By Allan Muir, SI.com

1. Sidney Crosby, Penguins: You didn't think the Wings could keep him bottled up for a third straight game, did you? Hey, big players make big plays in big games, and as far as Crosby's pro career goes, this was his ultimate test. On a night when his team needed him to be a difference maker, Sid responded with a pair of goals to pace the Pens to victory. His first of the evening came on a nifty give-and-go with Marian Hossa that started with Crosby pouncing on a Brad Stuart turnover, but it was his second goal that really put the wind in Pittsburgh's sails. After setting the power play in motion, Crosby found space to the left of Chris Osgood, putting himself in perfect position to bang home Ryan Malone's rebound. That gave the Pens a 2-0 lead, and the confidence to get themselves back into this series.

2. Marc-Andre Fleury, Penguins: Instead of the guy who flopped -- literally -- in his first two Cup finals games, this was the Fleury who hasn't lost on home ice since Nov. 21. He kept his streak alive with 32 stops and a consistent 60-minute effort, highlighted by nine memorable saves on Jiri Hudler and Valtteri Filppula.

3. Johan Franzen, Red Wings: The Mule looked to be back at full strength with a pair of goals on the night. Although only one of them counted -- the net was dislodged on his first -- his second is destined for the highlight reel. Deking around Rob Scuderi at the top of the circle, Franzen darted to the net, showing forehand and backhand before finally wristing a beauty past a baffled Fleury to draw the Wings within one late in the second.