Detroit gets second win a row outscoring Pittsburgh 5-2

Photo by: Matt Kincaid/Getty Images

The Detroit Red Wings were on fire once more against a strong team in the NHL. A back to back challenge ended in yet another victory for them defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 at PPG Paints Arena Sunday afternoon. Petr Mrazek picked up his second victory with a strong performance against Pittsburgh with 24 saves on the day and his second straight win.

Detroit’s ability to break their five-game winning streak came on a well fought 60 minutes to beat the Washington Capitals on home ice Saturday. They didn’t get time to rest as they faced the Penguins right away on Hockey Day in America. While they attain the home advantage in an early matinee, Pittsburgh had Saturday off to prepare for a defense and remain well at the top of the Metropolitan division. While they have things settled in the Eastern Conference, Detroit had to go for any win possible and would do so once again with Mrazek in net.

He had Pittsburgh running at him right off the opening face-off with Kessel going in for a shot that was stopped. The Czech netminder made stops that came very close that included stopping a loose puck near him. Detroit got into action with shots to the other end where Matt Murray stood for the Penguins in net. He stopped three but got caught with a play that had Nick Jensen with the puck. He made a pull back from his attempt and found an open spot behind the Pittsburgh netminder scoring the opening goal and his third.

Detroit carried the momentum for a good part of the period but the fight from the Penguins was well active to get on the scoreboard. With six minutes left, Pittsburgh made its move with Kris Letang stealing the puck away in their zone carrying it across the blue line while he waited for the right man out front. In the neutral zone, Letang connected with sophomore Tom Kuhnhacki aiming a shot that Mrazek got ready with the glove but watched it zip by and into the net for his third of the season.

While it was a bad beat for the 25-year-old, his team wasn’t thrown for a downspin as they kept the offensive push alive in the late stages. They got back their lead on the Penguins with three left in the period as Steve Ott fooled Murray on his attempt in the crease giving him just three this season but the important edge. They finished the period outshooting Pittsburgh 10-9 hoping to keep out front while they had the lead.

The second was a slow pace for both teams with Mrazek and Murray both getting time to stay focused but deal less than what the first produced. Half the period went into the books with Pittsburgh having shot three times but unable to level the playing field. They almost did with a shot from Cameron Gaunce that missed the net by a hair. A second opportunity came for Nick Bonino who had a wide-open net shot, but as he went for it, Mrazek slid back just in time and made a miraculous glove save at point blank range.

In the last five minutes, both teams earned great scoring chances with Detroit nearly getting one shorthanded during a Penguins power play. They made good on killing it but immediately went back down a man for another two minutes. Even strength returned and saw the Red Wings and Penguins looking to turn the page on the second period with a change in store. It didn’t come for either but Pittsburgh showed dictation with ten shots on Mrazek and just six from Detroit.

The lack of shooting didn’t worry them going into the third as they made good with a big win off the opening face-off. It turned into three man play with Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg in tie with the play. He got into a pass play where his final delivery to Tomas Tatar allowed his teammate to score 27 seconds in and give the Red Wings a commanding 3-1 hold. Tomas Vanek wanted to get in on the fun and did so with a loose puck by Scott Wilson in the neutral zone that gave the Austrian possession. The Red Wings forward took the play quickly to Murray scoring his 15^th. The three-goal margin was very large playing in the final 18 minutes and for the Penguins, it couldn’t be accepted. Sidney Crosby made good on a response taking things into his own hands to score his 32^nd just seven seconds after Vanek’s.

Though two goals remained between the teams it was clear that scoring was once again alive leaving all possibilities available to occur. Detroit had a great chance at increasing their margin of winning with a 5 on 3 that didn’t give them a lot of time but certainly worried the Penguins who already faced a sizable hole. Time was falling off the clock faster with Detroit carrying a strong face with five shots through 14 minutes while holding Pittsburgh to just a pair.

Four minutes were left on the clock with the Penguins on a key power play that could put them within a goal of tying the game. They canceled out the penalty with Bonino hi sticking Frans Nielsen in the handing the Red Wings another strong move from the PK unit. It was an opportunity that killed of a good amount of time making Detroit’s chances of back to back wins possible. Pittsburgh got five men back on with Murray leaving the net just seconds later to go 6 on 5.

The extra man didn’t help in anyway as a good faceoff win from Steve Ott gave his control of the puck where Zetterberg made a pass to Luke Glendening for a final scoring chance. He fired one down the ice and just on course to score the empty netter for his third and first since Feb.3. With the young forward getting into the fun, it was just the way his team could secure another solid win and return to action starting Tuesday when they host the New York Islanders carrying a newfound winning streak at home.