Here we go again, Detroit versus Pittsburgh, part two. Last season’s Stanley Cup Final was entertaining enough, and this time around, the Final should be even better. From last season’s Final, both teams have improved to become powerhouse teams, and pretty much unstoppable in these playoffs.
The Red Wings have lost just four games in winning three series, and did it in convincing fashion. The Penguins took an almost similar route, losing just five games, and got better as the playoffs progressed.
In the Western Final, the young and hungry Blackhawks looked poised to upset the Red Wings, but got schooled and spanked, in an extremely easy five game series. The play of Chris Osgood was good enough to shut some critics up, but not all of them. If the Wings are to be victorious in the Final, he should get plenty of consideration in being named the Conn Smythe winner.
The Penguins also disposed of their opponents in a cakewalk and stunned the Cinderella story Hurricanes in a four game sweep. The dynamic duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin was unreal, and they easily carried the Penguins into the Final.
With both these teams playing at such high levels, something has got to give and which team will be the first to blink, in this clash of the titans?
Goaltending, last season the Red Wings had the edge because Chris Osgood had two Stanley Cup rings and more experience than his counterpart Marc-Andre Fleury. This time around, the odds should be the same, because Osgood has played some great hockey, and Fleury was excellent as well. Look for Fleury to really put up some spectacular numbers and saves as he looks to avenge last season’s loss. The edge in this series is a draw, because both goaltenders are playing solid hockey, but it will come down to which ever team has the best defense in front of him.
The edge there goes to the Red Wings. By far they have a way better defense than the Penguins. Detroit just have more reliable and been there done that type of defensemen. The Red Wings will be led by Nicklas Lidstrom, who is as steady as they come. Nicklas Kronwall has played with a very physical edge to his game, and will be intimidating to opponents coming down the wing. Brad Stuart and Brian Rafalski have both provided excellent two way play and a strong first pass out of the zone.
Easily, those two players are a top defensive pair on any other team in the league.
As for the Penguins, their two best defensemen are Sergei Gonchar and Kris
Letang, and they are no slouches when it comes down to game time. But beyond them, the likes of Phillipe Boucher and Hal Gill are weak. There is no way those two will be able to contain the high caliber of players the Red Wings have over a seven game series. The Penguins basically have the same defensive core as last season, and they got schooled.
Offensively, there should be a lot of it from both sides depending on which defense really steps up first, the Red Wings are light years ahead of the Penguins. That is a bold statement, no doubt, but can the Penguins consistently roll four lines like the Red Wings, and trust those players? Yeah, the Penguins have Crosby and Malkin, but Malkin can be stopped. Sidney Crosby has a look in his eyes and cannot be stopped. Malkin on the other hand, doesn’t have that look or the desire to really win and can easily be stopped. With the defense the Red Wings have in place, stopping Malkin will be a piece of cake, and they can skate off with the Stanley Cup.
The Red Wings’ offense is top notch, led by Henrik Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, Johan Franzen, Dan Cleary, Mikael Samuelsson, Tomas Holmstrom and Pavel Datsyuk. Basically, the Red Wings can confidently roll with four lines. The same offense that beat the Penguins last season is back, plus forty goal scorer in Marian Hossa, and he could potentially make a great contribution and difference.
In the end, the Red Wings are a better team on paper and on the ice. They also have more depth and a better supporting cast than the Penguins. Really if you think about it, the Red Wings sort of don’t have a supporting cast because that’s how good their players are, they all contribute on a consistent basis, unlike the Penguins’ roster. Another deciding factor is behind the benches. Mike Babcock is a way better coach than Dan Bylsma and in last season’s Final Michel Therrien was so out-coached that that was the beginning of the end for him.
Lastly, the Red Wings once again have home ice advantage and that will play a huge part in this series, and will be the deciding factor in the Red Wings’ favour. In these playoffs the Red Wings have lost just one game in Detroit, but the Penguins are 6-3 on the road. Still, the Red Wings are a stronger and much better team than the Penguins.
SERIES PREDICTION --> THE DETROIT RED WINGS WILL REPEAT AS STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS BY DEFEATING THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS IN EITHER 5 OR 7 GAMES.
*THE ONLY WAY THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS WILL WIN THE STANLEY CUP IS IF THEY WIN GAME 1 AND BE PERFECT ON HOME ICE.
The opinions and thoughts expressed in this or any other article written by 12nadnuk are of his thinking and what he thinks is correct or close to it in the sporting world. If there are any problems by anyone, 12nadnuk is open for rebuttal and what not, and honest criticism. There is also a comments section, so feel free to post what is on your mind about the article. Thank you for reading.
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