I'm going to try to take this bit by bit - completely ignoring the points brought up that have no bearing on the game whatsoever.
Goaltending.
Every team that Detroit has played with Osgood in net feels that he's our "weak link" and/or that they have an instant edge over us in this aspect.. and that may very well be true. However, we have one of the top defensive teams in the league. We're so good, in fact, that Osgood - while him only being MEDIOCRE as you so thoughtfully pointed out - has won multiple Cups here and broken various franchise records. You have a Conn Smythe winner on your bench, we have a Conn Smythe winner on ours. And no, I'm not talking about fifteen years ago. I'm talking about last season. Hiller is, admittedly, a better goaltender than Osgood.. but Osgood does the job this team needs. We don't need Osgood to steal games for us - we just need him to show up when our defense doesn't do the job themselves.. and I think you can agree that after watching the first round, he's done that. In short: Don't overestimate your supposed advantage.
Defense.
It's laughable that a team like the Ducks, a team built around toughness and using the body to get the job done, could ever consider them to be better off defensively than a team like the Wings - a team built around their defense in a finesse style of play. The entire Red Wings team is centered around our D. Are we always squeaky clean and perfect? No, of course we're not. But I watched that entire first round against SJ and I have to tell you - neither was the Ducks' defense. Having no Euros isn't ANY kind of advantage. In the game of hockey, it's the skill and talent that matters - not the nationality. And really - if you want to argue that it's a huge advantage, you're completely forgetting that Lidstrom - A EURO - is easily one of the best defenseman in the modern era or otherwise to ever play this game. In fact, our third line defenseman would easily be first line defenseman on other teams. So don't give me this "no Euros, yay! We're better!" bullcrap. If that were true, Lidstrom wouldn't have raised the cup last season.
Forwards.
I'm going to be nice here and for the sake of this argument, assume your first line is better than ours. We, without-a-doubt, have a far superior second, third, and I'd even venture to say fourth line. You have ONE solid good line. Wow. I'm so impressed. We, on the other hand, have another situation with our forwards where our third liners would be first liners on any given team other than the Wings. We're so stacked with offensive talent, we have no idea where to put it all. And this is where the edge goes to the Wings: We're ridiculously good at containing big players. I mean, Rick Nash from Columbus had the most goals against Detroit than any other player in the NHL. We kept him down to what? One goal? Maybe two? Last year, in the Finals, we contained Crosby and Malkin so that they were practically invisible. If you really think the Wings haven't caught on to who your "big guns" are and been thinking about containing them, you're kidding yourself. They'll be silenced and you'll be left with an inferior second, third, and fourth line. Advantage? Wings.
Coaching.
Really? A Duck reject? That's what you say about Babcock? This is one of those points that means absolutely nothing to this series and it's just pure crap being spewed to get blood pumping. But just to humor you, let's talk about coaching. Let's talk about how many records Babcock holds, shall we?
Let's start with his Red Wings records:
-In his first year as coach of the Detroit Red Wings, he set a record for the most wins of a head coach in their first year of any NHL team. He also guided the Wings to win their fifth Presidents' Trophy in his first year here.
-He was selected as a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy - and just in case you have no idea what that is - it's awarded to the coach who contributes most to his teams' success.
And now, his reign with the Ducks:
-Mike Babcock led YOUR team, the Mighty Ducks, to their first ever Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Did you forget that?
-While he was coach, Anaheim swept Detroit, making themselves the first team since the 1952 Red Wings to sweep the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
-Before the Finals appearance, Babcock led the Ducks to their best regular season in the club's history - with 40 wins and 95 points.
-Anaheim was the most improved team in the NHL, finishing 26 points higher than they did in 2001-02... and, as a side note, Babcock became one of only eight coaches to lead a team to a 26 point or more improvement in his first season as an NHL coach.
-Babcock's first term with the Ducks also led to a record of best GAA and fewest goals allowed.
And just so you're not confused, since you called him a Duck "reject", it was actually Babs that rejected the Ducks - turning down an offer to remain with the Ducks to come and coach - you guessed it - the Detroit Red Wings.
So really, kind of a stupid "rejection" on your part, dontcha think?
Special teams:
You may have one of the best PP in the league - but we have THE best PP in the league. You guys also take a ridiculous amount of penalties. Compared to the Ducks, we take... well.. just about none. You won't have very many power plays, and we'll have an astounding number of them. Instant advantage to the Wings.
X Factor:
Another one of those points that make no difference whatsoever to the game. You have more North American players. You didn't win the Cup with them last year. We won the Cup with the most European stocked team around. I'm not going to argue North American vs. European with you - but all you gotta do is look at the teams stat sheets to know that this point is null and void.
All in all, thanks for playing.. but that was one of the most illogical posts a Ducks troll--er, I mean, fan--could make. Better luck next time.
