Who Was Better in Game 3? An Answer and Other Pre-Game 4 Notes

First, Tomas Holmstrom.

There have been conflicting reports so far about whether he will play or not in game 4 Saturday night.

Yesterday, ESPN reported that Red Wings GM Ken Holland thought Holmstrom was doubtful for game 4, but should play again "in the series". In the same article, Holmstrom himself said he was going to take the game skate Saturday and "expected to play". TSN Canada reported that he would play.

Today, ESPN reported Holmstrom and Red Wings coach Mike Babcock feeling good about Holmstrom's chances, but said that the buzz in the Detroit locker room was that they weren't expecting him to go.

Barry Melrose from ESPN made a good point saying that, whether he plays or not, this whole business with Holmstrom is only good news for the Penguins. If he sits, it's obviously good news. But even if he plays, it shows that the Penguins are starting to take a physical toll on the Red Wings.

Obviously, Holmstrom will be a game-time decision. If he doesn't play. the Red Wings are supposed to move winger Dan Cleary up to their top line with Zetterberg and Datsyuk. Cleary has some jam in his game, but is an average player and is a shadow of what Homlstrom brings to that line.

I read several articles after game 3 suggesting that the Red Wings still played better than the Penguins in game 3. One in particular, from Damien Cox of the Toronto Star, had me riled up because his conclusion seemed to be based solely on the fact that the Red Wings piled up another good number of shots and again limited the Penguins to shots in the low 20's:

http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/432756

Cox is clueless. The Penguins skated just as well as Detroit, got better goaltending (even though Fleury has room to improve still), were more physical than the Red Wings, and had more and higher quality scoring chances.

There's no doubt that the Penguins have much room to improve in game 4, and will have to be better if they want to win again, but to say that Pittsburgh was lucky to win game 3 is shameful.

Heading into game 4 tonight, the Penguins have to do all the things they did in game 3, but also must clamp down in the neutral zone a bit. Whether that's by having their defenseman step up or having their forwards do an even better job coming back, or both, it doesn't matter. But Detroit continues to be able to generate offense through there and the Penguins are not creating enough turnovers in that area.

As I mentioned, Fleury needs to be better still. In each game in this series so far, he's let up at least one he shouldn't have. That must change if the Penguins have a chance to win.

Finally, Malkin needs to contribute on the scoreboard tonight. Hopefully he'll maintain the momentum from his play in game 3.

If the Penguins win tonight, Detroit has the pressure for game 5. If Detroit wins. the Penguins will have their backs against the wall.

I'm counting on the Penguins keeping the home streak alive.

LET'S GO PENS!