Red Wings Follow Familiar Formula, Go Up 2-0 in Finals

Echoing last year's Finals and mixing in some hints of Game 1, the Red Wings kept up the brand of hockey that took them to the title in 2008.

For the second consecutive year, Detroit has taken the first two games of the Stanley Cup finals against Pittsburgh. On Sunday, it was some of the lesser lights who gave the Red Wings a 3-1 victory at Joe Louis Arena, while on the other side, the Penguins' star player was silent.

Red Wings 3, Penguins 1: Recap | Box Score
Red Wings Lead Series 2-0

Sidney Crosby has yet to score a point in this series, just like last year, when Pittsburgh failed to record a goal in the first two games at Detroit. Evgeni Malkin, also a non-factor early in the 2008 series, did tally on Sunday, putting in the Penguins' only goal, with help from Detroit defenseman Brad Stuart. But Malkin might not be available for Game 3. He was assessed with an instigator penalty in the final 20 seconds on Sunday, pending a review by the league. (Update: The one-game suspension was rescinded late Sunday night, and Malkin will be available).

Pittsburgh went on the attack near the end of the first period, forcing the action, and the Penguins wound up on the power play with just under four minutes to go when Nik Kronwall was send to the box for cross-checking. After a shot by Sergei Gonchar, there was a massive scramble in front of the net, and the puck squirted free toward Malkin, who ripped it back the other way and wound up with the game's first goal with 3:10 remaining.

Stuart got a big break in scoring Detroit's first goal of the series in Game 1 with a bounce off the boards that banked off Marc-Andre Fleury. Stuart got a bad break in Game 2. Trying to wave the puck out of the crease after some furious action around the goal, Stuart inadvertently knocked Malkin's shot into the net.

Continuing a major theme of the postseason, Detroit's depth came to the fore. Rookie defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, four days removed from an appendectomy, blasted a shot from just inside the blue line after a Red Wings' faceoff win, tying the game with 15:39 left in the second period.

Just after a Wings' power play came to end halfway through the period, Valteri Filppula picked up a loose puck near the right post after Tomas Holmstrom had failed to stuff it in. Skating away from the net along the goal line and off balance, Filppula fired a backhand beauty past Fleury on the far side.

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Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, of Russia, is led to the bench after he fought with Detroit Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg in the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Detroit, Sunday, May 31, 2009. Detroit won 3-1. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Linesman Jean Morin separates Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, left, of Russia, and Detroit Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg, right, of Sweden, after they fought in the third period of Game 2 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup finals in Detroit, Sunday, May 31, 2009. The Red Wings won 3-1.(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Detroit Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood falls back after getting hit by the stick of Pittsburgh Penguins forward Maxime Talbot (2nd R) while Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg (R) watches during the third period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final hockey series in Detroit, Michigan, May 31, 2009. REUTERS/Jim McIsaac/Pool (UNITED STATES SPORT ICE HOCKEY)

Reuters

DETROIT - MAY 31: Marian Hossa #81 of the the Detroit Red Wings knocks down the puck in front of Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penugins during Game Two of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena May 31, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan.(Photo By Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kris Letang;Marian Hossa

NHLI via Getty Images

DETROIT - MAY 31: Jordan Staal #11 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battles for position against Niklas Kronwall #55 of the the Detroit Red Wings during Game Two of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena May 31, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan.(Photo By Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Niklas Kronwall;Jordan Staal

NHLI via Getty Images

DETROIT - MAY 31: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins is beat for a goal by Justin Abdelkader #8 of the Detroit Red Wings during Game Two of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena May 31, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan.(Photo By Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marc-Andre Fleury

NHLI via Getty Images

DETROIT - MAY 31: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins loses his stick as he attempts to make a save against the Detroit Red Wings during Game Two of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena May 31, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan.(Photo By Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marc-Andre Fleury

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Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury reacts to giving up a goal to the Detroit Red Wings' Justin Abdelkader during the third period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Red Wings defeated the Penguins, 3-1, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, Sunday, May 31, 2009. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)

MCT

The Detroit Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg (40) and Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin fight at the end of third period in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Red Wings defeated the Penguins, 3-1, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, Sunday, May 31, 2009. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)

MCT

The Detroit Red Wings' Mikael Samuelsson takes a hit from the Pittsburgh Penguins' Matt Cooke during second period action in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Red Wings defeated the Penguins, 3-1, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, Sunday, May 31, 2009. (Kirthmon F. Dozier/Detroit Free Press/MCT)

MCT

Then, 2:47 into the third period, fourth liner Justin Abdelkader -- who had scored the Wings' third goal in Game 1 -- did so again on Sunday, taking the puck across the blue line, cutting left back across the middle and shooting around Rob Scuderi. Fleury couldn't come up with it, a soft goal that increased Detroit's advantage to two.

For the second game in a row, Detroit forward Henrik Zetterberg wound up in an awkward position while helping goalie Chris Osgood. Less than two minutes into the third period, Crosby took a shot from the right of the net that hit off the far post and bounced back across the crease along the goal line without going in. Zetterberg, who dove to protect the puck when it wound up on Osgood's back on Saturday, plunged across the front of the net, behind Osgood, helping eliminate any possibility of a goal on the rebound. The play was reviewed, but it was clear that the puck never crossed the line.

Zetterberg and Malkin tangled in the final 20 seconds after an unsuccessful Penguins flurry while their own net was empty. Zetterberg has been a major factor in holding Crosby scoreless. Malkin was assessed the penalty for instigating.

Osgood stopped 31 of 32 shots. It was the first time the NHL has held back-to-back Finals game since 1955. The Red Wings have won four Stanley Cups in the past 12 years.