Few Penguins appeared panicked Saturday night after their 5-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena — a defeat every bit as convincing as that score suggests.
In fact, despite facing an elimination game Tuesday at Mellon Arena, the Penguins are confident of winning this best-of-seven Cup Final, which the Red Wings lead, 3-2.
"When you don't play well at all, you have nothing to do but improve," center Sidney Crosby said Saturday night.
"We've been through a lot of things ... that we've had to bounce back from."
They usually bounce back successfully.
Over the past two postseasons, the Penguins are 9-3 after a loss, including 3-2 against the Red Wings and 5-2 in these playoffs.
In those 12 games, the Penguins have out-scored opponents, 41-26, and won by multiple goals six times.
Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who has started each contest, has proven especially sharp with a 2.17 goals-against average and .927 save percentage.
Crosby and center Evgeni Malkin also are likely to produce Tuesday. Crosby has scored 10 goals and recorded 18 points over those 12 post-loss games; Malkin has scored five goals and recorded 14 points.
