Just when you thought the Pittsburgh Penguins had the game, a determined Detroit Red Wings came back in the second and third period in what looked like a Cup winning performance. Then with 12 seconds left in the third period, the Penguins came back again to tie the game and force overtime.

Game five of the Stanley Cup Finals was headed into sudden-death.

But wait — it would take not one, not two, but nearly three full overtime periods (and a double-minor penalty) for the game winner to be decided. With Jiri Hudler of Detroit serving a double-minor for high-sticking Rob Scuderi, Peter Sykora took a pass from Evgeni Malkin to finally win the game.

“I missed a one-timer right before, by 20 feet,” Sykora said. “It was a freeroll, because it hit the ref Dan O’Halloran and went back behind the net to Gino. I was frustrated the last few games. Nothing was going for me - no bounces, no shots on net. You know, now we get to live another day.”

Game 6 goes back to Pittsburgh.

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