Game 2 Recap: Red Wings Win, 3-0, Lead Series, 2-0

I think this entry will be much shorter than the recap I posted following game 1.

Why?

Because game 2 in Detroit was a carbon copy of game 1.

Behind goals from scoring machine Brad Stuart, and forwards Tomas Holmstrom and Valtteri Filppula, as well as 22 saves from Chris "The Diver" Osgood, the Red Wings captured game 2, 3-0. They now lead the best-of-seven Stanley Cup Final two games to none, heading to Pittsburgh for game 3 Wednesday night.

Much like game 1, Detroit stifled the Penguins through the neutral zone and had 2 goals before the Penguins even had a shot on goal. Pitsburgh didn't even record an even strength (5-on-5) shot until 5 minutes into the second period.

If this keeps up, the series won't return to Detroit.

The Penguins have to find a way to break through and crash the net in this series. Of course, if they do, Osgood is going to flop around and probably draw more penalties, but that's a chance the Penguins have to take to try and get back in it. The Red Wings continue to do a great job in the neutral zone not allowing the Penguins to skate.

Pittsburgh also has been victim to some tough breaks in this series. Stuart's goal last night is a good example. Fleury got a piece of the shot, but it just rolled right through him. There haven't been too many to go by him like that in the playoffs thusfar. Meanwhile, on the other end, we've been unable to capitalize on the few chances we've had around Osgood. In the first period, Penguins Center Sidney Crosby brilliantly set up Ryan Malone in front, but he flubbed the puck and couldn't get a shot off. Later in the game, after a Red Wings defenseman (Lebda or Lilja, I'm not sure which) fell down, Gary Roberts picked the puck up and made a nice backhand pass to Jordan Staal who was wide open cruising down the slot. Probably gripping his stick too tightly, he just shot the puck wide, and then failed to score on a backhand rebound when the puck bounced off the back boards.

The Penguins can't afford to miss those chances if they're going to stay in this series. They simply aren't going to get many. They need to get one to get some confidence going again. If that goal is the first of the game, all the better. They are capable of playing defensively just as Detroit has. In fact, Red Wings top guns Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk haven't been significant factors in this series so far. Although one could say they are waiting to break out, Crosby's line has done an excellent job against them defensively. If they are able to keep that up and contibute just a little bit on the offensive end, the Penguins could come around in this series.

Of course, they'll need Evgeni Malkin to come around, too. Again, he was a non-factor last night. He looks worn out like he was in the series against the Senators last year, and has admitted to being fatigued:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/archive/s_569411.html

We all know how that series turned out last year. Without Malkin, the Penguins aren't the same club. If he can't find a way to step up and realize that his season has just a few more games in it, the Penguins chances of making a series out of things in the final drops dramatically.

Hopefully, the rough stuff that occurred at the end of the game will carry over into game 3 at The Igloo. The Penguins need that energy -- they need something to build on. They haven't lost at home in over 3 months, and will need every bit of a raucous crowd there to help them try and get back in this series. Although only 3 teams have ever gone on to win the Cup after dropping the first two games on the road, it bears repeating that the Red Wings have stumbled on two occasions earlier this playoff year after taking multiple-game series' leads -- in the first round against Nashville (lost games 3 and 4 in Nashville after winning games 1 and 2 at home) and in the Conference Finals against Dallas (lost games 4 and 5 after taking a 3-0 series lead). Although the Red Wings' won both series, they probably don't want to push their luck.

Detroit held serve at home, which is what they should be expected to do. The Penguins will, obviously, have to win a game there if they have any chance at winning the Cup. But that's to worry about later. For now, they have to concentrate on taking the next 2 in their own barn, just as they should be expected to do.