Water Cooler:Open Thread: Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 2009 (Pens vs Red Wings)

The Pens can win this game. If they start the game energized and can dictate the pace early on, the game will be there's. There's obviously a lot of pressure on such a young team in game 7 in Detroit, but if they don't let it phase them, they've shown that they can play as well as, if not better than Detroit

Crosby's line starts for pittsburgh so datsyuk et al are out for detroit. So far the Red Wings have kept the puck in their offensive zone most of the game. Line shift, and an offsides call on Pittsburgh

The Pens really need to get the puck into their offensive zone. They're playing extremely tenatively, and they really need to shake the nerves if they expect to win.

6 mins in, 2 shots detroit, 1 for pittsburgh. Line change for Pitt.

Here's pittsburgh, they get a shot off but no good.

Offsides Detroit and we're about 7 mins in

Mohammed Ali is wearing a Red Wings Jersey, in case anyone's wondering ;) Detroit is really physical tonight, but it's not doing a lot for them.

Wow, Fleury is doing a great job so far tonight. Blocks a nice shot by detroit.

Kennedy gets a shot for pittsburgh, and passes it for another good shot, but osgood stops it.

There sure are a lot of Pens fans in the stands tonight - you can hear "lets go penguins" in the background

just past 10 mins in the first and we're still scoreless

Slashing call on Stewart. Pittsburgh will have a power play opportunity

Detroit is successful on the penalty kill, and with 5:30 left in the first, we're tied at 0 (sorry, my computer froze)

4:16 to go and we're still scoreless (computer issues still, but i think i've fixed the problem)

A lot of Pens fans made the trip. It's like when the Steelers are on the road.

I'm rooting for the Pens. I just can't stand the Red Wings like I loathe the Pistons.

Kennedy shoots and Osgood saves comfortably and freezes the puck for the faceoff.

Dangerous centering pass covered up by Fleury before Zetterberg could have a potential shot.

WHAT A SAVE BY FLEURY!!! Red Wings now getting their attack going after that barrage by the Penguins.

Lidstrom with a shot that goes just wide to end the period!

Scoreless at the end of the 1st. Great action and it was really fast-paced.

sorry, i have no clue why my computer is acting up. Anyways, end of 1 period, we're still scoreless.

Detroit is winning a majority of the Faceoffs, and has the only penalty of the game.

Pittsburgh is outshooting Detroit 10-6.

Fleury has been fantasic - most of those 6 shots have been pretty good ones and he's done a fantastic job helping his team tonight

2nd period about to begin.

GIVEAWAY AND MAX TALBOT SCORES!!! THE FIRST GOAL GOES TO PITTSBURGH!

Ok it seems like firefox is giving me problems so now i'm using a different browser.

Faceoff won be detroit. Pass down to the other end, Fleury sends it down.

Crosby shoots from up top, around to Kunitz. Crosby can't get in, Datsyuk takes it down. Crosby on the steal, back down to the pittsburgh offensive zone...SOGOALLLLLL PITTSBURGH. Talott scores and gives the pens a 1-0 lead

Stuart lost the puck, Malkin took it away and Talbot hesitated in front of goal and then shot it and finds the five-hole and the Penguins lead 1-0.

That was a key goal for the pens.

Pitssburgh's looking to stall now, as Detroit takes possession.

Looks like it's going to be a 4-4 situation now. Stahl is in the box for pitt

Malkin has it and it's 2 on 2. Takes the shot and Osgood gloves it.

Nice shot by Malkin, Osgood save

SSR you take play by play. I get distracted and forget to type sometimes ;)

Fluery is amazing, yet another beautiful save

Matt Cooke has a breakaway for Pittsburgh. CHANCE TO MAKE IT TWO!! SAVED BY OSGOOD AND HAS HIS LEGS CUT OUT FROM UNDER HIM!! Net is loose and play is stopped.

Crosby is hurt and is doubled over in pain. Apparently he has hurt his knee. Huge huge loss for the Penguins if it's serious.

Penalty coming up against Pittsburgh. Hal Gill to the box!

Crosby is injured, he's heading to the bench. This could be bad news for Pittsburgh. Even if he's not scoring, he's still a player that detroit has to always monitor, and him being on the ice makes it easier for everyone else on his team Penalty on pittsburgh

Zetterberg comes in and the shot is saved by Fleury! Pens have a shorthanded chance and Talbot's shot is stopped and Osgood is forced to hold the puck.

CBC announcers have confirmed Crosby is still in the locker room.

Lol, they're playing "shipping up to boston"

This is a really piss poor power play by Detroit. They haven't had a good chance at all. On cue Kromwall fires and it hit Fleury. Power play is over. One timer is saved by Fleury just as it expires!

Pittsburgh's at full strength

Crosby is still out. Pittsburgh is still outshooting detroit 15-11

I just cannot go for the Penguins It should be the bruins...damn

2 on 1 here for Pittsburgh. IT'S TALBOT!!! IT'S TWO!!!!!!

TALBOT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!! 2-0 PENGUINS

Oh so sweet. It was good enough for NBC to do a classic John Madden breakdown (with the circles and arrows)

Does Shitsburgh become "title town" like the anointed Boston on ESPN?

Fantastic play by Max Talbot and I'm telling you this crowd is only about 70-30 Detroit fans. This is the first time the Penguins have scored multiple goals in a game against Detroit on the road, in this series.

Pittsburgh is just the faster team and more aggressive at this point. Screw experience from Detroit. They need to work now.

Kromwall takes a shot and it's blocked by Miroslav Satan and out of play. Actually it went back on the ice but the refs blew the whistle the moment it went out.

"They need to be banging some bodies." - Craig Simpson

See? You can't get this gold from Ed Olczyk!

Pittsburgh won their two previous Stanley Cups on the road. Can they do it tonight? They're 2-0 up with 5:55 left in the 2nd.

Crosby still hasn't returned to the bench. Right now they don't really need him.

Red Wings look totally out of sync. Either they're offsides, doing a failed dump and chase, or giving the puck away.

Rafalski with a drive that blazes wide of the net. Gonchar gets the puck out of the attack zone.

Hal Gill wrists it wide. Icing by Detroit so they'll get to change.

Neither team has lost a game in this postseason leading after the 2nd period. Zetterberg shoots and it's deflected wide!

Zetterberg again and Fleury gets it!

holy shit. Fleury makes a glove save from behind a good screen by detroit

If it weren't for fleury, Detroit would have already won this game

2-0 Penguins end of the 2nd period. Anyone else thinks Fleury is the series MVP?

Shots on goal Pittsburgh 17 Detroit 16.Datsyuk turns, Lidstrom gets it to Rafalski who shoots and FLEURY DOES IT AGAIN!

Talbot has both goals tonight. Did you have your money on that?

Penguins 2 Red Wings 0

Detroit has tied up the shots on goal, but that's really not enough if they want to have a chance. Fleury is playing too well for the Red Wings to simply stay even in terms of shots with the Penguins

I'm betting that Fleury can be the 4th person to record a shutout in game 7 of the stanley cup playoffs

Crosby is going to play. He's suited up and ready to come out of the locker room.

Crosby is out on the ice and will start the 3rd period

Here we go. It's do or die for Detroit.

2 goal leads are the most dangerous leads in hockey

If I'm pittsburgh, I'm making Crosbys line a 4-man line for the period. Crosby should play, but if they're leading 2-0, what's the point of pushing him on a bum knee?

Penalty coming up against the Penguins. It's Mark Eaton for tripping. HUGE opportunity for the Wings to get back into this game.

Mark Eaton is called for tripping. Power Play opportunity for Detroit. They must score in this power play

It appears as if Crosby is able to play, but they're keeping him on the bench so long as they enjoy a comfortable lead. Probably a smart decision on Pittsburgh's part

Hossa shoots and it misses the net.

Hossa again! NO!

LIDSTROM!!! FLEURY TO THE RESCUE!!!

FULL STRENGTH PENGUINS

30 seconds left on the PP. Talbot sends the puck down the ice as another poor pass sends Detroit back to their own zone. After a promising start the rest of the power play was garbage.

Eaton is back on.

6 minutes into the 3rd, and i'm not seeing a lot out of Detroit. They're getting shots, but they're not making good of second chance situations

there's a bit of irony for marion hossa, that's for sure

Stuart fires and it ricochets off a Wings player wide of the net. Fillpula keeps the puck in. Wings turn it over again and I think Pittsburgh is probably content with this 2-0 lead the way they've been playing. Datsyuk got whacked by Brooks Orpik. Shot from the point hits the outside of the post.

Fleury is legend. More brave and crucial saves by him. Red Wings can't get the puck out and now Osgood has to hold onto the puck to stop the play. 10:25 left in the 3rd.

Bruno looks like a terrible movie. Like a really bad version of Borat.

game time for pittsburgh, crosby comes into the game

Crosby is making his first shift of the period. How about that?!

Another turnover but the shot goes high. Halfway through the 3rd. Crosby completes his shift and returns to the bench.

Pittsburgh has not had a shot on goal this period. Then again, Detroit has had 4. Hossa shoots and Fleury saves it. Big rebound in front of the net cleared away by Pittsburgh! 8 minutes to go!

Oh my Stuart had no idea where the puck was. He just stood there then raced to get the puck back.

2 on 1 for Pittsburgh, they center it and it's just out of the reach for (I think) Gonchar.

Lidstrom takes the shot and it's TIPPED! Wide of the net again. ERIKSSON SHOOTS AND SCORES!! DETROIT IS BACK IN IT!!!

damn, Eircksson makes it a 2-1 game with 6:07 let. Oh well, Pittsburgh will still win

FRANZEN TO TIE IT!! THAT'S WIDE!!! ANOTHER SHOT TIPPED IN FRONT WIDE!!! 5 minutes to go!! What drama here! Penguins have to think about attacking. The 3rd period has been their weakness and Detroit's strength!

Intercepted pass by Malkin! HE SHOOTS AND OSGOOD SAVES!!!

A rolling puck was there for Holmstrom but Fleury gets to it and holds on. 3:23 left and we're in for a dramatic finish to a great Stanley Cup.

3 minutes to go and Pittsburgh is trying to hang on for the Cup!

KROMWALL OFF OF THE CROSSBAR!!! WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT?!!! 2 MINUTES LEFT!

2 minutes left, and the red wings fans thoguht they had a goal

80 seconds let till a penguins stanley cup victory

90 seconds left!

Filppula shoots and it goes out of play. Another deflection. 1:17 to go and I'm thinking Osgood will be pulled.

Well, either Detroit will force OT or Pittsburgh will return the favor to the defending champs.

40 SECONDS LEFT

Osgood has been pulled.

1 minute to go! Penguins clear it! Scuderi does the job! Cleary chases but there is now a scramble. Adams clears it! Offsides on Detroit again! 32 seconds!

OFFSIDES DETROIT. 32 SECONDS LET. THIS FACEOFF IS CRUCIAL FOR DETROIT

Shot by Kronwall is deflected and another pass is over the glass and out of play.

They'll get this faceoff outside of the zone! This could be it! 16.1 seconds officially!

Wings win the draw.

They scramble for the puck and it's under Brooks Orpik with 6.5! PLAY IS STOPPED!!! PENGUINS CAN TASTE IT!

THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ARE YOUR 2009 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LIDSTROM WITH A LAST CHANCE AND IT'S STOPPED BY FLEURY!!!!!!!! THE PENGUINS HAVE WON THE STANLEY CUP!!!!!

What a scene at the end! The defending champions are dethroned on home ice against the team they beat last year!

That was a fantastic save by Marc Andre-Fleury to win the Stanley Cup.

Amazing. They were in danger of missing the playoffs altogether, fired their old coach and hired Dan Bylsma, and twice came back from 0-2 deficits in the playoffs en route to a famous Stanley Cup.

Malkin wins the Conn Smythe Trophy. Playoff MVP and well-deserved!

Eat crap, Bettman. They're booing you.