Among some hockey fans, Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby has developed quite the reputation. While Penguin fans swear by his consistent play and leadership ability, other fans look at him as a complainer, whiner, and even someone who embellishes to try to get the attention of officials.
Think what you want of him, but it's hard to argue that he got pretty banged up Friday night during Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Unfortunately, Detroit fans were not on their best behavior in response to his injury.
Here's the good news for Detroit Red Wings backup goalie (and soon-to-be free agent) Ty Conklin: You've been a part of three of the past four Stanley Cup Finals, two of which have gone to seven games, while the other was about three inches and a tenth of a second from also seeing a winner-take-all game. And that fourth year? Eastern Conference final with the Buffalo Sabres. Not many players can say they've been a part of such history.
The bad news? He's been on the short end of the stick each and every time.
So I'm watching the morning Sportscenter, and after going through the highlights of Friday's Game 7, I hear Neil Everett drop the following line: "I just Googled Max Talbot to find out more about him and the first thing I find is a bunch of pictures of him shirtless, kissing girls, so he must be the dude."
Now you know, Neil. Now you know. With his performance in Pittsburgh's 2-1 win on Friday night, Talbot wrote his chapter in Penguins history by scoring both goals in the deciding game of the Stanley Cup final. While this puts him on the NHL map, he's has been a superstar in Pittsburgh for the past two seasons, not only for his gritty, hard-working style of play, but for his flawless performances as a spokesperson (sort of) for A & L Motors in Pittsburgh.
DETROIT -- Extraordinary. Wait, that word isn't grand enough to describe what happened here Friday night. Thrilling? Stunning? It was both, and so much more. It was babyface goalie Marc-Andre Fleury making a couple of huge saves in the final, throat-clutching seconds. It was Sidney Crosby lifting the silver chalice and kissing it once, twice, barely buckling under his twisted knee. It was heavy-handed Maxime Talbot scoring a pair of improbable goals, while Evgeni Malkin raised his game to an entirely different level.
It was Marian Hossa dropping to his knees in sorrow, the pain that accompanies having to watch another team celebrate on his home ice for the second straight season almost unbearable. It was Chris Osgood, dazzling in goal, but not dazzling enough. It was a wave of wing-wheeled, veteran Europeans pushing the reigning champions as hard as they could be pushed, and the young, energetic pups in black refusing to budge.
It was Pittsburgh 2, Detroit 1, the Stanley Cup changing hands in spectacular fashion.
That disastrous Game 5 performance by Marc-Andre Fleury seems like an eternity ago, doesn't it? The Penguins' 24-year-old goaltender was brilliant in their Games 6 and 7 wins, and in each contest was responsible for the game-clinching, game-saving and game-winning saves to help the Penguins claim the third Stanley Cup in franchise history.
On Friday night, with 6.2 seconds to play in the season, Fleury made two of the biggest saves of his career as he not only turned aside a shot from Henrik Zetterberg through traffic, but he also stopped future Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom on the rebound as time expired. Video after the jump.
The Conn Smythe Trophy has been handed out since 1965. It's given to the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In 2009, this was not an easy decision. There were plenty of viable candidates on both of the finalists, the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins. Though five players have won the Conn Smythe while playing for the team that lost the Finals, this was not a year for that to happen.
Yet again, it wasn't easy, but battles of titans never are. In the wake left behind by the Penguins and Red Wings, it's time to consider one thing: the Wings, with their tradition and history of excellence, have been unseated atop the hockey world.
While there's no shame in losing in seven games to a team as talented as the Penguins, especially when you've set the bar unreachably high for a decade-plus, this loss feels more significant, more grave for the Wings. It feels like the making of a new superpower. It feels like the Penguins are poised to occupy the spot the Red Wings have inhabited, and that they'll be there for a long time.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings have combined to play 209 games this season, and at 8 PM ET Friday, not one of those games will matter, as everything these two teams have accomplished this season will come down to 60 minutes. Perhaps the biggest 60 minutes any of these guys will ever play in their careers.
If you like the historical perspective of a Game 7, and if you're the superstitious type (and who among us isn't?) there's plenty of odd facts and dates that will make fans for both teams feel good about their chances in this winner take all game. From the department of stats that sound cool but don't really mean anything, consider the following.
There may not be a more pressure-packed night anywhere in pro sports than this. Months of training and preparation, and a seemingly never-ending playoff grind culminate in the 15th Game 7 in Stanley Cup Finals history.
Before the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings engage in the ultimate battle for hockey supremacy, and the right to throw sticks and gloves all over the ice, FanHouse wants to talk to you. Join us at 1PM ET for a preview.
Among some hockey fans, Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby has developed quite the reputation. While Penguin fans swear by his consistent play and leadership ability, other fans look at him as a complainer, whiner, and even someone who embellishes to try to get the attention of officials.
Here's the good news for 
DETROIT -- Extraordinary. Wait, that word isn't grand enough to describe what happened here Friday night. Thrilling? Stunning? It was both, and so much more. It was babyface goalie 
The Pittsburgh 
There may not be a more pressure-packed night anywhere in pro sports than this. Months of training and preparation, and a seemingly never-ending playoff grind culminate in the 15th Game 7 in Stanley Cup Finals history. 
