After two periods at the Consol Energy Center, the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins are tied at 1-1. It is the only meeting of the season for these two storied and successful franchises, but the game lost some of its luster when Sidney Crosby was ruled out indefinitely this week. Even with some of the star power out injured, it's been a well-played and hotly-contested game through two periods.
The Red Wings tied it up at 1-1 with four minutes remaining in the second period. Pavel Datsyuk, who entered the game day-to-day with a lower body injury, scored his ninth goal of the season to pull Detroit even. The Wings' All Star center beat Marc-Andre Fleury with a beautiful backhand shot, rifled across Fleury's body and over his blocker into the back of the net. Todd Bertuzzi set the play up on the forecheck, ripping it from Matt Niskanen to control it in the corner. Bertuzzi flipped a pass back that ricocheted onto the stick of a streaking Datsyuk.
Evgeni Malkin put the Pens on the board first, scoring his 11th goal of the season with just five seconds remaining in the first period. Malkin beat Jimmy Howard on a nice feed from James Neal. Malkin and Neal's line continues to overwhelm opponents on the offensive end, as the duo has been a prolific match so far this season. Malkin nearly gave Pittsburgh a two-goal lead on the power play in the second but a great save by Jimmy Howard robbed him of his second goal.
For more on the Penguins, please visit Pensburgh, SB Nation's Penguins blog. For the perspective from the other side, please visit SB Nation Detroit and Winging It in Motown, SB Nation's Red Wings blog.