Pens/Wings Game 5 Grades

Mike Adams | Report Cards

Jun 3, 11:18 AM | Hype this story!

Today, I bring you no grades. How can you grade something like that? Every single player gets an A, because each and every one of them gave every last ounce of energy they could muster.

They played hurt, as if some of them like Sykora and Malkin weren’t already doing do. Last night, we added Sarge and Malone to the list. But they kept on going through one, two, three overtimes.

When they faltered, there was Marc-Andre Fleury to bail them out. Talk about erasing the demons of horrors past. He has not only erased them, he has crumpled the whole sheet up and thrown it in the shredder.

There are the unsung guys like Gill, Whitney, Scuderi, Sydor, and Orpik who took increased ice time when Gonch went down. Whitney logged an extraordinary 50 minutes of ice time—almost a full game. All the others except Sydor were over 40. Incredible.

Up front, Sid and Hossa did yeoman’s work, with over 34 minutes each. And those were hard, tough minutes, as they left every last ounce of blood and sweat on the ice.

I am truly at a loss for words in trying to explain what those 20 guys did last night. it is beyond our wildest dreams that they could give up a 2-0 lead, then score in the final minute to tie it, then go through two and a half overtimes before putting away a team that had dominated them so thoroughly in this building in Games 1 and 2.

So, really, all I can say is, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. You are an amazing group of guys, and I should never have counted you out.

Comments

  1. Head Coach Michel Therrien

    Jun 3, 11:22 AM

    Mike? Is dis de real Mike Adam?

    I tink dat some kind of liquid is running down de HCMT’s cheek.

    I tink we now ‘ave a true believer in de MCM,
    Michel

  2. Dabich

    Jun 3, 11:27 AM

    That pretty much says it all, Mike. Best review you ever did.

    ::passes Michel a handkerchief::

  3. Todd

    Jun 3, 11:31 AM

    Jiri Hudler’s stick should get an A+, too.

  4. pens91912

    Jun 3, 11:32 AM

    Amen Mike. Great review.

  5. Jonathan Farzalo

    Jun 3, 11:33 AM

    I still can’t understand what i saw last night….

  6. Dabich

    Jun 3, 11:52 AM

    it may take a while to sink in and figure out.

  7. Matt Bodenschatz

    Jun 3, 12:46 PM

    You know, this is exactly the type of game that turns a series around. Sure, they’re still behind, but after this one, you have to believe the momentum is on their side.

    - Detroit is much older and surely is feeling the effects of this one much more than the Penguins.

    - Pittsburgh blew the lead, then tied it, then won it. The Stanley Cup was on the runway to the ice, for goodness sake. The Red Wings had it yanked from their grasp. That hurts.

    - The Penguins are going home, and the crowd will be louder and more raucous than ever before. If that doesn’t provide the energy needed for a win, I don’t know what will.

    - Gary Roberts plays for the Penguins. His pregame speech clearly had his team motivated. They want to win this for themselves, no doubt, but they want it even more for him. I’m not so sure Dallas Drake has the same effect on the Wings.

    - Marc-Andre Fleury is the better goalie. Osgood has been good, but anyone suggesting he has been better than Fleury this series needs to look at the quality shots against. Osgood has far, far fewer quality shots against, yet he is getting more credit. Fleury stole this one, and clearly is a future All Star!

    Mike, great, great write-up. This team is something special!

  8. TIM

    Jun 3, 02:40 PM

    Amen. Let’s Go Pens!

  9. Let's Go Pens @ Myspace

    Jun 3, 04:21 PM

    This is w/o a doubt the best “Grades” review we have ever read, very well done Mike!

    We read just about every review you post here, and agree w/ most, disagree w/ some, but that is sports.

    This one gets 100% of our approval, and even brings a mist to the eye when thinking back at how special a game that was!

    We were all so lucky to have witnessed such a gutsy effort from a team that was all but done in the eyes of most.

    This post is for Gonchar’s back, Malone’s beak, and the oh so tired legs of every Penguin who never breaks print w/ their efforts.

    And of course for MAF! Trade deadline day game at Nassau Coliseum, the one that Conk stopped 50 shots. We sat next to him in the runway the whole night. Actually mustered up the courage to ask him if he felt his job was threatened. He chuckled, and said, “Nah. I’m taking this team to the cup.”

    After last night, we have every reason to believe.

  10. Eric

    Jun 3, 07:50 PM

    I was going to write something (not as good as what Mike said above) if there would’ve been grades handed out. :)

    Sometimes, getting an A for effort is all you really need.

    P.S.looking forward to a a positive comment from Michael after this battle of epic proportions? Beuller, Beuller..

  11. Dabich

    Jun 3, 10:00 PM

    LOL Eric !

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