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With a rush, Pens stay in Cup finals

For 20 minutes Tuesday night, the Detroit Red Wings were perfect.

At least that's what some people were saying at intermission of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals.

And the second period sure did look like a perfect effort, if you didn't glance at the scoreboard and see the game still tied 2-2.

But it was tied and the Pens had life.

They turned everything around, getting a power-play goal and empty-net goal to cap a 4-2 win and climb back into the series.

I don't think this series is over. In fact, a win Thursday night and this series is the Penguins' to win.

Why the optimism?

The Red Wings got plenty of breaks and bounces in Games 1 and 2.

Missed penalties? Check.

Penguins' shots hitting posts instead of the back of the net? Check.

2-0 series lead like last year? Check.

That's where the similarities end in my book.

With all going right for the Wings, they should have won Game 3.

Instead, the Pens' survived that second period Tuesday night and put on a display of their own in the third.

They shut down the vaunted Wings, scored on the power play and now trail 2-1.

Yeah, it's still a series. I'm pretty optimistic about the Pens' chances.

This is winnable.
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