Pens and Wings play one for the ages in game 5

Rumors of their demise appear to be greatly exaggerated. The Penguins’ season was down to their last 35 seconds Maxime Talbot tied the score at 3, in the third period, in game 5, forcing a game 6 back at The Igloo. The Wings outplayed the Pens for most of the game but their slow start killed them. Giving up 2 goals in the first 20 minutes appeared to seal their fate but steady play over the next 39 put them in position to hoist the cup. After pulling Fleury with just over a minute to play Tabot had two shots at a rebounded shot and made the most of his opportunity. From there the only complaint for Detroit fans is how they still had multiple chances in the overtimes (14 shots on goal in OT 1) to put the game away but just looked out of gas. Understandably, after being able to more than visualize victory, but actually taste it, will they be able to get the MO’ back? If they don’t and Pittsburgh comes back to sweep the next two it will go down as one most amazing come backs and all-around series in the history of sport. Or, one of the biggest chokes of all time depending on your point of view.

Story ending options mean great raitings for NHL

Now that the Stanley Cup has taking a turn worthy of a Hollywood script and given the NHL the shot in the arm they were hoping for, what kind of finish will we get? Either the young guns rising up and showing some grit like in “Miracle”, or the experienced crafty vets getting it together just in time, like in “The Natural”? The numbers are still stacked against the Pens, as 28 of the last 29 teams to hold a 3-1 lead in the final have won the cup, ironically the last team NOT to finish the deal was the 42’ Wings, so they have the quants against them. Rest assured, Detroit know this fact and it may cause them to tighten up a little in game 6 like they did in period one last game. This makes great drama for the NHL though as the triple-overtime thriller Monday night drew the highest ratings for a Game 5 since 2002. The 4-3 win to avoid elimination earned a 4.3 overnight rating and an 8 share on NBC. That’s a 79 percent increase over last year’s 2.4 for Game 5 between Anaheim and Ottawa. It was the best Game 5 rating since the Carolina-Detroit match-up in 2002 drew a 4.5. Not blowing the doors off because the numbers are compared with a 1.9 percent from last year, but exactly what the doctor ordered. What will the ending be and can the League parlay it into continued success next year?