Yes!

(graphic from NHL.com)

Now that’s more like it. Here’s Bob Wojnowski from the Detroit News:

Detroit -- They skated as if their reputations were on fire. They attacked as if insulted by the insinuations of creakiness and fatigue. The Red Wings blasted through a wall of growing doubt as if it wasn't even there, and after this performance, maybe it isn't.

The Wings played as if they'd been here before, and we know they have. The Penguins played as if they had no idea how to handle it, and frankly, acted idiotic at times.

This was a champion's response on a Saturday night of danger, as the Wings pounded the Penguins 5-0 to grab a 3-2 lead in the Stanley Cup Finals, one victory from a repeat championship. So, the old red-bearded warriors have something left, eh?

Suddenly, all the questions about the Wings' composure can be transferred to the Penguins, who started hacking and whacking once the game got out of control. Pain doesn't hurt now, isn't that the theory? If the Wings indeed are wounded, they have plenty of fight left, and they'll need it because as impressive as this victory was, you know the series will go back to intense when it resumes in Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

The Wings got home after a poor performance in Game 4 and inhaled fumes of desperation. Oh, it also helped that Pavel Datsyuk leaped over the boards in the first minute after missing seven games with a foot injury. When he hit the ice, the Joe Louis Arena crowd erupted and the Wings had the boost they craved.

Later in the first period, it was Datsyuk controlling the puck, carrying it into the Penguins' end and flipping it to Dan Cleary, who fired it past a startled Marc-Andre Fleury for a 1-0 lead.

And then it was off to the races, Gentle Reader. The Wings only got stronger as the game wore on while Pittsburgh’s composure completely disintegrated, as evidenced by the numerous penalties the Flightless Birds took. “Disintegration” is putting it mildly while being kind. Other words come to mind… chief among them “idiotic,” as Bob notes. The Wings made the Pens pay for their whacks, hacks, and other cheap shots… going three-for-nine on the power play. It was a thing of beauty for Wings fans.

I had my moments during the first seven minutes of the game when Pittsburgh came out like a house afire. Most of the play was in the Wings zone during that time but the game turned when the Wings killed off a Pens power play, denying them even a single shot on goal. Datsyuk and Cleary sped down the ice a couple of few minutes later and opened up the scoring, making it 1-0 Wings. I didn’t have one single anxious moment after that. Not one. Like I said: a thing of beauty.

So. Back to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. No one is counting the Pens out and one could say their pride has been severely injured with this embarrassing loss. But I’m thinking there’s a MUCH better than even chance we’ll watch the Wings skate the Cup around Mellon Arena Tuesday night. After all… Pavel’s back and we’re looking pretty danged good at this moment in time. The Pens? Not so much.

―:☺:―

Here are the game highlights… ALL the goals and a few of the hits… especially for SN1. He had a social function some Mandatory Fun to attend this evening and missed the game. What’s worse is he left specific instructions for the game to be recorded so he could watch when he got home… and it wasn’t. I filled him in as best as I could, but there’s NO substitute for seeing it yourself.

There ya go, Buck.