NHL: Stanley Cup Finals

The Detroit-Pittsburgh matchup has been anticipated to be a great series before Game 1 had started. Both with great super star players. Crosby, Malkin, Hossa for Pittsburgh, and Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Holmstrom for Detroit. Before the Conference Finals for the respected conferences (by this time my New York Rangers had lost in the 2nd round to the Penguins), I had picked the Red Wings to win Lord Stanley’s Cup. 

Detroit has looked amazing with Chris Osgood in net for the Red Wings with some help of that Detroit defense. Some have thought that he will win the Conn Smythe, he has been big for the Wings for coming off the bench and doing well for this team. Other than him, Franzen would have the 2nd best chance of winning, before getting injured, Franzen was leading the league in Goals. Going into tonight Chris Osgood had a 2008 playoff record of 12-3. 

Throughout the playoffs, the Penguins have had the deadliest power play unit I have ever seen. With the Crosby – Malkin – Hossa lineup you can expect a Pittsburgh goal. Marc-Andre Fleury has also looked solid in net for the Pens, that was before he faced Detroit.

While watching Game 4 tonight, I had thought that Detroit better play the way they had been playing defense  in Games 1 and 2, so they can limit Pittsburgh’s chances. Also, they couldn’t be making any costly errors or mistakes like they did in Game 3. After watching the two teams tie 1-1 after the 1st, I had saw the statistics of the 1st period. I thought to myself,

“Is Therrien stupid for only playing Crosby for 6 minutes in the 1st? He is the best player on that team and he gets only 6 minutes of ice time. They will have to play him more in this game or they will lose.” 

Also Detroit had 5 penalties that period, giving Pittsburgh those chances but the Pens just couldn’t capitalize except on the first power play of the game. After the first Detroit had only 3 penalties. Watching Detroit killing that 5 on 3 power play in the 3rd period made the game intense, all the Penguins needed was one goal for tying the game. Detroit did a good job and stopped their chance. Chances. That is what is given to Pittsburgh at several times in each of the games, and unfortunately for them, they haven’t been able to capitalize, if they want any chance of coming back, they will use this to their advantage.

I believe that Detroit will win Monday night at Detroit, and end this series and become the 2008 Stanley Cup Champions.