At least there's a chance for a game 7

This is the best situation for hockey to get a game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals. If the Pens had stolen one tonight, they would have been the favorite in game 6 back in Pittsburgh. But with the Red Wings 5-0 win in game 5, they now have to play thief in trying to steal one in Pittsburgh. As a Pittsburgh hockey fan, this is the ONLY good thing to take from this game.

I could probably analyze this game shift by shift, goal by goal, and try to make sense of the massacre that occurred tonight in Detroit. I could talk about how effective Detroit's power play was, how well rested they looked, or how the Penguins just couldn't capitalize on opportunities throughout the game - especially in the first 10 minutes of the first period. But the truth is, that's not the overriding story of this game.

In the Western Conference Final between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks, the entire series looked like the Stanley Cups Finals of last year. Men versus boys. This was exemplified in game 4 with a 6-1 Red Wings win, and dead Chicago team that knew it was only a matter of time. In that game, the Blackhawks had 56 penalty minutes and Detroit went 3-for-8 on the powerplay. But more than anything, Chicago was a frustrated team, taking dumb penalties and just looked like a broken team with the wrong kind of desperation. Not the desperation that gets the girl back, but the desperation that makes you look like a needy bastard that doesn't know it's over.

Enter game 5 of this year's Stanley Cup Finals. Last blog, I talked about the Penguins looking like men disrespected, but this game the Penguins took three giant steps backwards. They looked like the Chicago Blackhawks. Dumb penalties, massive amounts of frustration, and less composure than the New York Mets during the last 17 games of last season. Thirty eight penalty minutes, 3-for-9 on the powerplay for Detroit. It's just a frustrating game overall for any Pens fan, and what you expect from your team if you're a Red Wings fan.

Now the series moves back to Pittsburgh for game 6 Tuesday night. Pittsburgh simply needs to forget this game. They shouldn't even talk about it in the locker room, just move on. Nothing good can come from this game, except realizing this is the opposite of how you want to handle yourself during a game. Regroup, refocus and get ready to fight for you life - or at least your Stanley Cup Final - next game.

I wish I could say more about this game, but truthfully there's nothing to talk about beside how Pittsburgh collapsed while Detroit just had another day at the office. Until Tuesday night, keep you're head up when you're on the ice, it's either hit of be hit.