DETROIT – Center, winger, penalty killer, emotional sparkplug – Maxime Talbot fills all those roles for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Add “extra attacker” to that list.

Facing a 3-2 deficit to Detroit late in Monday night’s Game 5 at Joe Louis Arena, Talbot hopped onto the ice when goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was summoned to the bench. The Penguins needed a goal to force overtime and keep their season alive.

Talbot came through with it as he slid a puck into the net with 35 seconds left in the third period.

That Talbot scored a goal is not unusual. His appearance as a sixth skater was, though.

“I think that’s the first time all year I have gone in for the goalie as a sixth man,” he said. “You have to give credit to the coach. He had a feeling and went with it. I was just at the right place at the right moment and the puck went into the back of the net.”

Penguins coach Michel Therrien chose to use Talbot as the extra attacker based solely on a hunch.

“It’s a feeling. Coaches get feelings sometimes,” he said. “It’s rare – it doesn’t work all the time, but I love Talbot’s game. He was on the puck. He’s got a lot of energy. And one thing you know, you want to put the puck at the net, and he was always around the net. Honestly, it was more of a feeling than anything.”

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby assisted on Talbot’s goal and was not shocked to see No. 25 on the ice in that situation.

“I wasn’t surprised. He’s a guy who is going to create space and work hard and dig pucks out. He’s a warrior,” he said. “He’s played some big games over his career. He got a chance to go out there.  I just saw, I think it was Hossa or Geno, threw the puck out by Osgood’s left side and Max was there jamming away from the side of the net. I think he got it on the second chance. So, that’s where the goals are scored in the playoffs, and that was a big one for us.”

MALONE, GONCHAR RETURN

Ryan Malone and Sergei Gonchar both suffered injuries in the second period of Monday night’s game. Gonchar crashed awkwardly into the boards while chasing and diving for a Red Wings player, while Malone took a Hal Gill slapshot to the face.

Both players returned to the ice in the third period. However, Gonchar headed back to the locker room minutes into the period. He returned for the third overtime period for strictly power-play duty. He assisted on Petr Sykora’s game-winning goal.

Malone was able to play the entire third period despite a nasty facial gash and a bloody nose.

“I was able to breathe out my mouth. That’s good enough,” he said. “My nose is already broken, so I took it right in the beak. I broke my jaw before and this wasn’t as bad. My face kind of went numb and I was just praying it wasn’t something bad. I think everybody did a great job. Everyone was sacrificing their bodies all night.”

Despite the facial injuries, Malone still laid out on the ice to block shots later in the game.

“I wouldn’t say I was surprised, just because I think we all realized what’s at stake,” Crosby said. “This time of year I don't think it’s surprising to see that. We’ll do whatever it takes. Bugsy’s been through a lot the last few games. What he’s doing out there, and what he’s sacrificing is unbelievable. It doesn’t surprise me to see a guy do that, especially him. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to help us.”

JOE LOUIS STREAK ENDS

Marian Hossa’s goal 8:37 into Monday night’s Game 5 was Pittsburgh’s first tally in Detroit this series.

Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood collected a 128:37 scoreless streak against the Penguins at Joe Louis Arena before that goal.

GOLIGOSKI GETS CALL UP, AHL RECORD

An official scoring correction made by the American Hockey League on Monday has given Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rookie Alex Goligoski his 26th point of the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs, the most ever by an AHL defenseman in a single postseason.

Goligoski should have been credited with an assist on the first Penguins goal in Sunday's 4-2 loss to Chicago in Game 2 of the Calder Cup Finals. The AHL has reviewed the video and adjusted the scoring appropriately. Goligoski now shows two assists for Sunday’s game and six points (1g, 5a) in the first two games of the series, figuring in on all six of his team's goals in the Finals.

After Sunday’s game, Goligoski, 22, was recalled by the parent Pittsburgh Penguins for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Detroit. He was a healthy scratch for the game, but was summoned in case the Penguins needed another defenseman and Kris Letang was not available. However, Letang, who attended the funeral of friend Luc Bourdon, arrived in Detroit prior to game time.

“Kris Letang, as we all know, went to the funeral of his friend. I think it was the right thing to do, even though it’s the Stanley Cup Final. And we called up Goligoski just in case something happened,” Penguins coach Michel Therrien said. “Letang was supposed to arrive [Monday] afternoon. We didn’t want to take the risk. If something happened at the morning skate or this afternoon, we didn’t want to get caught with six defensemen only. In the meantime, Goligoski is playing really well. He’s a great young prospect, and to get the feel for the Stanley Cup Final is great for him.”

Goligoski had two assists in three games with Pittsburgh during the regular season, and tallied 10 goals and 28 assists for 38 points in 70 AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, earning a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team at year's end.

Goligoski’s 26 postseason points are good for second in the entire league and are two shy of the AHL record for a rookie (28), set by Mike Sillinger with the Adirondack Red Wings in 1992. His record-setting effort on Sunday came in the same game that saw Wolves forward Darren Haydar set the AHL career marks for goals and points with two first-period goals.

The Penguins trail Chicago, two games to none, in the best-of-seven Calder Cup Finals. Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday night in Wilkes-Barre, and will be televised live on NHL Network at 7:30 p.m.