One For the Ages

If you missed last night's game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals, then you missed over 100 minutes of fantastic hockey. Up 3-1 in the series and trying to clinch, Detroit put on a ferocious third period push to take the lead and start the countdown to their coronation. Looking panicky and done, Pittsburgh found new life when Max Talbot jammed home a rebound with 30 seconds left, forcing sudden-death overtime. It took 3 overtimes, but the Penguins finally prevailed on Peter Sykora's power play goal and pushed the series to 3-2. The Penguins were as gritty a team as I've ever seen - goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was truly phenomenal, defenseman Sergei Gonchar picked up an assist on the game winning goal after missing the third period and the first two overtimes due to crashing head-first into the boards late in the second period, and winger Ryan Malone played to the end with a battered visage after taking a slap shot to the face (already having suffered a broken nose just a week prior) in the second period. Detroit was the better team last night, but the Penguins refused to go down, which made for thrilling and riveting viewing. Do yourself a favor and catch game 6 Wednesday night.