PITTSBURGH (AP) -Chris Osgood is finally getting the credit.
Often overlooked, the Detroit Red Wings' goalie added another solid effort Saturday night in a 2-1 win that gave his club a 3-1 win in the Stanley Cup finals.
Osgood is a win away from capturing the Cup for a third time in his career, the second as the Red Wings' starter. His contribution has been minimized, and he has been shortchanged by many who say his success is created by the system played in front of him.
Not so say his teammates. Osgood made 22 saves and has allowed only four goals in four games to the Penguins, including a pair of home shutouts to open the series.
``I thought he made some key saves,'' defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom said. ``He was square to the shooter most of the time. He got the rebounds, too.''
A win on Monday night and they'll all be champions again.
Osgood is 13-3 with a 1.45 goals-against average in 17 games since taking over the No. 1 role from Dominik Hasek in the first round of the playoffs against Nashville. He has yielded only 24 goals.
``I'm not going to think about anything on the ride home,'' he said. ``I'll clear my mind all day tomorrow and not even think about anything. Just come to the rink and be prepared to play another game. Sounds boring, but that's the way I've approached it all playoffs.''
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PITTSBURGH'S PALACE: The Igloo will soon be replaced as the home of the Pittsburgh Penguins, but it sure served them well until Saturday night.
The Penguins had won all nine home games in the playoffs and 17 straight, dating to a shootout loss to San Jose on Feb. 24. But when they had a chance to tie up the Stanley Cup finals 2-2, the old building couldn't pull out another win over the Red Wings.
Without a win in Detroit on Monday night, the Penguins will return home only to clean out their lockers.
``Obviously, being down 3-1 we have to play desperate hockey, fight for another day,'' defenseman Darryl Sydor said. ``That's what we're going to do. We haven't experienced that yet, so that's probably a good thing.''
The Penguins swept Ottawa in the first round of the playoffs and took out the New York Rangers and Philadelphia in five games after jumping to 3-0 leads.
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TRADING PLACES: Pascal Dupuis and Adam Hall have stalls across on opposite sides of the Pittsburgh Penguins' dressing room.
Yet, that is much closer than they were a year ago when they were traded for each other at the dealing deadline.
``We talked about it, we joked about it,'' Dupuis said Saturday. ``He's a good guy. He's been great for us. He scored a big goal last game.''
Hall, who scored the winner in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals, was 49 games into an unproductive first season with the New York Rangers when he was shipped to the Minnesota Wild for Dupuis. Hall finished the season with the Wild and then signed with Pittsburgh last October.
Dupuis' journey was just beginning. He lasted only six games with the Rangers before being shipped to Atlanta on trade deadline day. The forward was on the move again this year at the deadline, sent to Pittsburgh along with Marian Hossa in a big deal with the Thrashers.
``It's kind of funny how things work out like that. It's a small world that way,'' Hall said. ``That's just the way the game works out sometimes. Regardless of what team you're on, you always train with or play with or against a lot of different guys.''
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COLBY'S COMEBACK: Probably no one feels more left out of the Pittsburgh Penguins' run to the Stanley Cup than Atlanta Thrashers forward Colby Armstrong.
Armstrong, one of the most popular Penguins players inside their dressing room and among their fans, was unexpectedly dealt Feb. 26 in the trading deadline deal that sent All-Star forward Marian Hossa to Pittsburgh.
``The boys keep going deeper and deeper and that makes it even tougher, but at the same time it's good to see some of their faces,'' Armstrong said. ``When I left, I kind of just shipped right out. Then I came back at the end of the year, but they were busy doing their thing. It's definitely great to see the guys and that they're doing so well.''
Armstrong is attending the Stanley Cup finals as a commentator for Canadian sports channel Rogers Sportsnet, but hasn't ventured inside the Penguins' dressing room because he said he would feel awkward.
``It's still pretty weird, but we'll see what happens,'' he said. ``I woke up this morning and I was like, 'What the heck am I doing?' It's a good opportunity for me. I always thought about doing something like this. Hopefully, I don't say anything stupid. That's what my dad told me, 'Don't say anything stupid.' I was like, 'All right Dad. Thanks.'''
His former teammates were impressed with his on-air prediction the Penguins would win Game 3 by 3-2, as they did, and Sidney Crosby would have a big game. Crosby scored two goals.
``If he's predicting that, I hope he keeps it going,'' said Crosby, who was Armstrong's road roommate. ``I mean, he's a good buddy. Maybe he knows me well. But that's a good call on his part.''
Max Talbot said the Penguins miss Armstrong, known as Army to his former teammates.
``I love Colby, he's a great friend,'' Talbot said Saturday. ``I'm sure he wished he'd be here and I wish he'd be here, too, because he worked so hard for us. We all miss the guy.''
Armstrong sat with Penguins general manager Ray Shero during the team's morning skate Saturday.
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CROSBY & CHERRY: After Crosby's two-goal game Wednesday, CBC Hockey Night in Canada commentator Don Cherry praised almost every Penguins player except the Pittsburgh captain - even though Crosby played one of the best games in recent Stanley Cup history.
Cherry, who is also working for ESPN during the finals, has had little positive to say about Crosby since accusing him of being a showboat during Crosby's junior hockey days.
Crosby was asked Saturday if he's feuding with Cherry. Crosby said he's not, but dropped a strong hint that he couldn't care less what the former NHL coach known for his outlandish sports coats thinks about him.
``I don't really have a relationship with him, to be honest,'' Crosby said. ``I've never met him. I grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada just like every kid. And I've heard negative things on there more than positive things, probably. But it hasn't changed me. I still watch it whenever I get the chance. And there's really nothing there. I've never met him and I have nothing against him whatsoever.''
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AP Sports Writer Alan Robinson contributed to this report.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
