National Hockey League

Staal's goal gave Pens reason to believe

Published Jun. 5, 2009 5:38 p.m. ET

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The first three games of the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals appeared a copy of last season's result, but with the Pittsburgh Penguins tying the series with a 4-2 victory in Game 4 the script is now a new one.

Unanswered second-period goals by Jordan Staal, Sidney Crosby and Tyler Kennedy clinched the win for the Penguins, but none was bigger than Staal's shorthanded marker on a great individual effort.

The Penguins at that point were killing off back-to-back penalties and with the Wings having gone up earlier in the period 2-1, it appeared they were poised to once again drive daggers into the Penguins' hearts.




But Staal, shaking off a Wings defender to beat Chris Osgood stick side with a quick wrist shot, not only tied the game but changed its momentum as the Penguins controlled much of the play after that.

The Wings appeared to be a tired club as Game 4 wore on, struggling with their puck possession game. Three of the four Penguins goals were as a result of turnovers, plus Detroit gave up an unusually high number of odd-man rushes.

When Evgeni Malkin gets two breakaways plus a two-on-one resulting in teammate Sidney Crosby's first goal of the series, you know it wasn't a good night for the vaunted Red Wings defense corps.

Fatigue could be a factor for the Red Wings as this series progresses. In the first two games they dominated the Penguins in the third period, but that wasn't the case in Games 3 and 4.

Perhaps one reason is the Wings found it easier to play with a lead in the third period as they did in Games 1 and 2, compared to trying to rally back from deficits in Games 3 and 4.

Playing four games in six nights might have worn down the Wings as the younger Penguins benefitted from an extra day off prior to the start of the series.

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