Game 5 Recap: PENGUINS WIN IN TRIPLE OT

To quote U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy after brain surgery yesterday:

"I feel like a million bucks. I think I'll do that again tomorrow"

That just about sums up the Penguins virtuoso performance last night in game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Detroit Red Wings -- an epic game for the ages that ended at 9:57 of the third overtime on a power play, when one half of the Penguins MIA duo, Evgeni Malkin, passed to the other half, Petr Sykora, who drilled a laser top corner over Mr. Unimpressive, Chris Osgood, cutting the Red Wings series lead to 3-2 and sending this series back to the venerable Igloo for game 6 Wednesday night.

Anyone who has been around hockey for a long time, or been around the Penguins for a while, knows what type of lasting memories come from a win like this. I'll talk more in a bit about the impact of this victory for the Penguins going into game 6 but for now, I have to bask in the many things that stood out in this one:

- Marc Andre-Fleury's 55 saves, many of which were of the spectacular variety and none better than the toe save he had, splitting to kick out Red Wings' forward Mikael Samuelsson's chance in the second period

- Petr Sykora playing Babe Ruth, calling his shot to NBC between-the-bench reporter Pierre McGuire before the third OT started, saying he was "going to get one" before going out and delivering the game winner

- Sergei Gonchar leaving the game late in the 2nd period with back spasms after going into the boards harder than Georges Laraque pummels people, then trying to return in the 3rd to no avail, then appearing again next for the 3rd overtime, getting on the ice for the 4-minute power play, and assisting on Sykora's game winner

- Max Talbot joining the ice as the 6th attacker late in regulation with Fleury pulled, saving the Penguins season and keeping the Red Wings from claiming the Cup by scoring the tying goal with 35 seconds left in the 3rd period

- Ryan Whitney playing more than 50 total minutes and leading one of the gutsiest performances I have seen from a defense who was down to only 5 guys for, essentially the last 4 periods of this game

- Ryan Malone taking a Hal Gill slapshot right in the mug in the 2nd period, re-breaking the nose that was broken on a hit by Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Kronwall in game 1 and now (again) looking like he got beat up in a back alley, but showing incredible toughness in coming right back out for the 3rd period.

I can't say enough about the heart and will and determination of the Penguins team in coming back to send the game to overtime, hanging in there for 50 minutes of sudden-death hockey, then winning it. Although they played pretty well in the first half of the game and raced out to the 2-0 lead, the Red Wings dominated them in the 3rd period. Once Detroit had taken the lead, I thought the game was just about over. And who woudn't have? The Penguins had shown nothing in that period to suggest they would tie the game and give themselves a chance in extra time.

A game like this can give the Penguins some momentum. They are returning to their own building for game 6 and will have an energetic crowd unlike any the Mellon Arena has ever seen. But they have to do it on the ice, because if they don't win game 6, their incredible effort last night will have been wasted. And don't think the Red Wings will go easily. They will bounce back and be strong Wednesday night, just like they were on the road in game 6 in Dallas of the Western Conference Fianls after having a chance -- and failing -- to close out the Stars at home in game 5. We'll have to come with a better game to win and send the series back to Detroit for an anything-can-happen game 7.

It will be interesting to see if Gonchar is able to play on Wednesday. Back spasms (assuming, indeed, that is what is bothering him) can be tricky. If he's not full strength, what does Penguin coach Michel Therrein do? Play him? Not play him? Play him and dress an extra "D"? Whitney did a fantastic job last night assuming some of Gonchar's responsibilities in #55's absence, but the 2 chances we had on the power play for goalie interference in the first and second overtimes last night, respectively, demonstrated that the Penguins aren't the same without Sarge quarterbacking the effort back there. The Penguins need him to control the puck and get it up the ice on the man-advantage, and given how tough Detroit is defensively, the power play takes on extra importance.

It also will be interesting to see if Red Wings coach Mike Babcock sticks with the line changes he made, separating Henrik Zetterburg and Pavel Datsyuk. Having those 2 on separate lines seemed to give Detroit some energy and greater scoring depth.

To win game 6, the Penguins are going to have to continue getting the puck deep and bang on the Red Wings defenseman. Both of their first 2 goals last night resulted from that, and arguably, Talbot's did as well. Detroit's defense is showing that it is susceptible to turning the puck over. The Penguins need to dump the puck smart and go get it.

I'll be in the house for game 6. When it's over, I want to leave the Igloo and downtown with 20,000+ other Penguin fans, knowing we are going to Detroit for game 7 while we collectively chant:

"WE WANT THE CUP!!!"