Both benches of beard-bearing brutes played nearly six periods of bombastic hockey on Monday night. It looked like the Red Wings would clinch the league championship with mere minutes remaining on the clock and a one goal lead. Yet, In a crazy turn of events, the Pittsburgh Penguins were able to hold on to their Stanley Cup hopes for one more game thanks to the help of three hero’s:

Hero 1: Maxim Talbot pounded the puck past Chris Osgood with 34.4 seconds left in the game. Talbots’ goal eventually forced the game into triple over time because both teams went scoreless in the first two OT periods.

Hero 2: Marc-Andre Fleury faced 58 shots from the potent Red Wing’s offense and stopped 55 of those shots. The Penguins surely wouldn’t still be in this if not for the outstanding, brilliant efforts of their young goalie.

Of Fleury, Penguins forward Sidney Crosby said in the New York Times that: “…he was the difference. He held us in there, allowed us to keep battling and holding on. So a big part of that win goes to him.”

Hero 3: Petr Sykora scored his first goal of the series at a pivotal time after predicting he would score.

“It was just between the periods, something stupid I said,” Sykora said in the New York Times. “I said, Guys, I’m just going to get one. So don’t worry about the game. I’m going to get a goal.’”

DETROIT - JUNE 02: Adam Hall #28 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and teammates celebrate after Petr Sykora scored the game winning goal against the Detroit Red Wings during game five of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena on June 2, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. The Penguins defeated the Red Wings 4-3 in triple overtime to set the series at 3-2 Red Wings. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) Found on Yahoo Sports