Game 3: Coaches' press conferences; notes

Q. What was your impression of the Penguins' physical play tonight compared to the first two games?
COACH MIKE BABCOCK: I thought they were on top of us more. I didn't think we executed as much coming out of our zone. I didn't think it was a factor early. I thought it was a factor when we didn't execute.
Just like most teams, when you get turning pucks over in your own zones, you know they're going to be more physical because they have more opportunity to be.

Q. Strategically, did the Penguins do anything different tonight than they did in Detroit?
COACH MIKE BABCOCK: Well, they won. They got to the puck a little quicker at times. They scored first, which helped them. You know, I didn't think ? I thought Crosby and Hossa were better. More energy and controlled more plays.
Now whether that be the matchup or whatever, I thought they did a pretty good job. You have to give them credit. They found a way to win a game. I don't feel that we were dominated or anything. But I thought they had some quality scoring chances. Like I said, probably from 15 minutes gone in the first to probably five minutes left in the second, I thought they really had some opportunities.

Q. What would you say was probably the turning point in the game?
COACH MIKE BABCOCK: Well, I thought ? that's a real good question. You could say the first goal, yet I thought we were in good position there. When they got the third, it made it harder for us, for sure. No question. It was one of those goals where we had the puck. We should have had the puck out. We should have made a play. And we didn't.
And they had some traffic in the crease, kind of bumped our goalie out and ended up in the back of it.

Q. Can you talk about the play of Zetterberg and Datsyuk and their line specifically tonight compared to what you got from them the first two?
COACH MIKE BABCOCK: I thought those guys tried to do too much tonight. I thought the coach played them too much, and I thought they tried to do too much. So they stayed on too long.
And we didn't have the same kind of tempo coming off our bench that we did in the first couple of games.
And it's always ? I like the fact that you're trying. But you gotta do more by doing less. That's everybody. Just play the simple game that we play all the time and stay poised and keep going at it.

Q. Can you comment on Chris Osgood's game tonight?
COACH MIKE BABCOCK: It was fine. They bank one off of him from behind the net. Those things happen. I thought they had some good chances, better chances than they had in the first couple of games.
I thought I had no trouble with our goaltending at all.

Q. You mentioned briefly you weren't happy with the way you used your bench tonight. Can you expand on that?
COACH MIKE BABCOCK: What I mean, there was two penalty kills and two power plays early. And we wanted to be 35 seconds a shot. We end up being 50 seconds at a time. You don't have the same kind of tempo coming off your bench. And in the end, I don't think you play as good a game.
Now, part of that is sometimes you get caught out. They're doing a good job on the forecheck and playing in your zone. So those things happen to you. But we didn't have the kind of tempo, and therefore we didn't use as many people as we should have early enough in the game.

Q. Tomas Holmstrom, they took a couple of penalties against him tonight. Seems maybe there was a little more physicality towards him, did you notice that as well?
COACH MIKE BABCOCK: I thought Tommy did a good job going to the net. I think they tried to do something each and every game. That front ? he drew, I think for certain, two penalties. But our power play has to be better.
Our second unit was really good on the power play. Generated good chances. Our first unit didn't generate near as much.

An Interview With:
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS COACH MICHEL THERRIEN

Q. I'd like to start by just asking you, I saw you, at one point during the second period, you were having a chat with Sidney on the bench. How would you describe the game your captain played tonight?
COACH MICHEL THERRIEN: On a big challenge like tonight, we approached our team, that was a huge challenge for us. It wasn't any different than Game 5 we played at home against the Rangers and Game 5 we played at home against the Flyers. We approach it like a challenge. And there's no doubt that we’re looking for your best player to bring an A-game.
And certainly Sid did that tonight.

Q. Could you talk about any kind of different preparations you did for this game, and what you did differently once the game started?
COACH MICHEL THERRIEN: Well, we were focusing more before the game about our structure, how we're supposed to play.
I think the intention was there. Our work ethic was there in Game 2, but our structure was not. And we approach it with the team, and with the result that we got. And the way that we played brought us to the Stanley Cup Finals. And we have to make sure we stay focused playing the right way, playing our system, and bring your work ethic, bring your character to the players we've got tonight. And we're glad we finally got the first win.

Q. In the first couple of games, Holmstrom was allowed to do what he wanted in front of the night. Tonight that obviously stopped. Was that something you spoke to the team about, if he goes there, we have to make him pay the price?
COACH MICHEL THERRIEN: You want him to feel your presence, there's no doubt. But at the same time, you don't want to take a penalty. There's a fine line. We took some penalties. And you've got to make sure that we still feel our presence. But in the meantime, we can't take a penalty.

Q. When Crosby was asked this morning about his game in Games 1 and 2, he said he really wouldn't change anything. He liked the way he was playing. Did you agree with that, or do you think he took it to another level tonight?
COACH MICHEL THERRIEN: I thought he played well. I thought he played well the first two games. Sometimes the results are not always there. You can't judge players on goals and assists.
As coaches, we pay attention on different things. I thought that his work ethic was there. He stuck to the plan. That's what you're looking for from your captain, show an example. And good players, when the challenge is there, they like to play those type of games.

Q. Is it fair to say Evgeni Malkin was a little more inspired tonight?
COACH MICHEL THERRIEN: He played well. He got some chances, got some quality shots. He worked really well both sides of the ice, both sides of the puck. If Gino keeps playing like this, you know eventually he's going to get rewarded.

Q. We know that Sidney Crosby is probably the best player on the ice tonight. But what about your 42-year-old veteran, Gary Roberts, seemed like he generated a lot of energy? He also played with Sid and Hossa tonight.
COACH MICHEL THERRIEN: Yeah, I like to spot Gary with different lines, because with the energy that he brings, he's such a character player. He played for real, that guy. He's a real hockey player.
And I'm glad. It's fun to see that Adam Hall and Gary Roberts got reward for the winning goals. And I'm sure Adam Hall had his most important goal of his career. This guy has a checking role with our team, killing penalty. And getting reward, with Gary on the ice, and Gary got an assist. It's fun to see.

Q. Can you comment on your team's physical play overall?
COACH MICHEL THERRIEN: Yeah, we're physical. It's not something that we're afraid. When we ? when we're in the position to play hard, we always play hard. That's just something we did all year long. So even against a tough team, even against rivalry teams, like Brooks Orpik, that one shift, I think he got four huge hits. And gave a lot of momentum to the bench, and got the crowd so involved. So that was pretty unique to see.

Q. Getting what arguably is a must?win here in Pittsburgh, where you've now won 17 straight, how does tonight's game transpose into Saturday night's game and carrying momentum forth?
COACH MICHEL THERRIEN: You know what, for a lot of those players, this is their first win at the Stanley Cup Final, and it's huge for them. And it's huge for the confidence, especially the way that we play at home, the way that the crowd supports our team.
And like we said yesterday, we were here, there was no panic with our club, because we like ? this has been three months we haven't lost a game here. And I like the way we play.
So there's no doubt that confidence?wise that's a huge lift for those young kids.

Q. It seemed your team wasn't going anywhere, the first 14 minutes you were being outshot 9-1. You put Malkin with Crosby and Hossa and it seemed to give your team life, and you got the goal a couple of minutes later. Did you just decide it was time to change things?
COACH MICHEL THERRIEN: Well, the first 10 minutes, I'll say we were a little bit on our heels. And we're a young team. And it's a process with those young guys. So it's normal that they were a bit nervous.
Tried to change momentum. And tried to bring more speed. And certainly after the last 10 minutes of the first period, I think we really took over that period. And we were capable to bring that momentum to that second period and get the lead.

Q. What can you say about the goaltender, he kept his composure, especially in the third period?
COACH MICHEL THERRIEN: Marc?Andre, he's one of the reasons why we're here. And he's one of the reasons why we won tonight. He makes some key saves. I like his composure. He makes fabulous saves tonight when the game was tied. So I'm really pleased for him.
He gave us a chance to win. This is what you're looking for from your goalie. Give your team the chance to win, and certainly he did that tonight.

2008 STANLEY CUP FINAL POST-GAME NOTES - GAME 3
DETROIT RED WINGS 2 AT PITTSBURGH PENGUINS 3 - MAY 28, 2008

PENGUINS, FLEURY TOUGH AT HOME

The Penguins victory tonight has extended their winning streak at Mellon Arena to 17 consecutive games -- the final eight home contests of the regular season and all nine in the playoffs to date. Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has won his past 19 starts at Mellon Arena (regular season and playoff). His last loss at home was Nov. 21, 2007, a 2-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils.

CROSBY BREAKS PENGUINS' GOAL DROUGHT, OSGOOD'S SHUTOUT STREAK

Sidney Crosby's first-period goal tonight ended the Penguins' goal drought at a season-long 153:22 -- 15:57 in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final against Philadelphia, in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final and 17:25 of tonight's game. Crosby's two goals tonight increased his playoff points total to 23 (six goals, 17 assists), moving into a tie for the NHL scoring lead with Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg, who went pointless tonight (12-11--23).

Detroit G Chris Osgood had his shutout streak snapped at 154:58 -- 17:33 in Game 6 of the Western Conference Final against Dallas, in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final and 17:25 of tonight's game.

FRANZEN SCORES PLAYOFF-LEADING 13TH GOAL

Detroit RW Johan Franzen, in his second game back in the lineup after missing six games with concussion-like symptoms, scored Detroit's first goal of the game, cutting the Penguins' lead to 2-1 at 14:48 of the second period. Franzen scored his League-leading 13th goal of the 2008 playoffs, moving past teammate Henrik Zetterberg (12). Dating back to the Red Wings' game on March 2nd in Buffalo, Franzen has scored 28 goals in his past 29 games.

PENGUINS' HALL TALLIES GAME-WINNING GOAL

Pittsburgh RW Adam Hall's goal at 7:18 of the third period, his second tally of the 2008 playoffs, was tonight's game-winning goal. Hall is the ninth Pittsburgh player to tally a game-winning goal in the 2008 playoffs: Evgeni Malkin has three, Ryan Malone and Marian Hossa have two, while Hall, Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal, Maxime Talbot, Gary Roberts and Jarkko Ruutu have one each.

PLAYOFF TRENDS

The Penguins improved to 11-0 when scoring first, 8-0 when leading after the first period and 10-0 when leading after two periods. The Red Wings trailed after the first period for just the second time in 19 playoff games (0-2) and after the second period for just the fourth time (0-4).