In a must win scenario for the Pittsburgh Penguins, the role players stepped up and took control of Game 3 and got the Pens back in the series by defeating the Detroit Red Wings 4-2. In the first period Maxime Talbot scored first for Pittsburgh to give them life, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang were credited with the assists to help put the Pens up 1-0. The Pittsburgh lead didn't last very long though because less than two minutes later Henrik Zetterberg would tie the game up and five minutes after that the Pens found themselves in a familiar hole after Johan Franzen but Wings back in front on the first power play goal of the night to take a 2-1 lead. The Penguins were bound and determined in this game to not go away so the first power play chance they got they took advantage of the opportunity. Pittsburgh defense man Kris Letang scored his fourth goal of the playoffs off a Malkin pass during the power play to even the game at 2. In the second period the Red Wings dominated the Pens out shooting them 14-4 but Marc-Andre Fleury turned each shot aside to keep the game tied at 2. In the third the Penguins found the opening they were looking for when Detroit committed a penalty and gave the Pens the only power play of the period. Sergei Gonchar took a pass for Malkin and wristed a shot past goalie Chris Osgood for what would be the eventual game winner. "The [Gonchar] power play was an unbelievable job by a handful of guys out there, keeping the play alive and giving Gonch a chance," Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. On the play Sidney Crosby fed Malkin the puck and went and screened the goalie to help Gonchar put the puck in the net. Talbot would pick up his second goal of the game on an empty netter for the insurance goal and a 4-2 victory. Like I said as long as the Pens keep doing what they are doing good things will happen and they will be right back in this series. The Wings one glaring weakness is their penalty kill unit and if the Pens can force more man advantages they should be able to hold Detroit at bay. So far this series has been what the NHL has wanted, a hard hitting, intense series with little room for error. Game 4 is Thursday night back in Pittsburgh.
RED WINGS LEAD SERIES 2-1 OVER THE PENGUINS
GO PENGUINS!
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