It’s been a while since I talked puck on this blog. That’s mostly cause I do most of my hockey stuff over at Battle of NY. It’s run by yours truly along with the help of some outstanding bloggers including Hasan who covers the Devils, Lenny who takes the Rangers and occasionally Steve Lepore who chips in with media insights.

Honestly, I hadn’t been too into this Stanley Cup Final mostly cause of the media’s fascination with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins. Granted. Sid the Kid’s a great player but the coverage can be a little much. Especially for a diehard pucker like myself. Maybe if he wasn’t such a whiny bitch always working the refs, I’d have more respect for him. Instead, No.87 can be seen doing whatever it takes to get calls. Even if that means flopping to the ice like a fish or picking his chin up like a boxer being punched.

So naturally, you can understand my exasperation at what lengths Crosby will sometimes go to help his team win. As Jaromir Jagr put it just from reading lips during the second round series between the Rangers and Pens, ‘Stay on your feet.’

If this league wasn’t so catered to the superstar, I might not have as much disdain. How come guys like Jagr can take more punishment without suddenly falling to the ice but never get the calls? Precisely what’s wrong with our sport.

In any event, I have caught the majority of the last couple of games. The Red Wings earned a 2-1 road win in Game Four thanks to a great third which saw Jiri Hudler notch the winner to pull within one win of their fourth Stanley Cup in 11 years. Pretty amazing stuff. Sure. They haven’t won in six years but if they pull this off, it’s about as great a run as a team could have in hockey these days.

Last night, they went for the Cup and made a solid comeback from two down scoring three straight goals but the Pens who were severely outplayed managed to tie it with Marc-Andre Fleury on the bench for an extra attacker. Max Talbot’s goal with 34 and change left kept their Cup dreams alive.

Despite being outshot by a wide margin (58-32) and outplayed most of the sudden death, the Pens prevailed when Hudler of all people got caught for a high stick earning a double minor. Petr Sykora made the young Detroit pivot pay burying a shot past Chris Osgood to force Game Six at 9:57 of the third OT.

Without the goaltending of Fleury (55 saves including 24 in OT), the Pens never see Game Six which is back at Mellon Arena tomorrow night. Instead, the young Pitt netminder came up large making several highlight reel glove stops with the Cup in the balance to keep his team alive.

Quite frankly, his performance was heroic and arguably the best he’s ever played. Especially when one considers the circumstances. Allow one and your team’s season is done and the opponent lifts the Cup and celebrates. Fleury was magnificent and wouldn’t allow it. Kudos to him on getting the job done.

Now it sets up Game Six back in the Steel City. I still feel the Red Wings can rebound and win there and wrap this up. The last thing they want is for this to go the distance in a winner take all Game Seven cause even if it’s in their barn, anything can happen. They’re an experienced group who’s been there before. So, I fully expect them to come out ready to play tomorrow night. And you know the Pens will be flying.

It should make for an enticing sixth game.

Catch it if you can!