Penguins Off Life Support!

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been taken off life support and are well on the way to recovery, with their series turning game 3 win.

The Penguins and Red Wings provided the viewing public and the millions at home, the most exciting game of this season's Stanley Cup playoffs. This was the type of game, that everyone had expected from these two teams going into the series.

Sidney Crosby put on a clinic, punctuated by his 2 goal performance. He put the team on his shoulders and shook life back into this series. He looked like a man possessed, with the sole mission of proving he's still the best player in the world. He also continued his ever developing chemistry with Marian Hossa, who has been a two way fiend in these playoffs and assisted on both Crosby goals.

The Penguins physically abused the Wings, lead by the ever scary and intensity driven Gary Roberts. The Penguins took their cue from Roberts and pounded the Wings in the corners and all over the ice. Brooks Orpik, alone made 4 bone crushing hits in one of the most physical performances I have ever seen.

The physical play displayed by the Penguins might have delivered a server blow to the Red Wings hopes, with perennial crease disturber Tomas Holmstrom, leaving the game with an undisclosed lower body injury. He spent the whole night battling with 6 foot 7 Hal Gill, taking several cross checks to the back in the process. If he is to miss any significant time, this would be a crushing blow for the Red Wings.

Marc-Andre Fleury rebounded from two mediocre performances and backstopped the Penguins with the poise that the Pens had become reliant upon through the first three rounds.

The Red Wings will take consolation out of this game, that they played well enough to have a legitimate claim that they could have won this game. They rallied twice in this game and hit a post at the end that could have tied the game up. The Red Wings were not dominated, like the Penguins were in the first two games, which just goes to show how great of a team they truly are.

This series is far from over, with a win on Saturday the Penguins will tie the series 2-2 and will have taken all momentum away for the once unbeatable looking Red Wings. The Penguins will go into game 5 in Detroit with the belief they can beat them. However, if the Pens were to lose on Saturday, the Penguins will surely start believing that this just isn't their year. I for one believe the Penguins will win game 4 and make this series one of the best in NHL history.

On a solemn note.....

Promising Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luc Bourdon, was tragically killed today, whilst riding his Motorcycle in his native New Brunswick Canada. Luc and the Penguins own Kristopher Letang played together for Val-d'Or and Canada during their Junior careers and formed a formidable duo.

This 21 year old young man, will be sorely missed by anyone who watched him develop into one of NHL brightest prospects. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family. I hope the Canucks will find a suitable way to celebrate Luc's life. I suggest doing what the Penguins did and retire his number to the rafters.

R.I.P Luc Bourdon 2/16/1987 - 5/29/2008