Mon Dieu! Someone Score A Goal Already!

The Detroit Red Wings were one goal away from winning the Stanley Cup. The Pittsburgh Penguins were one goal away from ending the game and sending the series into Game 6.

It was Pittsburgh Penguins' sniper Petr Sykora that set the tone during the first overtime. He knocked on the glass separating the NBC sportscaster from the team benches and told him that he would be the one to score the next goal.

Two overtimes later, with Detroit Red Wings' Jiri Hudler in the penalty box for a double-minor for high-sticking at 9:21, Sykora made good on his promise when the sniper sent a snap shot past the shoulder of Chris Osgood ending the third overtime at 9:57.

After the win, the NBC sportscaster pulled Sykora to the side to talk about his first overtime prediction. Sykora's reply to him was, "I just had a feeling."

For avid hockey fans, that 'feeling' being expressed until 1:30 AM Tuesday morning was one of extreme intensity. That extreme intensity began at 9:23 in the third period when the 2-2 game became a 3-2 game in favor of the Red Wings when Brian Rafalski scored. Penguins and Red Wings fans alike sat on the edge of their seats praying (or for those of us at home, yelling at the TV screen).

Shortly after the one minute mark hit signifying the end of the game, I began shouting "You have thirty-seven seconds, DO SOMETHING!" As if the universe sent the message along to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the first miracle happened.