Published: June 04, 2008 11:52 pm            

Zetterberg takes home Conn Smythe

PITTSBURGH — Nobody scored more points in the NHL playoffs this year than Henrik Zetterberg, but it was his defense that helped him skate off with the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the postseason.

Zetterberg was named the Conn Smythe winner after his Red Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in Game 6 at Mellon Arena on Wednesday night to claim the Cup.

The 27-year-old Swede scored the Cup-clinching goal and had an assist, giving him 27 points, which tied him with Penguins captain Sidney Crosby for the most in the playoffs. His 13 goals tied teammate Johan Franzen for the highest total in the postseason.

“I’m at a loss for words. It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Zetterberg said of winning the Cup and being named the postseason MVP.

Zetterberg finished with six points in six games against the Penguins, but the job that he and linemates Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom did defensively might have been even more important. Zetterberg and Datsyuk are each candidates for the Selke Award, which is presented to the top defensive forward each season.

Whenever possible, Detroit coach Mike Babcock matched Zetterberg’s line against Crosby’s, and the results were spectacular. In the first two games in Detroit – when Babcock had the final decision on matchups – the Red Wings shut out the Penguins. In games 3 and 4 in Pittsburgh, when Penguins coach Michel Therrien could choose the matchup he wanted, Crosby combined for two goals and an assist.

Zetterberg, who is counted on as part of Detroit’s top line, the top power-play unit and the top penalty-killing unit, played more minutes than any forward on either team in Game 5.

“He certainly deserves it,” Therrien said of Zetterberg winning the Conn Smythe. “There is no doubt he was an important player for that group.”

His work when the Red Wings were shorthanded was particularly important, as he played a critical role in keeping the Penguins off the board in 5-on-3 situations in both games 4 and 6. His defensive play on Crosby in Game 4 likely kept the Penguins from scoring the tying goal and drastically altering the series, as the Red Wings moved within a victory of the Cup. He also cleared a puck during the Penguins’ 5-on-3 opportunity on Wednesday night that played a key role in keeping Pittsburgh off the board.

Zetterberg credited his heritage for helping him become a strong two-way player.

“I think it all comes from starting in Sweden,” Zetterberg said in a television interview on the ice. “In Sweden, as a centerman, you have to play both ways.”

He certainly did that.

In Game 6, he assisted on Brian Rafalski’s go-ahead goal in the first period and then scored what proved to be the game-winner in the third period. His shot was initially stopped by Marc-Andre Fleury but then trickled through the Pittsburgh goalie’s legs and went into the net when Fleury fell on it.

        

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