Pittsburgh is technically a less skilled team than they were during last year’s cup finals, but I think they’re a better team.  Malkin hardly looks like the wilting flower he looked like last year and it appears that Crosby is really growing into his leadership role.  They find ways to be successful.  However, Detroit is still the big red machine.  There are going to be times that containing Malkin and Crosby are going to be very trying tasks, but their depth has given everybody problems.  Their best offensive guys also happen to be their best defensive guys, turning top line matchups into stalemates.  Detroit’s number one underrated and underreported strength is their ability to turn a team’s aggressiveness against them.  I actually think Detroit’s series against Chicago gives them the edge.

Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 05/24/09 at 08:40 PM ET

The Chinese calender says 2009 is the year of the penguin

Posted by Rich from Westbury, ny on 05/24/09 at 09:02 PM ET

Repeat vs. Revenge.

It looks like the Wings and Pens have really separated themselves from the rest of the league.  Thanks to Buttman, we may have to wait a week from the conference finals to the Cup finals.  That’s the best way to kill the momentum Crosby and Malkin have built, by making them sit around for a week or more.  Meanwhile, the older Wings club can use that time to get guys like Lidstrom and Datsyuk healthy.  Nonetheless, the time off may hurt their chemistry, as well as Osgood’s rhythm.

Playing back to back nights usually serves a younger team better.  It’s pretty lame that they’ll have to play back to backs in the Finals.  This series is a coin toss.  The Pens will not be awed by the experience of being in the Finals, as they were to start last year’s Finals.  After the first two games, there were four one-goal decisions, split 2-2.  That’s what I’d expect this year.

Revenge is a better motivation, so I’ll go with the Pens returning the Cup to the East (where it belongs)!

Posted by Puckhead from Jersey, you dolts! on 05/24/09 at 09:03 PM ET

First of all, stupid to even have the possibility of having two teams sit around 9 days.

Second of all, even more stupid to play back-to-back games in the most important series of games of the entire season. It’s a total joke. I mean, really. That second game—what should be a huge showcase game for the league—is going to be with both teams potentially very tired, having played the night before. How stupid will the league feel if the first night the game goes into OT? One, two, three, FOUR OT?

Third of all, I think the Wings and Pens are going to the finals. It’s all going to come down to health. If Datsyuk and Lidstrom are good to go for the finals, Wings have a significant edge.

The Pens have better chemistry and more experience and know-how this year, and a much better Malkin, but also, Guerin + Fedotenko + Satan + Kunitz + Boucher most definitely does not equal Hossa + Malone + Whitney + Roberts. So, given that Malkin is playing better, I think it’s fair to say last year’s Pens are about equal to this year’s model.

The “x-factor” (sorry for the cliche term) is Fleury. He is not playing as well this season as he did last. His save percentage is down, and his GAA is up by 3/4 of a goal per game, for this playoff.

Perhaps this is more a reflection of the Pens defense? I am not sure, I haven’t watched enough of it. But I do feel that the Pens defense played above itself most of last season, and didn’t come down to earth until they played Detroit. Gonchar is great offensively, but a damn near liability in his own end (like Brian Campbell). Orpik is great in his own zone, but isn’t a stellar puck-mover. And Scuderi was a guy that was a scapegoat for this team a couple years ago… let’s be honest, he’s decent, but he’s playing over his head right now.

That said, the Pens do seem to have some mojo, and the way they get power plays (and Malkin scores on them) is scary.

It would be a tighter series than last year, in the closeness of the games, but given both teams bringing in a fairly healthy compliment of their best players, I think the end result would look about the same.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 05/24/09 at 10:00 PM ET

And Scuderi was a guy that was a scapegoat for this team a couple years ago… let’s be honest, he’s decent, but he’s playing over his head right now.

i dont know about that.  scuderi has been scotch rocks all season.

The “x-factor” (sorry for the cliche term) is Fleury. He is not playing as well this season as he did last. His save percentage is down, and his GAA is up by 3/4 of a goal per game, for this playoff.

eh, yeah.  but osgood hasnt exactly been himself lately either. 

however, i agree, this is gonna be a close series.  well.  if it happens.  still a chance it wont.  but.  i think the pens might take this one.  they’re playing with absolute reckless abandon right now.  detroit wont be able to flutter through this one like that did last season.  they’re gonna have to get everyone moving.

Posted by who from what on 05/25/09 at 02:19 AM ET

Gonchar is great offensively, but a damn near liability in his own end (like Brian Campbell).

Absolutely not. Gonchar is phenomenal in his own end. Suggesting he’s a liability is absurd. Comparing him to Campbell underscores this admission: ” I haven’t watched enough of it.”

That having been said, Gonchar’s's not Lidstrom.

Posted by steve on 05/25/09 at 02:46 AM ET

Hossa gets series ending GWG in game 5. Raise another banner.

Posted by pgoody on 05/25/09 at 06:05 AM ET

I don’t really like the Wings, but it will be fun watching Pittsburgh lose again.

Posted by Thag from DC on 05/25/09 at 06:17 AM ET

I watched Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, and Filppula run Gonchar around like a no better than average defenseman last year.

And Osgood’s playoff numbers this season are comparable to last year. Fleury’s are noticeably down.

Posted by Nathan on 05/25/09 at 08:21 AM ET

And it was just a couple seasons ago I recall Scuderi being a healthy scratch and a “soft” d-man. Obviously he’s better now, but last year everyone had delusions about how great the Pens’ D was, and they were severely overmatched against the exact same Wings team. Well, the same except now Hossa is a Wing and not a Pen.

Posted by Nathan on 05/25/09 at 08:27 AM ET

I watched Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen, and Filppula run Gonchar around like a no better than average defenseman last year.

That’s funny, In the six games I saw last year, Datsyuk never got closer than the tops of the circles (his preference, to be sure, but that made him a forward’s responsibility), Franzen was usually hurt and Zetterberg and Fillpula were systematically attacking the side Gonchar doesn’t play on.

Posted by steve on 05/25/09 at 10:21 AM ET

That’s funny, In the six games I saw last year, Datsyuk never got closer than the tops of the circles (his preference, to be sure, but that made him a forward’s responsibility), Franzen was usually hurt and Zetterberg and Fillpula were systematically attacking the side Gonchar doesn’t play on.

None of that is true and Franzen played 4 of the 6 games.  That hardly constitutes as “usually hurt.”

Regardless of whether or not Gonchar’s a stud in his own end (I vote “no”), he’s playing on one leg - which while admirable, will make him a liability against the Wings strong offensive core.

Posted by DetCapC19 from Vancouver, BC on 05/25/09 at 05:05 PM ET

What isn’t true? Datsyuk played the whole series high, which is why he had half a point per game in production. Franzen missed 33% of action. And the Red Wings avoided Gonchar, attacking from the points or the left defensive side. Find footage of Filpula taking the puck to Gonchar’s side while he’s on the ice. Or don’t waste your time, it doesn’t exist, because it wasn’t done.

Which isn’t to say that Gonchar’s Bobby Orr, Nick Lidstrom or Ray Borque; it’s just to say that looking at Pittsburgh’s lineup, that’s what Babcock decided to do, which earmarks this statement “Gonchar is great offensively, but a damn near liability in his own end (like Brian Campbell),” as preposterous, according to the Red Wings actions in last year’s finals, which was my primary point

he’s playing on one leg - which while admirable, will make him a liability against the Wings strong offensive core.

Now that’s a legitimate observation.

Posted by steve on 05/26/09 at 01:09 AM ET