Stanley Cup Final Preview

The NHL powers that be in their haste to capitalize on good television ratings and unique rematch, more or less screwed up the Stanley Cup Finals. They were originally scheduled for long break after Detroit and Pittsburgh clinched early, starting on Friday June 5. Instead, the teams will play back to back games this weekend, three games in four days and four games in six days, all before the original start of the series.

Detroit, the defending Cup champions, can’t help but feel the league is against them. The Red Wings have more nagging ailments than a wing at a retirement home.

"We're not happy, I have to be honest," Wings GM Ken Holland told ESPN.com from his office Thursday. "We're disappointed that we haven't had an extra day's rest. It's a double-whammy, the quick turnaround and back-to-back games [to open the finals]. We're disappointed because we think when you win a series in five games or less, that you have earned an opportunity to have a few more days of rest.”

This should provide emotional fuel for Detroit, who still has the most depth of any NHL team and it will be tested against younger and hungry Pittsburgh team. For both teams the schedule is set, thus you have to win four contests to be Stanley Cup champions, even if the league set up doubleheaders.

This is the first rematch from the prior season in 25 years and the parallels are eerie. A young Edmonton team, led by Wayne Gretzky, had been handled by a veteran New York Islanders squad who had dominated play for a number of years. The Oilers learned their lessons and came back and defeated the Isles the following season and set on their own journey.

Pittsburgh, led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, are trying to do much the same thing. This duo has been the dominant force in this year’s postseason, totaling 56 points. Both struggled in last year’s Finals, especially Malkin, and each seeks redemption. The Penguins are also receiving contributions from players like Bill Guerin and Ruslan Fedotenko, making them especially dangerous.

One big difference for Pittsburgh is maturity level, they have played with more purpose and everyone is doing a superb job forechecking, which has led to numerous scoring chances. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury will give up a couple of soft goals, but has been resolute in not letting it bother him and he’s turned back many difficult shots and is in Cup Finals again. Pittsburgh has won 24 of last 33 games against teams with winning records.

Detroit is banged up and is expecting to have defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom back. How close to full strength he and the other walking wounded will be is anyone’s guess, however this is for the Stanley Cup and there is a great deal of pride involved when your team has won four of last 11.

Pittsburgh does not have anyone like Johan Franzen or Marian Hossa who can causes real headaches for Penguins defense. Neither has been special in the playoffs, though wholly capable. The Hossa situation is a delicious subplot, since he walked away from a better long-term contract offer with Pittsburgh last season, to play for Detroit. He basically thumbed his nose at the Penguins, believing the Red Wings were a better team. Though opinions vary about his decision, Detroit is still 54-18 in home games when playing against a team with a winning record over the last three seasons.

In the name of Gump Worsley, let’s stop all this nonsense about how good is Chris Osgood. All he does is set up the last line of defense of what has been the best team in hockey for a decade. Does he sometimes falter during the regular season, no doubt. If he wasn’t an elite goaltender, he wouldn’t be in net, period.

Detroit is a -150 money line choice to take the first game on home ice, with total Un5.5. The Red Wings have won 16 of last 19 games in the Finals and are 42-9 at Joe Louis after playing at home. Pittsburgh is 9-3 as road underdog of +110 to +150 and is 11-4 as visitor after scoring three or more goals in three consecutive games. The teams split a pair of meetings, each winning on the others home ice.

As far as the series is concerned, Detroit is -145 favorite. If completely healthy, the Red Wings are the best team in hockey. However, they are not and the league did them no favors in setting up schedule this way. Detroit is not nearly as good a defensive team as last year, surrendering 60 more goals during the regular season. With Pittsburgh at the top of their game and their dynamic duo hungry and more forceful, the Penguins are well-positioned. To date, have 11-3 record in selecting series winners and will back Pittsburgh to be crowned champions.

Pick- Pittsburgh (+125) in six

Series odds from DiamondSportsbook.com