The 2009 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2009 Stanley Cup Finals will be a rematch of last year's contestants, the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Red Wings aren't expected to have such as an easy time as last year, as Detroit has been made -150 favorites, with the Penguins +130.
A number of people are picking the Penguins to upset Detroit this year and it's easy to see why. Pittsburgh has arguably two of the top three players in the league in Sidney Crosby and Evengi Malkin, along with revenge from last year's Cup Finals.
Pittsburgh was floundering until Dan Blysma took over as head coach and his wide-open style was met with open arms by his players, who proceeded to tear through the second half of the season and easily advance to the Finals, with a four-game sweep over Carolina.
Detroit quietly went about having another solid season and had an easy time in two of its three playoff series, with a seven-game battle against the Ducks being the lone exception.
Detroit comes into the series banged up, as Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom having missed Wednesday's game against Chicago due to injury, and several other defensemen have missed time, including Andreas Lilja, Thomas Kopecky and Johnathan Ericcson, who had his appendix removed this week.
Such an injury-filled defense doesn't bode well for Detroit, who are the first Stanley Cup champions to reach the Finals the following year since New Jersey in 2001.
But don't count out the Red Wings just yet, as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman may have done something that not even coach Mike Babcock could do on a consistent basis this season, which is to motivate the Red Wings.
Bettman's decision to start the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday, instead of June 5, which is when they were originally scheduled, may serve to be the rallying point the team can focus on. It's no secret that an older team, such as Detroit, would benefit more from having the extra rest, and Bettman's revised schedule also has the teams playing back-to-back games, something which again would appear to favor the younger Pittsburgh team.
Motivation has been a problem for Detroit all season and even in the post-season, when the team admittingly had a problem getting up for Anaheim, the team that took it to seven games.
Goaltending
The Red Wings get the nod here, as the much-maligned Chris Osgood has proven once again to be a post-season performer. He's not pretty and doesn't inspire a lot of confidence when you watch him, but he gets the job done.
Marc-Andre Fleury has had his moments in the playoffs, both good and not-so-good. His numbers are just average, even with the Pens sweep of Carolina.
Experience plays a factor here, as does confidence, and Osgood may not be a great goalie, but he is a winner, which is the only thing that matters.
Defense
If healthy, Detroit again gets the nod, as even though Lidstrom is on the downside of his career, is still one of the best in the game. A decent supporting cast, led by Brian Rafalski, out to win his fifth Cup, and Brad Stuart and Nicklas Kronwall give the Wings a solid top four, with guys like the ageless Chris Chelios and Derek Meech, capable of giving the others a breather.
Sergei Gonchar missed most of the season for Pittsburgh, but has played well since returning and Kris Letang keeps getting better, while Hall Gill, Brooks Orpik, Rob Scuderi and Phillippe Boucher round out the defensive corps.
Forwards
Pittsburgh may have Crosby and Malkin, along with Jordan Staal, Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin, but the Red Wings can send out four lines all capable of scoring. While Crosby and Malkin carried the Pens to the Finals, Detroit has received key goals from its third and fourth lines. The advantage in depth is something that can't be overlooked.
That isn't to say the top line players of Detroit are slouches, either, as Marian Hossa, Henrik Zetterberg and Datsyuk are collectively as good as any three forwards the Penguins can send out.
Much will be made of Hossa's decision to sign with the Red Wings instead of Pittsburgh, which offered a much-longer deal, after last season.
"When I compared the two teams, I felt like I would have a better chance to win the Cup in Detroit," Hossa said.
He was right.
The teams met twice during the regular season, with Pittsburgh storming back from a 5-2 third-period deficit to win 7-6 in overtime in the first meeting, but Detroit winning the rematch 3-0 in Pittsburgh.
Yes, Pittsburgh has several things working to its advantage, but the Pens aren't quite on the same level as Detroit. The Red Wings will make sure the rest of the league realizes that by winning their second straight Stanley Cup.
5* Red Wings -150
Now he will get his chance to show it.
