The Pens Are Starting to Click: Beat Detroit 4-2 to Tie Finals at 2

All the talk that the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals were becoming a carbon copy of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals must end after The Pens once again rallied back at home against the Defending Cup Champion Elitserien All-Stars. The Pens much needed win ties the series at two games a piece and ensures that the Pens will play one more game at the Igloo, hopefully with a chance to clinch the First Cup (of hopefully many) of the Sid-Geno Era, at home, in the final days of the Igloo.

Among the many positives the Pens can take from Game 4, Pens fans can no doubt take a gigantic sigh of relief that Sid finally scored his elusive first goal of the Cup Finals. Jordie Staal also got the goal monkey of his back, scoring his first ever Cup Finals goal, which might have changed the entire dynamic of the series. Jordie's goal lit a fire in the Pens bellies setting the tone for the feverish onslaught the Pens unleashed over the next seven minutes, a tone the Pens look to bring back to Detroit on Saturday night.

Jordie's Goal

Jordie's game altering goal, the first of three consecutive Pens goals, occured as a direct result of Jordie's relentless effort, length and drop-jaw athleticism as Jay Bilas would say. Jordie broke out of the Pens zone taking an pass from Max Talbot, who out-hustled the puck along the boards at the blue line (which was a common theme of the game, see Sid's goal), raced down the ice with diminutive 5'10 (on skates) Brian Rafalksi giving chase desperately trying to poke the puck away from Jordie's imposing 6'4 frame. As he closed on Osgood, Jordie used his reach to muscle Rafalski away to get the shot off and beat Osgood for the pendulum swinging, game tying goal.

The Elitserien All-Stars were gifted two-straight minor penalties, and with four consecutive minutes of power play time, they not only allowed Jordie's game tying goal, but failed to score a goal of their own, leaving them only one power play goal during the series. Ignited by Jordie's shorthanded goal, the next five frenzied minutes were arguably the best five minutes the Pens have played all year. Moments after Jordie, Sid finally got his name in the goal column on a beautiful rush with Geno and the Pens took the 3-2 lead. Minutes later, Tyler Kennedy put the Pens up 4-2 burying a picture pefrect pass from the re-energized Sid that will be the sexiest goal you'll see all Finals. It was especially satisfying to see two members the gritty, dirty working third liners members play key roles in the win.

TK's Goal

If anything, Game 3 and Game 4 have proved that the Elitserien All-Stars are not invincible by any stretch of the imagination and that the Pens are capable of beating them in any game. It's now excuse time for the Elitserien All-Stars, who suddenly find themselves in the Pens previous position of committing needless turnovers, getting beaten to loose pucks, getting untimely bounces and just plain bad luck. I was personally excited by the fact that the human leprechaun, Muskegon Michigan's own Justin Abdelkader, was benched in favor of the ineffectiveness that a 80% Kris Draper brought. The Elitserien All-Stars will no doubt be buoyed by the eventual return of Pavel Datsyuk, but his one goal and seven points in thirteen playoff games shouldn't have the Pens frightened.

The first four Games of the Cup Finals have shown that the Elitserien All-Stars play the best system game in hockey, there's no doubt about that. Problem is, that system works a hell of a lot better when they've got a lead and are able to clog up the neutral zone with the strategy "formerly known as the neutral zone trap." However, when playing from behind, especially in their own zone, their vaunted defensive corps leaves a lot to be desired. (See, three shots in the 3rd Period of Game 3 and being dominated in the final thirty minutes of Game 4.) Maybe they should dress Chris Chelios, assuming he's not to busy hanging with Tony Danza, Dr. Cox from Scrubs trying to learn how to bobsled. See, three shots in the 3rd Period of Game 3 and being dominated in the final thirty minutes of Game 4.

In the middle of all of this wordiness, it's interesting to point out how little mention there was of Geno in this recap. Geno continued to amaze. It's been awesome to watch Geno take the leap into a true NHL superstar. When the Pens win, Geno has a goal and an assist and you can barely mention him, you know the Pens are in real solid shape.

After Game 2, The Cup was all but given to the Elisterien All-Stars. Now, coming back to Detroit for Game 5, there's a totally different feel to the series, a feeling the Elisterien All-Stars aren't accustomed too: doubt.