TheWellHungarian

True, all of the regular season & playoff opponents are all moot points now that both teams are here. Fortunatley or unfortunatley, I get to leave my cubicle & this lively message board for day and get to pick the kids up from school. So I will call my shot for game one: Pens 5 Wings 3, with an empty-netter. If I am wrong, I will be back here Sunday morning to eat crow. Good luck & God bless.

your point being that you struggle against weak teams?

If you really want to argue that Pittsburgh's competition in the playoffs has been so much tougher than the Wings, I'd love to hear your reasoning. I don't, the wait for the game is just absolutely gutting me.

Congrats on the President's Cup, beat up on Columbus, Nashville, Chicago & St Louis. Not exactly the Devils, Flyers, Rangers & Islanders. Drop 2 games to the vaunted N-ville predators, swept a Colorado team the limped into the playoffs with the most losses of any playoff team, and then dropped another 2 games to a beat-up & tired Dallas team. This Detroit team will be in for a surprise, so Pens fans, make sure your seatbacks & tray tables are in their full upright & locked position, & all carry-on items are stowed, as we prepare for take-off!!!"

Yes, we have to deal w/ the Cindy Crosby jokes all the time (ie NY Rangers & PHL Cryers series). This wait is killing, can we just play the game on Friday night!

Orpik will gone next year too, forgot to mention, hates playing for Iron Mike.

LMFAO comparing the Stanley Cup Finals & the NBA ECF to Curling & Cagefighting. Sure I see the parallel.

Local Pittsburgh radio guys: Malone, Hossa, Rutuu, Gonchar, Roberts are gone. Pens brass wants to sign the guys down the middle long-term: Malkin, Staal & Fleury. from Bucci: For the sake of this argument, let's say the Penguins have all of these players on their roster two years from now, when the contract extension years for Malkin and Staal kick in. Let's assume the following cap numbers with the first three contracts already being signed and the rest being my contracts for the players: Crosby -- $8.7 million ($43.5 million for five years) Gonchar -- $5 million (last year of his five-year, $25.5 million deal) Whitney -- $4 million (signed for six years, $24 million before this season) Malkin -- $8.5 million ($85 million for 10 years) Hossa -- $6 million ($36 million for six years) Malone -- $4.5 million ($27 million for six years) Fleury -- $4.5 million ($36 million for eight years) Staal -- $4.5 million ($18 million for four years) That is $45.7 million for eight players. Next season, the salary cap is reportedly expected to rise to about $53 million. There is a good chance there will be added television revenue by the 2009-10 season and more guaranteed money after that as the NHL rides the wave of all of this young talent. The NHL should continue to see its revenues rise, which will likely include expanding by two teams. Let's be bullish in regard to revenues and say the salary cap reaches $60 million by the 2009-10 season. Suddenly, the Penguins are $15 million under the cap and could rely on rookies and veterans willing to come to a great team for short money/years for the other 10 or so spots (players at about $1.5 million average). This is all very doable.

Bettman is a JackA**, this series should start Fri night followed by a Sunday afternoon game, plain & simple. I realize detroit had a hard time selling out that barn during the WCF, having these games played at the same time is not going to help matters. There is only so much one sports fan can consume.

Totally agree about the defense, but Staal has quietly scored more goals that Crosby in these playoffs (21 shooting %) whilst playing alongside 2 muckers. All that I am saying is w/ all the focus on the top 2 lines from both teams he may be a difference maker.

Normally I'd agree w/ you, but (and a lot Pens fans don't want to admit b/c we HAVE our heads up Crosby's a** & Malkin gets the highlight goals), but Staal has been our best 2 way player throughout the playoffs. Also, huge coaching advantage has to go to Detroit.

& Cancer, Radiation & Chemo is not a walk in the park and literally destroys bone health.

The 1st two lines may be a wash. Give Detroit a huge defensive & FO % advantage. Goaltending a wash. A huge factor that may be overlooked is their 3rd line w/ Jordan Staal. Detroit does not have an answer for this kid. Is it Saturday yet?