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		Zulewski Report By Tom Zulewski June 1, 2009

	The NHL Stanley Cup Finals the Wings up 2-0, the Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin was all the rage after his game two brawl with Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg. The brawl looked liked something out of the 60's or 70's hockey when if you just felt like dropping the gloves it would turn into one big mess that's what happened when Malkin wanted to show Zetterberg what fighting was all about in former boxer moniker Joe Louis Arena. The fight was ruled an instigator penalty but Malkin who was scheduled for a one game suspension had the day off without pay withdrawn from the league because he's needed for the gradual ratings draw the NHL desperately needs on network TV. Malkin started out the incident by taking a jab at Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood as he secured the puck and let's just say that's a no no. It's a no no in defensive circles and Malkin would get pummeled if he pulled that crap off and they let him get away with it. Look for some more messy hockey at Mellon Place on Tuesday night in game three. Malkin in the frustration of the moment tried to take it a little too far and he paid for it basically. Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell ruled no suspension for Malkin and he was no where near the play and he just starts wailing on Zetterberg, why? There is no doubt that the Penguins had a word with Malkin after this took place without question and Malkin is lucky he is not suspended for game three of the finals right now. The Pens are already in a 2-0 hole, control your temper or your going to make it worse and your going to have a summer vacation awful quick without the cup and that's not good. The Penguins are extremely upset going back to the Igloo down 2-0 after something like this and holding a 1-0 lead in game two only to get that goal answered three times by the league champs. The Pens let opportunities get by and they posted in game one and two and Detroit came back and took advantage. The Wings left wing Justin Abdelkader it was like "who they" which many a critic said before the series which the Pens aren't now, he picked up a third period goal at 2:47 to add frosting on the cake for the two goal 3-1 win. Remember a year ago Malkin couldn't get going until game five, now with game two in this one Sidney Crosby is not even on the board for Pittsburgh that's trouble, that's serious big time trouble and it's going to show up if the Penguins and Crosby can't score once this series goes forward. Unless Sidney can put up some kind of a point in game three the chances of the Wings winning game three and going up 3-0 are excellent and this is going to be a very short series if that happens. It just seems that anytime any team runs into this Red Wings team it's ingredients for trouble. If you can't control the situation meaning if you don't have the defense at the right place at the right time that's how Pittsburgh got one of their goals in the first game where the puck sat and left winger Ruslan Fedotenko pounced on the puck and scored the Penguins first and only goal at 18:37. That was not too surprising but that's a minor blip and the Red Wings aren't going to make too many mistakes like that and they've already won back to back games on back to back nights by scores of 3-1. Let's face it the Wings are solid all across the board and with Nicklas Lidstrom 100% he'll be sharing the trophy very soon. The Red Wings demonstrated what a home ice advantage is all about and took advantage of every bit of it in those first two games. The Penguins Fedotenko's goal was a shot at some daylight but the Red Wings took advantage of some late period goals while double teaming strong offensive scorers on the Pens first and second lines. These late period goals are going to make a difference in terms of momentum, look at game one the Red Wings jumped out in front the Pens then tied the game up at 1-1 and the Red Wings answered back with a late goal in the second on Johan Frazen's 11th post season goal. The Red Wings took 13 shots on goal to Pittsburgh's 11 in the second stanza for the only goal which was the go ahead goal in the final minute of the period and the Wings held onto all the momentum you need. If your getting goals late in the period that energizes a team as they hit their groove. TV ratings down for games one and two: Versus will air games three and four at Mellon Place and then NBC gets games five and seven in Detroit. The ratings were low for Saturday night and then it jumped up on Sunday night. Hockey has never been a sport that's translated well on TV to begin with high definition or not. It's depressing to know that the numbers are down but the numbers are down in all of sports NASCAR's ratings on Fox are down 10%. That's not a major concern but it's enough of a concern where you have to stand up and take notice. The quality of the teams and the quality of the sport on TV not withstanding. You've got championship hockey finals for crying out loud and it's all part of a prospect of about a zillion other viewing prospects that people have on TV. Some people are going to watch Las Vegas poker on ESPN rather than the Stanley Cup Finals that's just a part of life. They've got to deal with it. Tom Zulewski comments on sports each week on Sportstalk Radio