Crosby can still turn series around for Pittsburgh

By: Ian Johnson Posted: 06/02/09 5:50pm

After only one weekend of play in the Stanley Cup Final, many seem prepared to renew Hockeytown’s lease on the Stanley Cup for another year. Two dominating 3-1 wins in Detroit and the Red Wings look to be every bit the juggernaut everyone expected them to be come playoff time. They’re banged up, being out-shot and still aren’t losing to Pittsburgh. By all accounts this series is over.

And that’s why the Wings could be in trouble.

Fans our age have only seen the best part of Red Wings history. The Wings have appeared in the Stanley Cup Final five times since the 1996-97 season and if they win two more games, will have won each of them. If any team has figured out the science to their sport, it’s the Red Wings.

Our fans now expect championships, and teams this good don’t usually blow 2-0 series leads. Still, Detroit is getting ahead of itself.

The series shifts back to Pittsburgh, who have one of the better home crowds in the league, and the Penguins have had two days to stew over Sunday night’s game. They need this game if they have any hope of stealing the series. And they know that, which is exactly why they’re going to win.

People have been so quick to congratulate the Red Wings, they’ve forgotten that the Pens won the Eastern Conference for a reason. Pittsburgh isn’t Nashville, they’re not going to roll over.

The Penguins — also known as Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby — have lost before. I’d be shocked if they go out quietly a second time.

Crosby seems to be well on his way to being the superstar the league was hoping he would be, but has yet to show much in the finals. I still have painful memories of LeBron James’ 48-point playoff game against the Pistons two years ago, when he planted himself on the map and let the world know he had arrived. Crosby has that the same potential.

And you’ll see it tonight. He’s too good not to.