The Detroit Red Wings produced another outstanding defensive effort to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 on Monday and tighten their grip on the Stanley Cup.
Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood recorded his second successive shutout in stopping just 22 shots as the Red Wings' defences overpowered the normally explosive Penguins' offense.
The best-of-seven series now shifts to Pittsburgh for Games 3 and 4, scheduled for Wednesday and Saturday, with Detroit holding a 2-0 lead and the sputtering Penguins in need of a win to keep their Cup dreams alive.
The Detroit Red Wings' Johan Franzen (93) throws a punch at the Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin during the third period in Game 2 of their NHL Stanley Cup final in Detroit on Monday. The Red Wings beat the Penguins 3-0 for a 2-0 series lead. Reuters
Pittsburgh is 8-0 at home in the playoffs and have not lost a game at home in regulation time since Feb 13.
"We're going back home to a place that we were tough to play against," a dejected Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien told reporters. "I thought tonight we played hard.
"It's really tough to generate offense against that team. They are good on obstruction.
"It's going to be tough to generate any offense if the rules remain the same."
The series has been highlighted by a stunning defensive display by the Red Wings, who have neutralized the Penguins high-powered attack, led by last season's scoring champion Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who was second in the race this season.
Malkin, who had 106 points during the regular season and is a Hart trophy finalist for the NHL's most valuable player, has come under attack for his recent form and is sure to face more criticism after failing to get a shot on net in Game 2.
The Red Wings charged to a 2-0 lead on goals from Brad Stuart and Tomas Holmstrom before the Penguins had managed their first shot on net, 12 minutes into the opening period.
Valtteri Filppula also found the net for the Wings closing out the scoring with a third- period goal.
After being shutout 4-0 in Game 1, Therrien juggled his lines in an effort to generate some offensive spark but the moves had little impact with Pittsburgh making just four shots against Osgood, all from the power play, in the first period.
Pittsburgh finally managed its first even-strength shot on net 5:24 into the second period but it counted for little with Osgood going on to record his third shutout of the post-season.
(Agencies via China Daily May 28, 2008)