Osgood as it gets

The bounces just didn't go the Penguins way on Saturday night as the Detroit Red Wings took game one of the Stanley Cup Finals. Pucks took bounces off the boards that lead to the Wings first two goals. Giving Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury that “not again” feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Brad Stuart opened up the scoring in the first period. His shot caromed off the boards behind Marc-Andre Fleury and ended up in the back of the net to give the Wings a 1-0 lead. "It happens," Fleury said. "I'll try to forget about it. Watch the tape and see if I can do something else."

Later in the second period the boards became a factor again. Brian Rafalski took a shot that bounced off the boards. Johan Franzen grabbed the loose puck and was able to flip it past Fleury for what would turn out to be the game winner.

The Penguins got there only goal in the first period. Ruslan Fedotenko jumped on the rebound of a slap shot by Evgeni Malkin and put in by Chris Osgood for his 7th goal of the playoffs. That tied the game up at one.

The Penguins controlled most the the play in the second period until the late goal by Franzen, his team leading 11th goal of the playoffs."Every building you go into there are little nuances, and you try to take advantage of them the best you possibly can," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said of the two Detroit favorable bounces.

The Penguins had there chances. Early in the second period Evgeni Malkin stripped the puck from Detroit defensemen Niklas Kronwall at the Penguins blue line. Malkin broke in on Wings goalie Chris Osgood and let go a heavy wrist shot. Osgood was just able to get a glove on it to rob Malkin.

In the third period Penguins Sindey Crosby took a shot that bounced off Osgood, then hit the post. Finally the puck came to rest on the back of Osgood right between the numbers. Osgood was able to role away from the goal to keep the puck from going in the net. “I knew it was there, but I'm not that flexible. I was just hoping for the best” Osgood said.

The Penguins played well enough to win but just came up on the short end last night. A couple of bounces their way and the story could have been a whole lot different. Pittsburgh had a lot of quality chances but Osgood was the difference. He stopped 31 of 32 shots and proved once again that he is a big game goalie.

Game two is tonight in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena. The Penguins need to jump on Osgood and the Red Wings early. Set a tempo and not let up. If there is a positive the Penguins can take out of this is that they can play with Detroit this year. They have the confidence in themselves and as a team.” This is a race to four. They've got one on us” Pens coach Dan Bylsma said. Hopefully the bounces are on the Penguins side tonight and they can come home to Pittsburgh with the series tied at one and home ice advantage.


By Nick Spanos