The Penguins have run the roost against the Red Wings over the course of this season winning 5-2 at the Joe on December 31st and again with a 6-3 scoreline at the Consol Energy Center on the 18th February. The Penguins were without Maatta today who was sidelined with a week to week injury before the game, it was picked up in the New Jersey game. The Penguins nearly missed Bonino too and had to call up Sundqvist as a precaution but he ended up being good to go.
The Detroit Red Wings determination to win this game was clear in the first period with the Penguins being caught flat-footed. Detroit kept a constant forecheck on the Penguins and took some early shots against the Penguins, requiring the defence to bail out Fleury. The Red Wings got the first goal of the game on a breakaway from Andreas Athanasiou who took the most of a turnover and a poor line-change by the Penguins.
That was about as good as it got the Red Wings as from that point it was pure Penguins dominance with 4 goals in the second period and 3 more in the third. The Penguins didn't waste time responding in the second with a goal within the first minute from Kunitz. Letang's shot bounced off the boards and was going in off Mrazek's pad but Kunitz made sure. Sadly, Kunitz would later leave the game due a head injury in a collision with Datsyuk, his condition is unknown.
The biggest impression left on me from this game was the impact that the combo of Bonino and Kessel had. Both of them combined tonight on four goals to earn 5 points a piece. Kessel had a goal and four assists, whilst Bonino had the same. Kessel's goal was something of beauty, a snipe that completely fooled Mrazek from the wing.
Kessel's goal came late in the second period and saw Mrazek pulled for Howard, who didn't fare much better. Letang and Hagelin had the other goals on Mrazek, Letang's on the powerplay and Hagelin's on a snipe from the dot. Perhaps the most impressive goal of the night was Hagelin's second. An odd-man rush with Kessel who dished a wonderful pass to Hagelin who buried it past Howard with ease to make it 6-2.
The other two goals came from Eric Fehr who did the dirty in the goalies sink and poked the puck in after a turnover from Bonino resulted in a free puck in front of Howard. Bonino himself got a goal late on with a powerplay tally with a shot over Howard's shoulder, again on the rush with speed. The Penguins really responded tonight and they have another big test against the Rangers tomorrow. If they want home ice, they need to win that. Otherwise, the Islanders could pass them this week and take it themselves.
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