PITTSBURGH (AP) -Special teams were the difference as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 Thursday night in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals, evening the championship rematch.
“Tonight, it was,” Detroit’s Henrik Zetterberg acknowledged. “We got opportunities when it was 2-1, got a power play, they scored and it was a tied game for a huge momentum swing.”
The Penguins blanked Detroit on its four power plays, scoring themselves on one of them, and got off to a good start when Evgeni Malkin opened the scoring when they had an extra skater.
“I think the penalty kill was a huge, huge part of that second period,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said.
Jordan Staal’s short-handed goal, beating usually reliable defenseman Brian Rafalski to the front of the net, made it 2-2 midway through the second period.
of snuck it in.”
Sidney Crosby’s go-ahead goal and Tyler Kennedy’s goal in the second period made it 4-2, and the Penguins wisely stayed out of the penalty box to make a comeback challenging for the defending champions.
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IRONIC LEADER: Darren McCarty hit rock bottom two years ago because of a wicked cocktail of drinking, divorce and bankruptcy. McCarty was out of hockey in November, 2007, relegated to watching the Detroit Red Wings from the stands with his son. Motivated to get his life and career back, he made sobriety, family and hockey his priorities.
He started a comeback that led to him playing 17 playoff games last season for the Red Wings and winning his fourth Stanley Cup.
McCarty hasn’t played once during these playoffs, but still has value to the organization because of the leadership he provides for Detroit’s young players, who were his teammates for much of the regular season in the AHL.
“Who would’ve thunk it?” he asked.
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KEEP HITTIN’ KUNITZ: Chris Kunitz had 12 points in Pittsburgh’s first 16 playoff games, including five in a two-game span against the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals.
But, he was scoreless in four straight games until assisting on the final goal in Game 4.
ed Wings.
Kunitz was credited with 11 hits in Game 3 – more than twice the number of checks anyone else had Tuesday night – and the Penguins said they gave him credit for two more.
“That’s leaving your mark in a lot of different places,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. “That’s what you count on from the guy.
“Leaving a mark, being a presence on the forecheck, going and driving to the net.”
In Game 4, Kunitz had four hits to trail only the five checks Detroit’s Darren Helm had.
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MESS ON MARIO: It’s not easy to impress Mark Messier, but Mario Lemieux has done it.
“As a player, he positioned himself as a leader, came here and turned the franchise around,” Messier said. “And, now he’s done it again as an owner.
“Success seems to follow Mario wherever he goes.”
If the Penguins win the Cup, Lemieux will become the first person to win NHL titles as a player and an owner.
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CHEAP SEATS: The Penguins invite fans to watch the playoffs on a videoboard outside Mellon Arena, and Dawn Cummings has noticed the crowds getting bigger before each game.
“We’ve been coming to every one and I was lucky to get this spot in the front row at noon,” the 29-year-old fan from Monroeville, Pa., said 3 1/2 hours before the puck dropped. “These are the best seats in the house. You see all the action, and it gets pretty crazy out here.”
ngs fan, who was brave enough to sport a Nicklas Lidstrom jersey.
John Simons was booed as he walked through the throng of fans sitting in camping chairs, laying on blankets and inflatable mattresses with coolers packed with drinks and food.
“I tried to watch Game 3 out here, but I almost got into fights,” said the 26-year-old resident of Lincoln Park, Mich. “I’m not sure where I’m going to watch this game.”
Hundreds of fans had secured spots to sit a few hours before the game, making a wise move because thousands of fans spilled into the area to soak up the atmosphere to take up every inch of grass and concrete.
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ONE-TIMERS: Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin has a shot to be the first player to lead the NHL in points in both the regular season and postseason since Mario Lemieux did it for the Penguins in 1992. Wayne Gretzky, Guy Lafleur and Phil Esposito are the only other players to pull off the feat since 1968. … Detroit coach Mike Babcock joked before Game 4 that he was probably not running for father of the year. “I’m missing my son’s graduation today,” he said Thursday. “I missed my daughter’s birthday on Tuesday.” … Red Wings F Marian Hossa scored two goals in each of the Game 4s in the Western Conference playoffs, but didn’t get any of his team-high five shots past Marc-Andre Fleury. … With so many non-North American players becoming stars in the league, reporters from Sweden, France, Czech Republic, Finland, Slovakia and Russia are covering the finals.
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