joe Louis Arena - the site of a combined 7-0 whitewash in Games 1 and 2 - Fleury and Co. did what few outside of western Pennsylvania thought possible.

The series shifts to Mellon Arena on Wednesday for Game 6. Two more wins by the Pens, and they will have made history in more than one way, becoming the first team in 66 years to win a Cup after trailing 3-1 in the finals.

Yep, 66, as in the number Mario Lemieux famously wore while leading Pittsburgh to Cup wins in 1991 and 1992. Now one of the team’s principal owners, Lemieux celebrated the win amid hoots and hollers in a box high above the ice. Later, a smiling Lemieux accepted congratulations before walking into the night air.

When Petr Sykora’s game-winner hit the back of the net, Fleury threw up his arms and rushed to the blue line where he was mobbed by his teammates.

One of Fleury’s best saves came with about 3 minutes left in the second period when his kick save denied Mikael Samuelsson at the end of a 2-on-1 rush.

“I just tried to get something over there,” Fleury said. “I got my toe and made the save.”

He even had a little bit of luck on his side when Pavel Datsyuk’s point-blank try pinged off the crossbar 2 minutes into the third. Three minutes later, Fleury snagged another shot by Samuelsson - this one a hard wrister heading toward the net.

But it wasn’t enough with Datsyuk and Brian Rafalski scoring later in the third.

Maxime Talbot’s score with 35 seconds remaining in regulation - and with Fleury out for an extra attacker - sent the game into extra time. Talbot was Fleury’s replacement on the ice.

Therrien said the decision to send Talbot out with Fleury approaching the bench was “a feeling.”

“Coaches get feelings sometimes. It’s rare - it doesn’t work all the time, but I love Talbot’s game,” the coach said.

In all three overtimes, Fleury was impenetrable, stopping Johan Franzen from in front of the net early in the first overtime and kicking away a quick, low shot by Datsyuk a minute later.

He had all the angles covered and seemed unfazed by the pressure, making save after save to keep his team in it.

“The big answer for us was Marc-Andre Fleury. I mean, he was the difference,” said captain Sidney Crosby, who had two assists. “He held us in there, allowed us to keep battling and holding on. So a big part of that win goes to him. He kept us in the game.”

The Wings finished with a 58-32 shot advantage.

PITTSBURGH - MAY 31: Valtteri Filppula #51 of the Detroit Red Wings is checked by Jarkko Ruutu #37 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during game four of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Mellon Arena on May 31, 2008 in Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Plying his pestering trade
Former Canuck agitator now a leader on young Pens
Tony Gallagher, The Province
June 2, 2008

Before he left the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jarkko Ruutu was offered a two-year contract by the club to stay on, the first year at $850,000 and the second at 50 grand more.

Ruutu said thanks but no thanks to then general manager Dave Nonis and proceeded to come to the Pens for two seasons at $1.1 million, where his fortunes changed considerably once he got away from Marc Crawford, a coach with whom he shared a mutual dislike.

But then the usual kicker. After cheaping out the first time and finally realizing they might have made a mistake, the Canucks tried to get him back at the trade deadline this March. But instead, Vancouver ended up with Matt Pettinger, who in his limited time with the Canucks has given all the indications of being a total stiff.

What's happened to Ruutu in his time with Pittsburgh is quite amazing, really. He found a coach who plays him more than he'd ever experienced in his time with Crawford, and if you listen to some of the people around this team and within it, he's developed into something of a leader.

Given the youth of the Pens, it's not hard to imagine that a guy who's been through as many ups and downs in his career would have a pretty decent audience. And if he's going to help keep this team afloat tonight, he better choose his words carefully.

"I talk a lot, probably too much," said the 32-year-old. "I've been through a lot in my career and played in an Olympic final, a world championship final and a World Cup final, and I've seen some rough times when I couldn't get on the ice, and times like this when I'm playing and contributing some.

"I try to tell these guys during the tough times, especially that what's happened in the past, whether it's in past years or the last shift, it doesn't matter. What matters is your next one. That's the one you need to worry about and put all the rest out of your mind."

Ruutu is, of course, a lot of other things. He can still be vicious on the ice, as Mikael Samuelsson can attest to after getting a slash near the end of Game 1 for no particular reason. But he has toned down a lot of his hits from behind, although in his mind he's never hit anyone from the blind side. And did we mention butter wouldn't melt in his mouth?

"That hit on [Jaromir] Jagr in the Olympics, I say that wasn't a hit from behind at all and I don't regret it," Ruutu said of his most famous attack. "Even the referee on the ice said it was from the side and it was a clean hit."

Jagr's Czech teammates, and almost everyone else, didn't quite see it that way, but that's the world of one of the league's better agitators -- a breed loathed throughout the league who flourish to the detriment of the stars, thanks to the instigator penalty.

Fortunately, he seems to have toned down the worst excesses this year and especially in the playoffs.

"I think there's a time during the regular season when you have to take a few liberties on guys and maybe take some penalties, but not in the playoffs," Ruutu said. "During the playoffs you can't take the risk.

"But the referees in the regular season know how I play and sometimes I get a penalty for no reason. In the playoffs the best referees are here and that doesn't happen."

Players around the league should know it's not just the opposition that needs to worry.

"He's a real prankster around the locker room and a real pain in the ass to have around," said Ryan Whitney, presumably joking. "He's always playing jokes and messing with guys equipment and stuff. But he is a leader in the way he plays, sacrificing his body, playing physical and being in the middle of everything. He'll have something to say tonight."

"He's got the job of trying to get guys to take penalties without getting one himself and he's been pretty good at it," said Maxime Talbot. "He's been through a lot in this game and when he talks about his experiences, he makes some good points."

"I'm not going to talk about him [Crawford] or the time I had in Vancouver because I loved the city and have a lot of friends there," said Ruutu. "I thought in Game 2 of the St. Louis playoff series [a seven-game win in 2002], that was a turning point in my career. I got in because of injury and I thought that was a great experience.

"The tough times I've had over here, they've made me stronger and it just makes the good times that much better. I wouldn't change a day of my career, I really wouldn't."

Red Wings beat Penguins to close in on Stanley Cup
By Ira Podell
The Associated Press
June 1, 2008

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Detroit Red Wings wrecked the Pittsburgh Penguins' home-ice advantage and gave themselves a shot to hoist the Stanley Cup in Hockeytown. Jiri Hudler snapped a third-period tie for the Red Wings, who rallied from an early deficit to beat the Penguins 2-1 Saturday night and grab a 3-1 lead in the finals.

Detroit will get the first of three potential chances to win the Cup back home in Game 5 on Monday night.

The Penguins were a perfect 9-0 in the Igloo during the postseason and hadn't lost at home since falling in a shootout to San Jose on Feb. 24 - a span of 17 games. Now they will have to figure out how to win at Joe Louis Arena to force the series back to Pittsburgh for Game 6.

That'll be a tough task indeed considering they couldn't even score a goal in two games there to open the series.

Six teams have survived long enough to reach Game 7 after trailing 3-1 in the finals, but only the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs - who fell behind 3-0 to the Red Wings - came all the way back to win.

Pittsburgh would have to win twice in Motown, where the Red Wings are 9-1 during the postseason, to capture the Stanley Cup for the third time. Detroit is on the brink of title No. 11 and its fourth in 11 seasons.

"It never gets old, but we haven't won anything yet," captain Nicklas Lidstrom said.

Hudler set up the Red Wings when he smacked in a backhander from the bottom of the right circle with his back to the net 2:26 into the third. Brooks Orpik's clearing attempt from behind the net was kept in by Detroit defenseman Brad Stuart, who sent the bouncing puck back down low.

Rookie center Darren Helm chipped it to Hudler, who snapped a drive off Marc-Andre Fleury's left arm and inside the post for his fifth of the playoffs. That was enough to hand Fleury his first home loss in 19 home starts, dating to Nov. 21.

"It feels good, especially in this building," Hudler said. "It's a lot of fun, obviously, in the Stanley Cup finals. It was kind of a lucky goal, but I'll take it."

Chris Osgood made 22 saves to improve to 13-3 in the postseason. He has allowed four goals in the series. Fleury stopped 28 shots.

Pittsburgh had a golden chance to tie it just past the midway point of the third when Andreas Lilja's interference penalty on Sidney Crosby gave the Penguins a 5-on-3 power play for 1:27. Crosby had the best scoring opportunity, but Selke Trophy finalist Henrik Zetterberg tied up the Penguins captain's stick at the right post and didn't allow him to get off a shot.

"I've been telling people for three years how good Zetterberg is," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "This isn't a surprise to me. He's just a conscientious good two-way player. So is (Pavel) Datsyuk, but we have a lot of good players."

With less than a minute left in the advantage, Penguins coach Michel Therrien called timeout to give his struggling power-play unit a rest. It didn't help.

Evgeni Malkin put a shot off the outside of the net, and the red goal light switched on - giving the home fans false hope. The Penguins didn't record a shot during the two-man edge.

"There's no doubt we needed to get that goal," Therrien said. "We didn't execute well. We got a good chance to tie up the game right there, and we didn't do the job."

The night didn't start out in the Red Wings' favor, even though an octopus splattered in the Pittsburgh end near the completion of the national anthem. Dallas Drake took a roughing penalty that led to Marian Hossa's power-play goal early in the first, before Lidstrom tied it for the Red Wings 4:15 later.

Back in the friendly confines of the Igloo, the Penguins scored for the fourth straight period on home ice after being shut out for two games. In another encouraging sign from the rallying Penguins, they beat Osgood with a power-play goal.

Sergei Gonchar let go a shot that Osgood stopped, but Hossa got to the rebound at the right post, deftly moved the puck from backhand-to-forehand and tucked it in at 2:51 on the Penguins' second shot. Hossa's 10th of the playoffs was Pittsburgh's second goal in 12 power-play chances in the series.

Detroit also has struggled on the advantage, coming in with two goals on 19 opportunities against the Penguins. The Red Wings clicked 2 seconds after Pascal Dupuis' cross-checking penalty expired.

The Penguins nearly escaped unscathed when Max Talbot made a good defensive play near the right point but couldn't quite nudge the puck out of the zone. Detroit moved the puck back around, and Brian Ralfaski slid a pass left to defense partner Lidstrom, who after a slight backward curl ripped a drive that got by Fleury 7:06 into the first.

The rants all week by Therrien regarding obstruction he felt was committed by the Red Wings might have been heard by officials, who handed Pittsburgh three first-period power plays. The last was a holding call against Kris Draper.

Pittsburgh produced six of its nine shots - not including Hossa's drive off the crossbar - in the period during power plays and allowed 14 shots to Detroit.

The momentum off Pittsburgh's 3-2 win in Game 3 continued in the Penguins' direction before the opening faceoff when it was announced that Detroit top-line forward Tomas Holmstrom wouldn't play due to a hamstring injury.

Holmstrom, always a presence in front especially on the power play, was hurt Wednesday in Game 3 when he was knocked into the net by Pittsburgh defenseman Hal Gill.

The good fortune didn't last as the Penguins fell to 11-1 in the playoffs when scoring first.

Notes:

Darren McCarty, who hadn't played since Game 1, took Holmstrom's place in the lineup. ... The Red Wings blocked nine shots in the first period, the same amount the Penguins got through to Osgood. ... A moment of silence was held before the game for Vancouver D Luc Bourdon, who was killed Thursday in a motorcycle accident in Canada. ... Malkin, an MVP finalist, has no points in the series. Jarkko Ruutu Quotes:

"We just have to be patient.” "You have to put the puck on the net and get the rebounds. When we get a lead, I think we'll stand a chance."

"We have to win. We know that.” "It's gonna change the series around (if) we're gonna win this game. It's no secret that it's real tough to come back from (3-0). That's why we're prepared to win the next one."

"I think the refs got to call the interferences - they're doing a lot of it a little bit and that's how they slow us down a lot.” "If they don't, then we just have to start do that same way to them."

"Look, it's tough to win in this building (Detroit), but it's tough to win in ours, too.”

"We play well at home.” "This is the first time we got in a situation where we started on the road and lost two games. We haven't lost any games at home yet, so we're confident about that."

"We have to come out hard and make it tough on them, get that first one and make them chase us. To win we need one game in this building. We have to make sure we get one, maybe two more chances. This series isn't over yet."

"If you start talking too much and make the game too important, it might get to you, especially for the younger guys.”

"During the tough times, it can eat you inside if you don't learn to get away from it. Then you get tired and depressed. You have to stay upbeat. And when you have that, it brings you a lot of energy.

"If you start to fear losing, you're going to fail. It's not going to work. So you have to be brave and go right at it. And believe in it. I know it's not a good situation right now, but it could be a different situation after the next game."

"When you trip the puck in and they don't go for the puck, basically, they slow you down, put the cross check in front of you, and steer you with a stick and that was supposed to be called and ... the refs allow it and just have to start doing it - simple as that.”

About sleep interruption on the road: "It's happened a couple times to me.” "Nothing new. I didn't move. I just put a pillow on top of my head."

"They don't give you much room.” "We just have to be a little more hungry, put the pucks on the net and create chances that way. It's not going to be a perfect shot or a perfect play. When they get the lead, it's easy for them to play. They have a good system. We haven't been able to bury a goal despite having chances.”

"We know we have to win the next game.” "I just think you have to make a few adjustments and you also have to believe in each other. When you win one game, it can change the momentum in the series real quick."