Nothing better than three power plays (the last one potentially four minutes long) in overtime. Eventually you'll win.

That's what made the difference for the Pittsburgh Penguins late last night and, with the Pens 4-3 triple overtime victory over a Red Wings team that outshot them 58-32, we'll get more hockey this week. That's not a bad thing.

So, let me digest "the best thing that ever happened to the NHL" — and I say that with all the sincerity of a gambler facing an opponent who knows the cards are marked — before making a final assessment on Tuesday morning.

In the meantime, throw all this into a blender and turn it on: Marc-Andre Fleury was magnificent and Chris Osgood was not. The Wings decision to play prevent defence with a 3-2 lead in the final 10 minutes of regulation time was disastrous. Toss in a couple of phantom goaltender interference calls in OT and an overtime decision by the officials to make hitting-from-behind legal again. And always remember that the league really, really, really needed at least one more game on NBC. Smell that…it has the odour of a PIttsburgh win. 

We'll digest that cocktail and hook up tomorrow. I'm on the radio in less than six hours.

Nothing better than three power plays (the last one potentially four minutes long) in overtime. Eventually you'll win.

That's what made the difference for the Pittsburgh Penguins late last night and, with the Pens 4-3 triple overtime victory over a Red Wings team that outshot them 57-28, we'll get more hockey this week. That's not a bad thing.

So, let me digest "the best thing that ever happened to the NHL" — and I say that with all the sincerity of a gambler facing an opponent who knows the cards are marked — before making a final assessment on Tuesday morning.

In the meantime, throw all this into a blender and turn it on: Marc-Andre Fleury was magnificent and Chris Osgood was not. The Wings decision to play prevent defence with a 3-2 lead in the final 10 minutes of regulation time was disastrous. Toss in a couple of phantom goaltender interference calls in OT and an overtime decision by the officials to make hitting-from-behind legal again. And always remember that the league really, really, really needed at least one more game on NBC. Smell that…it has the odour of a PIttsburgh win. 

We'll digest that cocktail and hook up tomorrow. I'm on the radio in less than six hours.