No Cup For Detroit, As Pens’ Win Epic 3OT Thriller In Motown

I was there, I saw it in person!  Game #5 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Final may well go down as one of the best games in playoff history, as the Pittsburgh Penguins staved off elimination to beat the Wings 4-3 in triple overtime, to cut Detroit’s lead in the series to 3-2.  The game had it all (not even to mention the Stanley Cup was in the building):  raw emotion, blown leads by both teams, injuries, blood, amazing crowd and goaltending, last second heroics, and a Penguin win for the ages!  My girlfriend and I survived the hostile environment at Joe Louis Arena, sitting through the over 4 hour roller-coaster ride of emotions from section 217A.  I was even taking a video of the final minute of an expected Detroit win (for a piece of history) when Max Talbot http://www.myxer.com/ringtone:505118/ saved the Pens’ season with less than 35 seconds to play, and the champagne chilling on ice in the Wings locker room.  The Joe went from insane loudness and joy, to total silence and horror.  The Pens’, who blew a 2-0 first period lead, were totally dominated in the 3rd and most of the three overtimes, and if not for the un-real goaltending of Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh’s season would have ended, and the Wings would have Cup #11.  But sports is a funny animal sometimes.  The guts the Pen’s showed to stay in the game with the late tally, and Petr Sykora’s 3OT winner http://www.myxer.com/ringtone:505117/ were true testiments to how great this bunch of players are.  So it’s back to Mellon tonight for Game #6, and if the Pens’ can pull it out, there will be a game for “all the marbles” in Motown on Saturday night!  I can’t wait to see it happen.  Let’s Go Pens’!!  Oh, check out the pictures I took at the game using the link below.

http://s244.photobucket.com/albums/gg38/darthwall/game5pensvswings/