LIVE GAME 3 BLOG OF THE 2008 STANLEY CUP FINALS

PERIOD 2

With Defenseman Brian Rafalski still in the sin bin, Pittsburgh starts the second period with a man advantage.

0:20 into the Second Period- Sidney Crosby explodes off the half boards, and wrists a hard shot off the crossbar.

2:02 of the Second Period- Kronvall receievs a hooking penalty when he ties up Ryan Malone behind the net.

2:10 of the Second Period- Petr Sykora has a quality shot on net but there is no rebound available to any Penguins when Osgood plays the puck efficiently and the puck is cleared down the ice.

2:34 into the Second Period- Sidney Crosby buries his second goal of the game (6th of the playoffs) on a rebound shot from Marian Hossa. That goal was the result of speed and driving hard to the net. The Penguins exploded in triangular form and buried the rebound, off an excellent first shot.

Writer's Note: Who do I think I am? Pierre McGuire (of TSN and NBC)?

4:10 into the Second Period - Crosby is hammered so hard he does a back flip when Wings forward Kris Draper lays a low hip at the blueline.

7:00 in the Second Period- For the first time in the series, Pittsburgh has absolute control of this game. FINALLY.

8:54 into the Second Period- Hal Gill takes a cross-checking penalty.

11:40 into the Second Period- CBC's Scott Oake interviews Alexander Ovechkin.

Writer's Note: Has Alexander Ovechkin been shopping with Sean Avery, intern for Vogue Magazine? I must say, Ovechkin is looking sharp and fresh tonight. Whether that suit is Armani or Zegna, Ovie is styling tonight.

12:57 of the Second Period- Hal Gill takes a cross-checking penalty on Tomas Holmstrom.

Writer's Note: This penalty kill should be no problem for Pittsburgh. They have done an excellent job down a man thus far tonight. Jordan Staal (7 shorthanded goals in 2006'07 regular season) is always effective.

14:48 of the Second Period- Johan Franzen (Landsbro, Sweden) scores his 13th goal of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs on a beautiful individual effort. The goal comes with only seconds left in Gill's minor penalty and was quite simply a highlight-reel goal.

Writer's Note: Was that Johan Franzen or Alexei Zhamnov? Wow. That goal was exciting to watch. And I'm cheering for Pittsburgh too. Franzen went around three Pittsburgh Penguins on his way to the goal and stuffed it short-side on M.A. Fleury. The Mule has another goal, his league-leading 13th of the postseason.

*** Second Period Ends.... Pittsburgh outshoots Detroit 13-9 in the Second Period and has an overall 19-18 Shots advantage.

Writer's Analysis: This game is by far the best of the series so far, mainly because Pittsburgh seems to have awaken from a late May sleep. Pittsburgh played extraordinarily in the middle frame and really deserved a bigger lead than one goal...

Stay Tuned for Period 3.....

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg...