For the 11th time in franchise history the Detroit Red Wings are Stanley Cup champions after defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in Game 6. The Penguins had no answer for Detroit's suffocating style as Henrik Zetterberg's third period goal ensured that the Cup was headed back to 'Hockeytown' for the fourth time in the past 11 seasons.
With 13 goals and 27 points in the playoffs, Zetterberg was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, joining team mate Nicklas Lidstrom as the only Swedish players to accomplish the feat.
"It feels pretty good," said Zetterberg. "It's been a long season. When we lost a few nights ago in Joe Louis, it was devastating. (But) we found a way to battle back.
"It's just a great feeeling. There's some great names on it."
It was apt to see Zetterberg accept the award as the Wings are tinged with a distinct 'Tre Kronor' flavour with seven Swedes on the roster including Lidstrom who became the first European born and trained player to Captain his team to capture hockey's Holy Grail.
Lidstrom was very aware of his place in history following the victory.
"It's something I'm very proud of," said Lidstrom. "I've been over here for a long time.
"I watched Steve Yzerman win it as our captain, and I'm very proud to be captain of the Detroit Red Wings and to win the Stanley Cup again."
Zetterberg, Niklas Kronwall and Mikael Samuelsson also all joined Lidstrom in the very prestigious 'Triple Gold Club,' as they added a Stanley Cup ring to an Olympic Gold medal and World Championship both won in 2006.
The Penguins made it very interesting as with less than two minutes remaining Marian Hossa scored on the power play to pull the Pens within a goal.
"When they scored their second one, we knew it was going to be tight right to the end," said Zetterberg. "When I saw 0:00 on the clock, I was a happy man."
The tension mounted even more for Detroit as Sidney Crosby's backhander flipped over Chris Osgood but stayed out of the net with no time left on the clock. After the series it was revealed that Crosby played the series with both injured ribs and groin.
Following the game Crosby appeared emotionally spent.
"I haven't experienced a Stanley Cup final loss before. It's not a good feeling," Crosby told reporters following the game.
The Wings accomplished the rare feat of clinching all four playoff series on the road.
The win was extra sweet for Dallas Drake who earned his first Stanley Cup ring in his 16th season.
"I can't believe it,'' said Drake. "We've got a tremendous group of guys who want to win more than anybody I've been around.
"I just can't be more thankful right now.''
History was also made as forward Dan Cleary became the first player from Newfoundland and Labrador to have his name etched on the Stanley Cup.
"It's great to be part of history," said Cleary. "It's something to be really proud of.
"I'm proud to be from Newfoundland. I can't wait to bring it home so the kids can see it and touch it. If a kid from Riverhead can do it, they can do it. I want the kids of Newfoundland to believe they can achieve a lot of good things."
Despite the loss, Penguins head coach Michel Therrien was extremely happy with his team's performance.
"We're going in the right direction with those young kids," said Penguins coach Michel Therrien. "The future is bright with those young kids. This is definitely a team that is really fun to coach. They paid a price to try to get better. I'm really proud of my players."
After coming so far in such a short period of time, the loss was difficult for many of the Penguins to take.
"I've got no feeling right now," said Penguins forward Maxime Talbot. "It's tough.
"We came here to win. We didn't miss out by much. Give the Red Wings credit. They did what they had to do."
Part-owner Mario Lemieux was at the centre of things the last time the Penguins hoisted Lord Stanley's Cup, he thought that the experience is something the young Pens could use to build on in the future.
"We've come a long way in a short period of time," said Lemieux. "It's always disappointed not to win once you see the Cup this close. But we played a great team and a great organization. And they deserve to win.
"Hopefully this will teach our young kids how to win. And hopefully next time we'll be much better."
All the momentum appeared to be headed in the Penguins favour after winning a triple overtime thriller in Detroit in Game 5. The Red Wings however answered any questions as they controlled the game from the first drop of the puck.
A "Sea of White" greeted the players as they hit the ice as a ravenous crowd at the "Igloo" hoped to set the tone of intimidation for the game. Going into Game 6 the Penguins had lost only once at home throughout the playoffs, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Wings in Game 4.
Game 5 overtime hero Petr Sykora had the first good chance of the game as he picked up a loose puck in the slot; however Osgood was there to make the save.
Both teams attempted to set a physical tone early. Franzen bowled over Marc-Andre Fleury as he played the puck behind the Penguins net. The very next shift Max Talbot slammed into a Wings defender on the fore-check. Even the much maligned Evgeni Malkin got in on the action as he dumped Dallas Drake behind the play.
That's where the good news ended for the Pens as Detroit opened the scoring on a power play when Brian Rafalski's shot deflected off the leg of defenceman Hal Gill past a screened Fleury. Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk picked up the assists on Rafalski's fourth goal of the playoffs.
Detroit almost immediately gave the Penguins a chance to get back in the game as Kris Draper was given a roughing penalty less than 30 seconds after Drake was called for charging. Pittsburgh however was unable to capitalize on the extended two-man advantage managing only three shots on the Red Wings net.
To compound the problems, Adam Hall took a high-sticking penalty by clipping Wings' captain Lidstrom seconds after Draper returned to the ice.
Johan Franzen had an opportunity to extend the lead on the ensuing power play with a pair of chances but Fleury was up to the task.
Detroit continued to apply the pressure as Datsyuk danced into the Pens zone and found line mate Zetterberg whose blast narrowly missed the top corner.
Sensing weakness, the relentless Wings attack pressed on as Dan Cleary's one timer beat Fleury but rang off the side of the net as the Penguins appeared to be on their heels for the majority of the period.
Detroit's domination continued in the middle stanza as they appeared to be in complete control after Valtteri Filppula banged home a rebound when Fleury could not control the initial shot by Mikael Samuelsson. The goal was Filppula's fifth of the post-season.
The Penguins however were handed a lifeline when Malkin fired home his 10th goal of the playoffs on the power play.
Malkin's first goal of the series Stanley Cup final was an absolute bullet that beat Osgood five-hole to pull the Pens within a goal at 2-1. The goal was only the Hart Trophy nominee's second point of the series after he picked up an assist on Sykora's OT winner in Game 5. The Russian enjoyed by far his best game of the series after being largely a passenger for the first five games. Sidney Crosby drew his playoff leading 21st assist on the play. After the series Malkin admitted that he had suffered through the flu in the first two games of the series.
"Yes, at the end of the Flyers series and the beginning of the Detroit series I was a little bit sick," said Malkin through an interpreter. "But I don't think it was a major factor with my game."
The Pens were just happy to see Crosby back on the ice after he was drilled by Brad Stuart into the boards. He was in a great deal of pain as he skated gingerly to the bench. When he returned to the ice he appeared to be favouring his right foot. Crosby told NHL International that he was not injured on the play, simply 'winded.'
The Wings had injury issues of their own to deal with as forward Darren Helm headed to the dressing room after being on the business end of a check by Pens blue-liner Brooks Orpik. He did not return until five minutes into the third period.
While the Penguins appeared to have all the momentum heading into the third, it was the Red Wings who were able to come up with an important insurance marker as Zetterberg increased the score to 3-1 as his shot trickled through Fleury. Fleury then inadvertently pushed the puck into his own net as he fell over backwards in an attempt to cover the puck.
The goal was Zetterberg's 13th of the post-season. With that point he drew even with Crosby atop the playoff scoring lead.
The insurance was much needed as the Penguins once again refused to give up. Late in the contest with Jiri Hudler in the box for hooking and Fleury pulled, Sergei Gonchar's point shot was deflected by Marian Hossa in front past Osgood pulling the Pens within a goal with just under two minutes remaining.
Detroit held a 30-22 advantage in shots in the contest. The Penguins were out shot by the Red Wings by a 222-142 margin in the series.
With the victory Mike Babcock became only the third ever head coach to capture both the Stanley Cup and the CIS Championship, which he did with the University of Lethbridge in 1994.
Eight Red Wings remain from the 2002 team that won the Stanley Cup: Lidstrom, Chris Chelios, Dominic Hasek, Tomas Holmstrom, Draper, Kirk Maltby, Datsyuk and Darren McCarty
Although the Penguins must consider the season a success, it could be an off-season of change in Pittsburgh as seven Penguins are set to become unrestricted free agents including Hossa, Ryan Malone, Orpik and Gary Roberts.
Poster Comment:
Congratulations to the Red Wings. Without a doubt, the best skilled and classiest team won the Cup! They deserved it, hands down.