Everything you need to know about Game 7 -- really

Thursday, 06.11.2009 / 5:00 PM
Greg Inglis  - NHL.com Staff Writer

OFFICIALS FOR GAME 7

The referees for Game 7 are Paul Devorski (#10) and Bill McCreary (#7). The linesmen are Jean Morin (#97) and Pierre Racicot (#65).

HOME CLUBS 6-0 IN STANLEY CUP FINAL

Home clubs are 6-0 in the Stanley Cup Final for the fifth time since the best-of-seven format began in 1939. The home club went on to win Game 7 on three of the four previous occasions (Detroit Red Wings in 1955, Montreal Canadiens in 1965 and New Jersey Devils in 2003).

The only club to win Game 7 on the road in the Stanley Cup Final after the home team won the first six games was the 1971 Montreal Canadiens, who defeated the Chicago Blackhawks.

Most Home Victories, Both Teams, Stanley Cup Final CONN SMYTHE TROPHY

The winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded ‘to the most valuable player for his team in the playoffs,’ is selected by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association at the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final. The trophy was first awarded in 1965.

Five players have won the Conn Smythe Trophy with teams that lost the Stanley Cup Final, G Roger Crozier (Detroit, 1966), G Glenn Hall (St. Louis, 1968), RW Reg Leach (Philadelphia, 1976), G Ron Hextall (Philadelphia, 1987) and G J.S. Giguere (Anaheim, 2003).

Five players have won the Conn Smythe Trophy multiple times, led by G Patrick Roy with three (1986, 1993, 2001). Two-time winners are G Bernie Parent (1974, 1975), C Wayne Gretzky (1985, 1988), C Mario Lemieux (1991, 1992) and D Bobby Orr (1970, 1972).

Two current Red Wings have won the Conn Smythe Trophy, D Nicklas Lidstrom (2002) and C Henrik Zetterberg (2008).

GAME 7 IN THE STANLEY CUP FINAL

The Red Wings and Penguins will contest the 15th Game 7 in a Stanley Cup Final. The home team has posted a 12-2 record in the 14 previous games. The Red Wings are hosting their first Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final since 1955.

All-Time Results, Stanley Cup Final Game 7 GAME 7, ALL ROUNDS

Overall, 128 playoff series have gone to seven games since the NHL introduced the best-of-seven format in 1939. The home team has won 80 (.625). Both the Red Wings and Penguins have won Game 7s this post-season; the Red Wings defeated Anaheim 4-3 at Joe Louis Arena in a Western Conference Semifinal and the Penguins recorded a 6-2 victory at Washington in an Eastern Conference Semifinal.

HOME CLUBS' RECENT SUCCESS IN GAME 7, ALL PRO SPORTS

The home team has won the deciding game in each of the past 18 Final series that reached a seventh game, including six Game 7s in the Stanley Cup Final, four in the NBA Finals and eight in the World Series. The last road team to win a title-deciding Game 7 was the Pittsburgh Pirates, who defeated the Baltimore Orioles 4-1 at Memorial Stadium in the 1979 World Series.

EXPERIENCE IN GAME 7 OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL

Several Red Wings and Penguins have previous experience in a Stanley Cup Final Game 7. Penguins forward Ruslan Fedotenko was the hero for the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004, tallying both goals in a 2-1 victory over Calgary. Penguins forward Craig Adams was in the Carolina Hurricanes' lineup for their 3-1 win over Edmonton in 2006. Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock was the bench boss for the Anaheim Ducks in 2003 when they dropped a 3-0 decision to the New Jersey Devils. Among the players dressing for Babcock that night were Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma and Penguins forward Petr Sykora. They faced then-Devils and current Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski.

RED WINGS DOMINANT AT HOME IN 2009 PLAYOFFS

The Red Wings have won eight consecutive games and are 11-1 overall at Joe Louis Arena in the 2009 playoffs, one shy of the single-playoff record for home victories. The Red Wings' lone loss at Joe Louis Arena came in triple overtime, a 4-3 decision to the Anaheim Ducks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinal on May 3.

Most Home Wins, One Playoff Year: Red Wings Own Wide Edge In Recent Final Games At Detroit

In the six previous Stanley Cup Final games between the Red Wings and Penguins at Joe Louis Arena (2008 and 2009), the Red Wings have posted a 5-1 record, have outscored the Penguins 21-6, outshot them 213-159, allowed one goal or fewer five times (including three shutouts) and have led or been tied 89% of the time.

VETERANS IN QUEST OF FIRST STANLEY CUP

Five players who have played at least 750 NHL games are vying for their first Stanley Cup. Penguins forward Miroslav Satan is a veteran of 1,012 regular-season and 72 playoff games in 13 seasons, defenseman Sergei Gonchar has appeared in 929 regular-season and 104 playoff games in 14 seasons, defenseman Hal Gill has played in 851 regular-season and 79 playoff games in 11 seasons and defenseman Philippe Boucher has played 748 regular-season and 65 playoff games in 16 seasons. Red Wings forward Marian Hossa has played in 775 regular-season and 97 playoff games over 11 NHL seasons.

QUICK HITS - DETROIT The Red Wings seek the 12th Stanley Cup in franchise history and their fifth championship since 1997. The Red Wings would be the first repeat champion since they captured consecutive titles in 1997 and 1998 and the ninth repeat winner in the expansion era (since 1968). The Montreal Canadiens captured the Stanley Cup in 1968 and 1969, the Philadelphia Flyers in 1974 and 1975, the Canadiens from 1976 through 1979, the New York Islanders from 1980 through 1983, the Edmonton Oilers in 1984 and 1985 and in 1987 and 1988, and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992. QUICK HITS - PITTSBURGH The Penguins are seeking their third Stanley Cup and first since 1992. The Penguins have never lost a Game 7 on the road (4-0). The Penguins look to emulate the 1971 Montreal Canadiens in multiple categories. The Canadiens are the only club to win the Stanley Cup after dropping the first two games of the Final on the road (vs. Chicago); the only club to win Game 7 of a Final on the road after the home club won the first six games; the only club to win the Stanley Cup with a rookie head coach hired in mid-season (Al MacNeil); and the only Stanley Cup champion to win two Game 7s on the road in the same playoff year (at Boston and Chicago). LIDSTROM MOVING UP ON ALL-TIME PLAYOFF GAMES LIST

Red Wing defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom is set to play in his 235th career Stanley Cup Playoff game in Game 7, passing Claude Lemieux into fourth place on the all-time list. Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios is the all-time leader with 266 career playoff appearances.

Most Career Playoff Games (through Game 6) OSGOOD FOURTH ALL-TIME IN CAREER PLAYOFF SHUTOUTS

Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood stopped all 22 shots in Game 5 to post his second shutout of the 2009 playoffs, third in a Stanley Cup Final game and 15th of his playoff career. Osgood moved past Dominik Hasek and Jacques Plante (14 each) into fourth place on the all-time list.

Most Career Playoff Shutouts RED WINGS' ROOKIES MAKING KEY CONTRIBUTIONS

Three Red Wings rookies have scored a goal in this series, the most on a Stanley Cup Finalist since the 1988 Boston Bruins vs. Edmonton (forward Bob Joyce and defensemen Greg Hawgood and Glen Wesley). Forward Darren Helm scored an unassisted goal in the first period of Game 4, joining forward Justin Abdelkader, who tallied in Games 1 and 2, and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, who scored in Game 2.

A fourth rookie, forward Ville Leino, has recorded a pair of assists in four Final games. Since 1987, the only team to win the Cup with four or more rookies playing in the Final was the New Jersey Devils in 2000 (forwards Scott Gomez and John Madden and defensemen Brian Rafalski and Colin White).

STUART HAS SCORING KNACK VS. PENGUINS

Red Wings defenseman Brad Stuart scored 46 seconds into the second period of Game 4, his third goal in the 2009 playoffs after tallying two in 67 regular-season games.

Stuart has scored six goals in 13 career regular-season games against the Penguins and has three goals against them in 12 playoff contests.

PENGUINS' MALKIN ON HISTORIC SCORING RUN IN 2008-09

Penguins center Evgeni Malkin tallied two points in Game 4 (one goal, one assist), increasing his League-leading playoff point total to 35 (14 goals, 21 assists). Malkin has the highest point total in a single playoff year since 1992-93, when Wayne Gretzky had 40 (15 goals, 25 assists) in 24 games for the Los Angeles Kings and Doug Gilmour notched 35 (10 goals, 25 assists) in 21 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Malkin, who holds a four-point lead over teammate Sidney Crosby (15-16--31) in the Stanley Cup Playoff scoring race, could join Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Guy Lafleur and Phil Esposito as players in the expansion era (since 1968) who have swept regular-season and playoff scoring titles in the same season. Malkin captured the 2008-09 Art Ross Trophy as the League's regular-season points leader with 113 (35 goals, 78 assists) in 82 games.

PLAYERS SWEEPING REGULAR-SEASON AND PLAYOFF SCORING TITLES SINCE 1968 CROSBY JOINS MALKIN AS 30-POINT SCORER IN 2009 PLAYOFFS

Penguins center Sidney Crosby tallied the game-winning goal in Game 4, his 30th point of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and added an assist on Tyler Kennedy's second-period insurance goal to increase his post-season points total to 31 (15 goals, 16 assists). Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are the first teammates to post 30-or-more points in the same playoff year since the New York Rangers' Brian Leetch (11-23--34) and Mark Messier (12-18--30) in 1994.

CROSBY, MALKIN AMONG HIGHEST PLAYOFF PER-GAME SCORERS

Penguins centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin rank third and fourth all-time in playoff points per game, joining Hall of Fame legends Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mark Messier in the top five.

Highest Career Point-Per-Game Average, Stanley Cup Playoffs (through Game 6) KENNEDY HEROICS BOOKENDING PENGUINS' SEASON

The Penguins' 2008-09 regular season opened in Stockholm Oct. 4 with forward Tyler Kennedy scoring the season-opening goal just 40 seconds into the first period and the overtime winner in a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators. Facing elimination in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final, Kennedy tallied the game-winning goal and assisted on the Penguins' other score in a 2-1 victory. Kennedy, who tallied the insurance goal in the Penguins' 4-2 win in Game 4, has earned points on the past three Pittsburgh goals entering Game 7.

PENGUINS WIN FIRST PLAYOFF GAME WITH CROSBY, MALKIN OFF SCORESHEET

Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final marked the first Penguins playoff victory in which forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin did not record a point. Crosby or Malkin had notched a point in each of Pittsburgh's 29 post-season victories since 2007.

BYLSMA AIMS FOR STANLEY CUP COACHING MILESTONE

Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma is attempting to become the 14th rookie head coach to capture the Stanley Cup. Of these, only Montreal's Al MacNeil (1970-71) took over in mid-season. Bylsma, 38, replaced Michel Therrien Feb. 15 and went 18-3-4 thereafter. Bylsma had been an assistant coach for two seasons with Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate Wilkes Barre-Scranton before being elevated to that club’s head coach to begin this season.

RED WINGS, PENGUINS AMONG 2009 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF LEADERS Goals: Sidney Crosby, Pit. (15)
Power-Play Goals: Evgeni Malkin, Pit. (seven)
Shorthanded Goals: Seven players with one, including Marian Hossa, Det. and Jordan Staal, Pit.
Game-Winning Goals: Dan Cleary, Det., Johan Franzen, Det., Evgeni Malkin, Pit., Tyler Kennedy, Pit. and Jussi Jokinen, Car. (three)
Assists: Evgeni Malkin, Pit. (21)
Points: Evgeni Malkin, Pit. (14-21--35)
Points, Defenseman: Nicklas Lidstrom, Det. (4-11--15)
Power-Play Points: Evgeni Malkin, Pit. (7-9--16)
Road Points: Sidney Crosby, Pit. (10-6--16)
Plus-Minus: Dan Cleary, Det. (+17)
Shots: Evgeni Malkin, Pit. (101)
Hits: Darren Helm, Det. (112)
Blocked Shots: Rob Scuderi, Pit. (52)
Takeaways: Evgeni Malkin, Pit (26)
Goaltender wins: Chris Osgood, Det. and Marc-Andre Fleury, Pit. (15)
2009 PLAYOFF TRENDS ENTERING GAME 7 OVERTIME IN THE STANLEY CUP FINAL

Road clubs have had overtime success in recent Stanley Cup Final series, winning 10 of the past 12 games and posting a 15-4 mark since 1990:

HISTORY OF STANLEY CUP WON ON OVERTIME GOAL

The Stanley Cup-winning goal has been scored in overtime on 15 occasions, twice in Game 7. The last time Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final went to overtime was 1954.

LEADING, TRAILING AND TIED In their 1,372 minutes and 19 seconds of playing time in these playoffs, the Red Wings have led 490:29 (or 36% of the time), have been tied 615:11 (45%) and have trailed 266:39 (19%). In their 1419:42 of playing time in the playoffs, the Penguins have been ahead 522:51 (37%), tied 526:13 (37%) and have trailed 370:38 (26%). DETROIT RED WINGS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS DETROIT ICE TIME LEADERS, 2009 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS PITTSBURGH ICE TIME LEADERS, 2009 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS DETROIT FACE-OFF PERCENTAGE LEADERS, 2009 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS (min. 100) PITTSBURGH FACE-OFF PERCENTAGE LEADERS, 2009 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS (min. 100)

 

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