Add the loss of Sidney Crosby in the second period of Game 7, and the situation became even more dire.
But the scrappy Pens won Game 7, 2-1 as +170 underdogs, and finished the comeback by becoming the first club to take the Cup with a Game 7 road victory since Montreal in 1971.

This instant classic series featured two one-goal games, four two-goal games, and one Red Wings 5-0 blowout in Game 5 that seemed likely to propel them to a repeat.

Pittsburgh finished the postseason as the fourth best money team, cashing in 14 times, while the  Red Wings were the third best for bettors.

Even if the Pens win Game 6 they must go back to Detroit where they have been outscored 10-2 while losing three games.

Detroit is loaded with experience, especially with Pavel Datsyuk's return after missing seven playoff games with a foot injury in Game 5.

Nicklas Lidstrom, Kris Draper, Tomas Holmstrom, and Kirk Maltby played on all four Red Wings Stanley Cup winners since 1997, and they can make it five tonight. Get all your NHL odds with Bodog now.

The Penguins rallied from the brink already in these playoffs. They were down 2-0 to Washington in the second round and came back to win, and they trailed Detroit 2-0 before tying the finals.

This comeback would be the toughest yet, because they first must win a Game 6 in which the Stanley Cup will be in their building but out of their reach.

Even if they survive, they would also have to win a Game 7 in Detroit, where they have been outscored 20-5 while losing five of six in the last two finals. Get your NHL betting in the Bodog Sportsbook.

Jordan Staal’s shorthanded goal during back-to-back Detroit power plays started Pittsburgh’s comeback, and the Penguins scored three goals in less than six minutes of the second period Thursday night to win 4-2 and tie the series at 2.

Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist each to help rally the Penguins from a 2-1 series deficit a year to the day Detroit raised the Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh by winning Game 6.
Game 5 is Saturday night in Detroit, with Game 6 in Pittsburgh on Tuesday after the series’ first two-day break.

The Penguins are only 2-6 in the last eight meetings in Detroit. Get your NHL playoffs odds with Bodog now.

The Pens are not acting at all like they did when they were down a game in this same situation last year, against the same opponent. And it's certainly not because Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk, who is capable of winning a game at both ends of the ice, expects to play after sitting out six games with a foot injury.

Evgeni Malkin's upgraded play is one of the reasons the Penguins are optimistic they can pull off a comeback after losing the first two games on the road, despite the fact only one of 32 teams has previously overcome such a deficit in the finals.

Malkin has 33 points, the most in the NHL playoffs since Joe Sakic had 34 for Colorado in 1996. Get your NHL finals odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.

A second victory in as many nights (3-1 score in both) greatly increased the odds that the Wings will soon have their names again inscribed on the NHL's championship trophy.

Teams winning the first two games of the Stanley Cup final on home ice have gone on to take the series 31 of 32 times.

The most amazing part of the two victories in this series might be that they came on back-to-back nights and without Pavel Datsyuk, who has been sidelined with a foot problem. The Red Wings are now 10-1 at Joe Louis Arena during these playoffs.

There’s only one thing missing, which is a Stanley Cup, at least one more recent than those won by the Penguins of 1991 and 1992.

The Pens appear to own several advantages over the Red Wings. Pittsburgh is relatively healthy, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby are rolling with a league-leading 28 points apiece, and Marc-Andre Fleury is leading by example in net.

The Red Wings were missing stars Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk for part of the series against Chicago and they are hoping both will return for Game 1 on Saturday. Get your NHL odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.

Rookie Jonathan Ericsson filled in for the six-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, and the defending champions didn't miss a beat.

Still, as well as Ericsson played, Detroit hopes it won't have to replace Lidstrom again in Game 5 tonight with a chance to reach the Stanley Cup final.

Joel Quenneville said his team would wait until today to determine if No. 1 goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin and leading scorer Martin Havlat will be on the ice to help avoid elimination.

Khabibulin has been out since playing the first two periods of Game 3 because of a lower-body injury. He was replaced by Cristobal Huet, who allowed five of Detroit’s six goals in Game 5. Get your NHL odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.

Datsyuk was struck by a puck during Detroit's 3-2 overtime win in Game 2 on Tuesday night. Maybe is does not matter since Datsyuk has scored just one goal in 13 playoff games.

Osgood, who had 37 saves in Game 2, and the play of Nicklas Lidstrom defensively have made up for lack of goals from their top players. Bet on NHL in the Bodog Sportsbook.

Osgood, who already has been a part of three Stanley Cup winners, is 10-3 so far in the playoffs. Can the Blackhawks get a win in front of the expected wild crowd at the United Center, or will they be one game closer to a summer off?

Patrick Kane scored eight goals over the first two rounds against Calgary and Vancouver, but quickly found out his talents can be negated by Detroit.

Kane was held without a shot after getting blanked in the column just three times during the regular season, including once last month against the Red Wings.

The Blackhawks' other young star, Jonathan Toews, also discovered playing the Flames or Canucks isn't quite like facing Detroit, as he was held to three shots and no points in the series opener.

Detroit has rarely had to worry about its top stars carrying the team because of its depth, and that trend is continuing early in this series. Get your NHL Playoffs odds in the Bodog Sportsbook.