When Detroit finally got past the Penguins' defense, Dan Cleary failed to beat Fleury on a breakaway with just under 2 minutes left. The defending champions got the puck in the crease in the final seconds, but defenseman Rob Scuderi squatted and filled up the painted area to deny Johan Franzen's attempts to force overtime.
Pittsburgh's solid defense in the wake of an ugly 5-0 loss Saturday sends the series back to Joe Louis Arena for Game 7 on Friday night. The home team has won each of the first six games.
Detroit needed to play better than it did in its last visit to Pittsburgh, when it lost 4-2 in both Games 3 and 4, but it was worse offensively, matching its worst offensive performance of this postseason.
The Penguins' defenders had a lot to do with that.
They turned away shot after shot to help out Fleury, who was chased after giving up five goals in Game 5.
The Red Wings entered averaging three goals in the finals and 3½ goals overall in the playoffs.
Detroit was held to one goal in two previous games this postseason, both against the gritty Anaheim Ducks in the second round.
The Red Wings avoided being shut out in the playoffs for the first time since 2007 when Kris Draper scored midway through the third period, but the offense came much too late for them to celebrate a championship in Mellon Arena as they did last year.
Detroit had just three shots in the first period and nine in the second - when it didn't have one power play - then did nothing of significance when it had chances with an extra skater in the third period.
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