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If the Penguins can hold serve at home in games 3 and 4 and that is a big IF but not impossible by any stretch, with the way the Pens played in Detroit in Games 1 and 2 being right there in the 3rd period and allowing that 3rd goal, I like their chances of going in Detroit for game 5 and having a chance to win. One way or another I believe this series is at the very least going back to Detroit for a game 5. If the Pens keep outshooting and outchancing the Wings a lot like they did in games 1 and 2 they will come out on top. The Wings are a very very good road team and have shown they can go into other teams buildings time and time again and win so Im not ruling out the Wings stealing a game here in Pittsburgh. I do think both games 3 and 4 will once again be close whichever way they end up going. I dont see the Wings beating the Pens 6-1 like they did the Hawks in Game 4 after they lost game 3. Much like the Pens will have their hands full winning 4 out of the next 5 games against this Wings team, the Wings will have their hands full as well trying to salvage a game here in Pittsburgh. It wont be easy by any stretch and the Pens are not going to quit.

The Penguins I feel just need to keep creating chances like they are doing and have done a good job of doing in the first 2 games in Detroit. The Wings defense while it still has been very solid they have been making more turnovers on defense then usual. That has set up a number of good scoring chances for the Pens. They just need to keep getting shots and creating chances and eventually I believe the pucks are going to stop hitting posts like Guerin and Crosby did last night and they are going to end up behind Osgood instead...

Not condoning anything Malkin did in terms of starting the fight with Zetterberg but Osgood's acting after Talbot barely poked him with the stick after the play was over was a little bit over the top. I mean Talbot barely touched him that hard and Osgood fell down like he just got shot or something...

There is no doubt that the Pens are in one helluva predicament now facing having to win 4 out of the next 5 games against a very very talented Red Wings team who just will not die and will just keep coming at you. I for one said they needed to either play even with the Wings or be up in this series to have a legit chance of winning it. So the Pens being down 2 games to the Wings is definitely a huge huge mountain to climb. However, we will see how things all play out tomorrow night in game 3 with the change of venue,and the Pens getting the last change and getting some of the matchups that can create more scoring chances. Both of these games were pretty much xerox's of each other both were 2-1 going into the 3rd period with the Wings getting late goals in the 2nd from Franzen and Fillpulla, and then Abdelkader getting the 3rd goal early to midway through the 3rd. Both games the Pens were on the verge of getting that 2nd goal and getting the lead either they hit a post or Osgood made a great save. Fleury as well has to start playing better and outplaying Osgood in these games.

Fedotenko scored 2 goals in Game 7 that were the deciiding factor in the game and in the series that was the point I was trying to make...Samuelsson while he did score twice in Game 1 I believe last year and later on in the series didnt do what Fedotenko did.

We heard the samething about the economy as to why Michigan State was going to beat North Carolina in the National Championship game and how did that turn out?? Another example was during 9/11 in 2001 when the Yankees played the Diamondbacks in the World Series everybody said the Yankess are suppose to win and will win because of the people and lives lost in New York City because it's meant to be and suppose to happen that way. How did that turn out?? The Yankees lost that series to the DBacks in 7 games... My point is while it's nice to think about these little things and add them into the equation it's going to have nothing to do with the outcome of this series. Just like who touches what trophies dont matter and this other BS that people read into. The Penguins especially Crosby are chomping at the bit after last season to hoist that Cup. And it's going to take a lot more then the Wings needing motivation for the economy in Detroit being a mess along with the auto industry to beat the Penguins in this series...

No question that the style the Penguins play under Dan Bylsma is more conducive to being able to beat the Red Wings then the style that Therrien with the defensive trap ran last season. The Penguins will not sit back and let things happen in this series much like they did last season. They are going to come right at the Wings and try to dictate the pace of the game from start to finish. The Wings have yet to play this Pens team under Dan Bylsma and this new system, so it will be very interesting to see how they handle it and if they can shut it down and hold the Pens to under 35-40 shots. It's going to be tough for the Wings to do if their defense is not at 100 percent with guys like Lidstrom and Ericsson playing but not at full strength.

There is another guy the Wings might have to worry about and that is Fedotenko. The guy has had a knack for scoring big goals in big playoff games, and is playing very well right now with Malkin and finishing a lot of chances. The Pens are 6-0 in the playoffs when he scores a goal this post season. Keep in mind as well this is the same guy that scored 2 goals in Game 7 of the 2004 Finals for Tampa Bay when they beat Calgary. You dont score 2 huge goals like that in your career without having some kind of confidence when the puck comes off your stick which Fedotenko must certainly still does. While Guerin and Kunitz have played well with Crosby and Guerin is putting some pucks in the net and creating a lot of chances, Id be more worried about a guy like Fedotenko burning the Wings over a guy like Guerin.

The Pens need to capitalize on rebound chances. Osgood is positionaly sound for the first shot nearly 100% of the time. The Pens have to force rebounds and capitalize on them. You know the Wings are going to do the same to Fleury. I noticed the other night he gave up a goal on Patrick Kane's backhand that went high. I'm not sure if that was a fluke goal but it didn't look like Osgood was very strong on high shots. He fights the puck a lot up in his shoulders and gives up a lot of rebounds off his chest.

New Pens fans here on the board just wanted to come on here and talk about this series with all the Wings fans...This year's Pens team is definitely more ready for the cup than last year's that's for sure. A lot of guys just flat out didn't show up. Malone was too worn out, did nothing but get hit in the cup. Ruutu didn't rattle anyone on the Wings. Letang was so inexperienced that we had to sit him after game 2, replaced with Sydor. There were plenty of things wrong. And that happens because of the lack of experience. So now the guys that are still on the team from last year, have that experience..and the guys we picked up thru FA also have it, that is the key difference. Also another thing to keep in mind is Bylsma > Therrien.