CHICAGO, (OTHL) - Game five of the 2008 Cup final started in a frantic pace. Both teams came out looking to win it early, and a total of 27 shots was fired in the first period. And both goalies looked like they wanted to see how many of the 27 shots they could allow, as the two teams scored three goals each. And it was a up-and-down period for both teams fans, as the two sides traded goals throughout the period.
Brian Rolston (10) and the Penguins drew first blood two minutes into the period. Then the Hawks came back when Alexei Yashin (3) found the net. A minute later, it was time again for the Penguins to take the lead. This time it was Michael Nylander (6) who found the net behind Belfour. A lead that lasted all about a minute, then Teemu Selänne (13) added yet another goal to his post-season record. A goal that was scored while Brian Rolston served a minor for boarding.
With six minutes to go, Kimmo Timonen (9) gave Pittsburgh the lead, the third time the Penguins had the lead in the first period. But just like earlier in the period, the Hawks did not allow there visitors to hold the lead for long. This time it was Alexander Ovechkin (9) who tied up the game before the period was over.
”That was one crazy period. For a while it felt like everything went in.” - Joe Sakic said.
If the first period was fast paced and a lot of goals, the second was 180 degrees the other way around, as both teams all of the sudden decided to play defense and not allow any scoring chances. Instead the two teams made sure they had good back checking and the score was still 3-3 after the middle 20 minutes.
In the third the Hawks took the lead for the first time tonight, when Tuomo Ruutu (5) found the roof of the net with a nice backhand over Kölzig. And when Rob Scuderi was sent to the box with less then three minutes to play, it looked like this was a win for Chicago. But Pittsburgh and Jeff Carter wanted different. With a minute left to play, Carter scored a short-handed goal to send the game to over-time.
An over-time period that lasted about seven minutes before the Hawks grind-line found the net. Selänne was still on the ice, when he found Kyle Calder who was crashing the net, and Calder put the puck past Kölzig to win the game for Chicago. Giving Chicago a 3-2 lead going into game 6 in Pittsburgh.
”Now we go to Pittsburgh to win this, it is not going to be easy but we will do everything we can to win this now.” - Teemu Selänne said after the game.
”We have been solid on home ice throughout the playoffs, and we will force them to seven games. We know how to win on home ice, and we know how to win in this series. So this is not over.” - Shane Doan said.
BOXSCORE: Pittsburgh at. Chicago 4-5 (OT)
Game Stars:
Alexei Yashin (CHI)
Teemu Selanne (CHI)
Tuomo Ruutu (CHI)