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Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh is known affectionately as “The Igloo”. Unfortunately, for hockey fans of the Penguins, they presently understand all too well, you can’t spell igloo without a couple of “o’s”, which is what the Penguins have put up in the scoring column in the first two games of the Stanley Cup. What has been disheartening for Pittsburgh fans and backers alike is where did the stars go for the Pens? The 21-year-old Russian Evgeni Malkin, had eight goals and nine assists in his first 10 playoff games, has disappeared like a defector. Malkin has been a complete detriment for Pittsburgh. He’s lost over 60 percent of his face-offs, not launching a single shot in Game Two and playing lazy on defense. His performance after the series opener was so bad, coach Michel Therrien had to pull Malkin aside between the first and second games of this series in an effort to light a fire under him. Instead he played worse. Pittsburgh is 15-2 in home games revenging a road loss versus opponent this season and they will need Malkin, Sidney Crosby and the rest of the Pittsburgh players to play, for lack of a more tactful word, unafraid. Detroit could just as easily change their nickname from the Red Wings to the Red Army, with the cool, detached approach they have used thus far in the Finals to overwhelm the Penguins. Goalie Chris Osgood has not seen many quality shots and has deftly pushed aside anything he has had to come in contact with. Defensemen Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom and Nicklas Lidstrom have played like they all octopuses, poking away any rushes Pittsburgh has tried to start, leaving Penguins bewildered. Detroit is showing exactly why they are 14-1 in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Pittsburgh went chippy near the end of being shutout a second straight time. Crosby was asked if he finds that embarrassing, he said, “It’s 2-0 and we haven’t scored. So we have to find ways to score goals. To be honest, I’m not too worried about people’s perceptions. I’m worried about playing hockey and winning hockey games.”
Pittsburgh is 8-0 in the postseason at Mellon Arena and has reeled off 16 straight victories on home ice. They are a -115 money line favorite, with Total Ov5 at Sportsbook.com. The Penguins are 17-5 ATS in home games revenging a loss versus opponent this season, yet will face a Red Wings squad that is has yet to lose in eight tries after two straight blowout wins by three goals or more in 2007-08 season.
An interesting twist to what has occurred: The last time a team was shut out in the first two games of the Finals was Anaheim in 2003; the Ducks went home and won twice in overtime against New Jersey. The Ducks’ coach was none other than Detroit’s present leader behind the bench, Mike Babcock.
It goes without saying this important contest for Pittsburgh down 2-0 and another loss all but extinguishes any hope. NBC picks up the action starting at 8 Eastern with the Penguins 7-0 in home games revenging two straight losses where opponent scored three or more goals this season.
StatFox Power Line – Detroit -140
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