MORE THOUGHTS ON GAME 5

-We apologize if you e-mailed us and never got a response back during or after last night's/this morning's game. We literally got over 100 e-mails after midnight alone. We tried to respond to every one of them but suspect we missed a few.

-The Penguins had no business winning that game. They were thoroughly outplayed for most of it.

-That was easily the highlight of our hockey-watching lives. We watched the four overtime game against the Capitals in 1996 and the five overtime game against the Flyers in 2000 on television. Those were memorable experiences, but they both pale in being able to witness Game 5 of a Stanley Cup final in person.

-Marc-Andre Fleury played like all his earthy possessions were on the line. He made 55 saves.

-Ryan Whitney stepped up big when Sergei Gonchar went down.

-Gonchar suffered a back injury last night according to most reports.

-Brooks Orpik had 10 blocked shots. Geez.

-The Penguins haven't won in Detroit since Dec. 10, 2000. They beat the Red Wings, 4-3. Toby Petersen had the winning goal on assists from Jaromir Jagr and Roman Simicek. Garth Snow made 34 saves to claim the win.

-Sykora scored his third career winning goal in a multi-overtime playoff game.

-The last time a power-play goal was scored in overtime of a Cup final game was in 1980. Islanders defenseman Denis Potvin scored against the Flyers in Game 1 of the 1980 final

-Game 5 was the fifth-longest game in Stanley Cup final history:

(1) 55:13 on May 15, 1990 - Edmonton 3 at Boston 2 (Game 1): goal by Petr Klima

(2) 54:51 on June 19, 1999 - Dallas 2 at Buffalo 1 (Game 6): goal by Brett Hull

(3) 54:47 on June 8, 2002 - Detroit 3 at Carolina 2 (Game 3): goal by Igor Larionov

(4) 53:50 on April 9, 1931 - Chicago 3 at Montreal 2 (Game 3): goal by Cy Wentworth

(5) 49:57 on June 2, 2008 - Pittsburgh 4 at Detroit 3 (Game 5): goal by Petr Sykora

-We totally missed Ryan Malone's cut when he took a slapper in the face. From our vantage point we couldn't see blood. But we were lucky to see the ice from our vantage point as well.

-Here are a few photos we couldn't send from our phone until after we left the fallout shelter that is Joe Louis Arena:

-A Sidney Crosby jersey surrounded by a bunch of bogies

-An Aaron Downey jersey:

(That was an optimistic purchase to say the least.)

-A "real" Gordie Howe jersey:

(Back in the day, players didn't have their names on their jerseys.)

-A Johan Franzen T-shirt jersey with his nickname on it:

-We thought this was a Frantisek Musil Czech Republic jersey:

(We asked the gentleman wearing if it if that was the case and he told us no. Musil is his last name.)

-Warm ups:

-The rafters:

-Late in the third period, most folks were standing:

-Some random picture we took in the third overtime:

Apparently Petr Sykora's goal granted him head coaching duties for the Penguins in someone's mind at ESPN:

(Kudos to EN reader Matt McNulty with the screen shot.)

EMPTY NETTER ASSISTS

Playoff Stuff

Penguins

-Tickets for Game 6 go on sale today at 10 a.m.

-Dave Molinari's game recap.

-Ron Cook says the Penguins had the last laugh for one night at least.

-Michel Therrien was dressed for a funeral.

-Alex Goligoski is so good, he can set AHL records without even being there.

-Will the Penguins win Game 6? Vote on it here.

-Only 3,500 fans showed up at Mellon Arena to watch Game 5.

-Postgame video.

-Have Evgeni Malkin and Ryan Malone cost themselves money with their poor showings in the final?

-It's not going to be easy for the Penguins to keep their free agents.

-The Penguins weren't feeling too much pressure.

-Some grinders stood out for the Penguins.

-Sergei Gonchar's return only lasted 36 seconds, but he made them count.

-Ryan Malone taking a shot to the face last night:

-Sidney Crosby and Petr Sykora had a press conference after the game. Kukla's Korner has the transcript.

-Michel Therrien had a press conference after the game. Kukla's Korner has the transcript.

-A closer look at Sykora's goal:

-A closer look at Adam Hall's goal:

-A closer look at the amazing save Marc-Andre Fleury made on Mikael Samuelsson last night:

Red Wings

-The Red Wings don't have that killer instinct.

-There was champagne in the Red Wings' locker room for a little while last night.

-Chris Chelios can't get into the lineup.

-The party was postponed in Detroit.

-Red Wings fans wish their team would've sealed the deal last night.

-Nicklas Lidstrom said his team needs to refocus.

-Detroit was 35 seconds from celebrating.

-Chris Osgood ducked the media after Game 5.

-The Red Wings were the better team but still lost.

-Henrik Zetterberg needs to be Detroit's best player.

AHL

-The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are hoping a return to home ice can help them.

-Instituting video reviews would be expensive for the AHL.

Non-Playoff Stuff

Atlantic Division

-Flyers forward Sami Kapanen has retired from the NHL.

-The Islanders re-signed forward Tim Jackman to a one year contract extension.

-It's time for Miroslav Satan to finally join the Devils.

Northeast Division

-It's looking like former Sharks coach Ron Wilson will join the Maple Leafs.

Southeast Division

-The Lightning re-signed defenseman Alexandre Picard to a contract extension.

-The Panthers received permission to interview former Maple Leafs and Hurricanes coach Paul Maurice.

Pacific Division

-We generally don't like to post rumors, but a rumor about Sharks forward Patrick Marleau being moved to Columbus has really gained steam.

-Ducks general manager Brian Burke denied he tried to get out of his contract.

Adams Division

-Tiger Woods doesn't think anybody watches hockey anymore. In other news, nobody drives Buicks anymore.

The day Tiger Woods drives a Buick when a camera isn't around is the same day he does just about anything he's not paid to do.