Stanley Cup Final: Game 5

SI Staff | Jun 4, 2008

Stanley Cup Final: Game 5 /

Stanley Cup Final: Game 5

Red Wings center Valtteri Filppula (51) is checked into the boards by Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik (44) as battle commences in the first period. The Penguins were desperate and on the brink after a tough Game 4 loss at home.

Sidney Crosby (87) and Pascal Dupuis (9) celebrate teammate Marian Hossa's (18) first-period goal that gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

Winger Adam Hall (28) ups the Penguins' lead to 2-0 in the first period by beating goalie Chris Osgood, who had his shakiest outing of the 2008 playoffs.

Down 2-0, the veteran-laden Red Wings began to draw on their experience and poise. Defenseman Brian Rafalski, a two-time Stanley Cup-winner with the New Jersey Devils, assisted on Pavel Datsyuk's game-tying goal at 6:43 of the third period and later scored the go-ahead tally at 9:23.

Zamboni driver Al Sobotka waves an octopus that was thrown onto the ice at Joe Louis Arena as the boisterous crowd anticipates the Red Wings winning the 11th Stanley Cup in their storied history.

Conn Smythe candidate Henrik Zetterberg tries to control the puck while being checked by Jordan Staal. Zetterberg set up the game-tying goal by Pavel Datsyuk early in the third period, inciting chants of "We want the Cup!"

Red Wings center Johan Franzen, who set up Brian Rafalski's go-head tally, carries the puck up ice while being checked by Tyler Kennedy, who took a costly hooking penalty in the third period that led to Pavel Datsyuk's game-tying goal.

Pavel Datsyuk, who has been extremely effective as a checker in the series, tries to put the clamps on Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby, who assisted on Marian Hossa's opening goal and Maxime Talbot's stunning game-tying tally with only 35 seconds left in regulation.

Red Wings Mikael Samuelsson, a former Penguin, is checked into the boards by Ryan Malone as the two teams begin a grueling, wearying battle that lasts into a third overtime period.

Penguins netminder Marc-Andre Fleury was often brilliant while making 55 saves, including 24 in the three OT periods.

After brashly predicting to NBC reporter Pierre McGuire that he would score the decisive goal, Penguins winger Petr Sykora made good by connecting on a power play 9:57 into the third overtime and sending the series back to Pittsburgh for Game 6 on Wednesday.

Published Jun 4, 2008

SI STAFF