DETROIT (AP) -The Pittsburgh Penguins gave themselves a great chance to extend the Stanley Cup finals against the Detroit Red Wings, going ahead 2-0 in the first period of Game 5 on a quick-hitting goal and a fortunate one Monday night.
Marian Hossa’s wrist shot went across Chris Osgood and in the net.
Pittsburgh got a break when Adam Hall was credited with an unassisted goal that caromed into the net after Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall tried to whack the puck into a corner.
On the brink of elimination, the Penguins clearly looked like they intended to send the series back home for Game 6 on Wednesday night.
They scored on two of their first five shots – at 8:37 and 14:41 of the first – against Osgood, who had been giving up just 1 1/2 goals a game.
Only the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs have rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the finals to win the Stanley Cup, pulling off the feat against Detroit after losing the first three games.
On the first two scoring plays, Pittsburgh proved to be stronger in the corners after going 8-plus minutes without a shot.
Pascal Dupuis hit Brian Rafalski in a corner, got the puck to Sidney Crosby at the side of the net and the 20-year-old superstar perfectly set up Hossa in the right circle for his goal.
Hall withstood a hit from Johan Franzen in the corner, skated toward the net and scored a playoff-type goal that teams need to advance – or stay alive – this time of year.
Three penalties were called in the first 5-plus minutes, putting Detroit on the power play twice and Pittsburgh once for just over a minute.
The Red Wings failed to take advantage as did rookie Darren Helm, who missed the net on a breakaway with 2-plus minutes left.
Pittsburgh’s Marc-Andre Fleury had eight saves in the first period and Osgood made five.
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