Detroit is just better.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

Because:

We're going to get to see what a complete team, one that plays both offense and defense and gets offense from not only its forwards but its dmen as well can do to a team that is young and relies heavily on 2 lines for scoring and has only 1 true offensive weapon on the blueline.

Wings D thru 14 games

4 goals, 37 points

Pens D thru 12 games

2 goals, 25 points

Wings players in double digit scoring

8

Pens

5

I'm just looking through the Penguins lineup, and when you get past Malkin, Crosby, Hossa and Gonchar, who really "scares" you with their offense? Ryan Malone and Ryan Whitney?

I'm psyched that we get to play Crosby and Malkin because IMO, the Red Wings have played second fiddle to so many teams this year. We don't get that much respect from any of the "know it alls" around the league. How many pundits picked us to lose each series even after we easily dispatched the team prior?

The Pens have Malkin and Crosby but we have Nick Lidstrom. We have Datsyuk and Zetterberg. Who is their Lidstrom? How will they stop the contributions from Kronner and Rafalski from the blueline?

Both goalies are playing excellent hockey. Both teams are basically close when it comes to Goals scored, goals against, PP and PK.

The big difference is the Red Wings are just better through the middle and bottom ends of the respective lineups.

IMO, the youth and inexperience of being in the big dance is going to weigh on many of the young Pens, including Mr. Fleury.

I don't believe in jinxes so I have no problem stating what I believe to be true. That the Red Wings are a far superior team and should have no trouble dispatching the Pens in 6 games. And to be quite honest, I wouldn't be surprised if we did it in 5.

Edited May 20, 2008 by GordieSid&Ted

[Dabura 12,232]

This thread won't end well.

I mostly agree with you, though.

[JayUp88 1]

let the fighting begin

[ThreeRiversFan 0]

Looking through Detroits roster.....

Past Zetterberg and Datsyuk (and Franzen if he's playing)...who is supposed to be scary...to the point that we dont have someone equally as scary??

Your defense is great...I hope Franzen comes back...that would give you a 2nd line that could possibly match the offensive

output of our 2nd line

One other thing...we havent lost at home since mid February...

[Reds4Life 51]

One other thing...we havent lost at home since mid February...

That's bad for you. Every streak must end at some point. Unfortunately for you it will end in the finals

And I agree with OP, we have better team

Go Wings, go!

Edited May 20, 2008 by Reds4Life

[Vilmer 0]

[esteef 2,679]

Everyone should be afraid of Sammy. Be VERY afraid!!!!!!!

[ThreeRiversFan 0]

That's bad for you. Every streak must end at some point. Unfortunately for you it will end in the finals

And I agree with OP, we have better team

Go Wings, go!

Actually..thats bad for you...you need to play 3 games there....

My only point is that for each Red Wing..I can match a Penguin that is close to as good..if not better

This series will be epic

[Lovin Jiri Fischer 147]

One other thing...we havent lost at home since mid February...

Yeah well you haven't played the Wings at home yet either.

[VM1138 1,921]

Not to rain on the parade here, but those stats aren't overwhelming. And the Pens are a complete team. Weaker on defense but they are, statistically, just as deep as the Wings, not quite as deep, but not lacking enough to make much of a difference.

These teams are almost perfectly even except in Defense.

[puckbags 863]

Actually..thats bad for you...you need to play 3 games there....

My only point is that for each Red Wing..I can match a Penguin that is close to as good..if not better

This series will be epic

Fair enough, how about we just trade home wins for 7 games!!

[ThreeRiversFan 0]

Fair enough, how about we just trade home wins for 7 games!!

LOL...touche'

But Dallas proved you can lose at home...so...we'll see...

[dallas27 7]

My only point is that for each Red Wing..I can match a Penguin that is close to as good..if not better

Crosby and Malkin aren't the complete hockey players Datsyuk and Zetterberg are, e.g. the Selke nominations, that's my opinion though so take it as it is. Crosby and Malkin will not be skating circles around them as the media and everyone is making them out to do.

Hossa however, well I have a man-crush on Hossa so he's in a league of his own, and still should be on the Wings. How many points does Hossa have all you "Hossa doesn't perform in the playoff" people?

Edited May 20, 2008 by dallas27

[Reds4Life 51]

Actually..thats bad for you...you need to play 3 games there....

My only point is that for each Red Wing..I can match a Penguin that is close to as good..if not better

This series will be epic

Oh really? OK.

Lidstrom

Rafalski

Kronwall

Stuart

Only comparable defenseman is Gonchar. Good luck.

Anyways, individuals do not win championship, you need great team. Our system will prevail, I hope.

[Shaman 713]

Actually..thats bad for you...you need to play 3 games there....

My only point is that for each Red Wing..I can match a Penguin that is close to as good..if not better

This series will be epic

Ok, Ill bite, Whos close to Lidstrom?

[HeyNow71871929 0]

I think it is going to be a very close series. It will be a defensive struggle for 7 games and I wouldn't be surprised if we see 3 or 4 of these games go into OT. I believe this is going to be one of the most exciting and best Finals people will see in a long time.

But you say that you have Lidstrom to shut down Malkin and Crosby. We have Sergei Gonchar to SLOW DOWN Zetterberg and Datsyuk. I think it is impossible to completely shut down the likes of players like Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Crosby, Malkin. But you have a good chance of winning if you can clow this guys down. Anyway, Sergei Gonchar, in my opinion, was robbed of a Norris Trophy nomination (Lidstrom will obviously win it) only because our defense started off real slow and sluggish in the beginning of the season. Gonchar is most known for his offensive abilities, but he is so underrated defensively. The guy is very positionally sound. And I also believe the Pens have more depth down the middle. I'm not saying this as a homer comment, but I really believe this. Our top 5 or 6 are scary good. And we proved it against the Flyers. If they Flyers shut down the Malkin line, Crosby's line came up big and vice versa. I love the matchups both teams have however. I mean, very even goaltending. Without a doubt the two best goaltenders in the NHL Playoffs thus far. Defenses are very mobile with some bruisers. Offenses have a lot of depth. It is going to make for one helliva series. Buckle Up ladies and gentlemen.

[Shaman 713]

I think it is going to be a very close series. It will be a defensive struggle for 7 games and I wouldn't be surprised if we see 3 or 4 of these games go into OT. I believe this is going to be one of the most exciting and best Finals people will see in a long time.

But you say that you have Lidstrom to shut down Malkin and Crosby. We have Sergei Gonchar to SLOW DOWN Zetterberg and Datsyuk. I think it is impossible to completely shut down the likes of players like Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Crosby, Malkin. But you have a good chance of winning if you can clow this guys down. Anyway, Sergei Gonchar, in my opinion, was robbed of a Norris Trophy nomination (Lidstrom will obviously win it) only because our defense started off real slow and sluggish in the beginning of the season. Gonchar is most known for his offensive abilities, but he is so underrated defensively. The guy is very positionally sound. And I also believe the Pens have more depth down the middle. I'm not saying this as a homer comment, but I really believe this. Our top 5 or 6 are scary good. And we proved it against the Flyers. If they Flyers shut down the Malkin line, Crosby's line came up big and vice versa. I love the matchups both teams have however. I mean, very even goaltending. Without a doubt the two best goaltenders in the NHL Playoffs thus far. Defenses are very mobile with some bruisers. Offenses have a lot of depth. It is going to make for one helliva series. Buckle Up ladies and gentlemen.

Rafalski was robbed, Gonchar wasnt close to Lids in either scoring or defensive ability...

[10 Minute Misconduct 104]

Our 2nd best D (Rafalski), is better then there best D (Gonchar).

[DYags 0]

I think it is going to be a very close series. It will be a defensive struggle for 7 games and I wouldn't be surprised if we see 3 or 4 of these games go into OT. I believe this is going to be one of the most exciting and best Finals people will see in a long time.

But you say that you have Lidstrom to shut down Malkin and Crosby. We have Sergei Gonchar to SLOW DOWN Zetterberg and Datsyuk. I think it is impossible to completely shut down the likes of players like Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Crosby, Malkin. But you have a good chance of winning if you can clow this guys down. Anyway, Sergei Gonchar, in my opinion, was robbed of a Norris Trophy nomination (Lidstrom will obviously win it) only because our defense started off real slow and sluggish in the beginning of the season. Gonchar is most known for his offensive abilities, but he is so underrated defensively. The guy is very positionally sound. And I also believe the Pens have more depth down the middle. I'm not saying this as a homer comment, but I really believe this. Our top 5 or 6 are scary good. And we proved it against the Flyers. If they Flyers shut down the Malkin line, Crosby's line came up big and vice versa. I love the matchups both teams have however. I mean, very even goaltending. Without a doubt the two best goaltenders in the NHL Playoffs thus far. Defenses are very mobile with some bruisers. Offenses have a lot of depth. It is going to make for one helliva series. Buckle Up ladies and gentlemen.

Well said. While I don't agree Gonchar should have been a Norris canidate, I do think he is vastly underrated as a Dmen.

I'm of the opinion that this will be a very close series. Shutting down your offense is going to be a hell of a lot more difficult than people on these boards are making it sound.

[Dr Rosenrosen 0]

To the OP: Thanks. Now I don't have to watch the games and can finally get some work done around the house.

[dallas27 7]

Hossa is in for a league of hurt...Meet 'The Pain Train'!

Heard that. As long as he gets better in the off-season and signs here (don't take away my pipe dream please)!!!

[DRW Dominance 255]

One other thing...we havent lost at home since mid February...

The Pens are also in the East while all the beasts are in the West.

[Echolalia 2,961]

Theres little argument that the two representatives from their respective conferences are among the best in the league. Heck, there's little argument that they are THE best in the league, but for the youthful Pittsburgh Penguins and the veteran Detroit Red Wings, two teams that have yet to play each other this season, who is the best of the best?

Not only has each team made it to the finals, but they did it in convincing fashion. Pittsburgh only surrendered two wins to their Eastern Conference opponents, whereas the Wings gave up only four. Each team boasts some of the most offensively talented players to play the game, and come Saturday, both teams will be giving it their absolute all.

Crosby and his linemates Hossa and Dupuis will most likely be matched up against the Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Holmstrom line. This matchup has hands down the most destructive offense the league has had for a while (and in a salary cap world, too!), and although these six players are most known for their ability to put the 'biscuit in the basket', what the series will ultimately come down to is defensive play. Both teams recognize the others evident ability to score as well as the fact that they will go nowhere if they can't defend against that. Although the Penguins first line has been responsible defensively, they have yet to verse a team that posed a significant offensive threat. Ottawa crashed and burned under injuries and weak goaltending. Analysts are still trying to figure out how the Rangers even got into the playoffs, and Philadelphia, although capable of scoring, quickly became too intimidated by the Crosby line to sustain any offensive pressure, and focused more on defensive play. The Red Wings also have one more thing going for them; the tiny fact that two of the three members of the first line are Selke candidates for most defensive forwards. For that fact alone, Pittsburgh will have to rely now more than ever on secondary scoring, something (to the Red Wings dread) they are more than capable of.

Malkin paired with Sykora and Malone are the most elite second line in the nhl. I won't deny it, because quite frankly theres no argument against it. Two of the three players on this line are more than capable of being top line players for half the other teams out there (including some that made the playoffs). It is this line that the Red Wings really need to worry about. Malkin is currently tied for second in postseason scoring with Detroit's own Datsyuk, and he's been doing this without the likes of Crosby through long periods of playoff hockey. If the Wings plan to give themselves a chance at victory, Babcock may very well consider mixing lines to pair Malkin up against the likes of Maltby, Drake, or Draper, one of three Red Wing veterans known for there gritty defensive shut-down playoff style. Otherwise it may be a fast series in Pittsburgh's favor.

But as previously stated, what this series will come down to is not offense, but defense, and that is something Detroit thrives on. The Red Wings defensive line up consists of Norris Trophy winner to-be Nick Lidstrom, his partner in crime Brian Rafalski, tough guys Kronwall and Stuart, and to "borrow" from an old line's name, "An old goat with a kid" in Chelios and either Lebda or Lilja. And assuming you can get past this all star lineup, you have Osgood waiting calmly in net, who leads the league in the post season (as well as the regular season) with goals against, and is competing for best save %. All of a sudden that net looks like its hidden behind a brick wall, and that is why teams like the Predators, Colorado, and the Stars not only lost, but were annihilated by the Wings in previous series.

But on the subject of goaltenders, the situation that this next round will have is an interesting one to say the least. In my opinion, neither goalie has really been in a position where they were required to stand on their head to keep their team alive. Sure they each have their list of spectacular saves, but the level that they have been challenged has been limited significantly by the stellar defense in front of them, or the ineptness of the other team's offense (both things that each team has no doubt experienced). Now that Osgood and Fleury are pitted against an explosive offensive team, not to mention the pressure of the finals, it will be interesting to see how they can respond. For Pittsburgh, Mark-Andre Fleury is definitely the X-factor. He has let the Pens know that they can rely on him in the past, but he is still a young goalie, and this is his first time in the finals, which is something that paralyzed Ottawa goaltender Ray Emery only a year ago. On top of that, he has been thrown into the den with a bunch of lions that have been in this situation on numerous occasions before.

As for the Wings, forward Johan Franzen is no doubt the X-factor. He came out of nowhere to dethrone all of Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Crosby, and Malkin to claim scoring and goal titles for himself before falling to headache complications. In fact, after a five game rest, he is still sole owner of playoff goal scoring leader. If he can come back and play to the degree that he has proven he can play at, the Penguins' second line won't be the one with all the attention.

To sum it up, we have two great teams here, almost identical on paper, but its going to be the things that aren't kept track of statistically that wins the cup. Things like defensive play, good coaching, experience, and line matching. And unfortunately for the Penguins, the Wings are dominant in all.

Wings in 5.

Edited May 20, 2008 by Echolalia

[Dabura 12,232]

Everyone should be afraid of Sammy. Be VERY afraid!!!!!!!

q

f

t

[RedwingFan29 1]

Experience! As mullet-head said, the pens have to feel the pain of losing b4 they can win!