Red Wings-Penguins: A Closer Look at the Critical Stanley Cup Matchup.

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

While the majority of hockey experts are going to pick the Detroit Red Wings to repeat as Stanley Cup champions, there are some that think this series could turn out to be the beginning of another dynasty for the Pittsburgh Penguins. I decided to look at some of the critical points of both teams and who holds the edge.

Forwards

While this may be a bit closer than one would think, Pittsburgh has speed, grit, skill and size. Detroit counters with skill, size and great work done in front of opposing goalies. However, the subtraction of forward Pavel Datsyuk for at least Game One is huge. And who knows how healthy he will be when he returns.

Edge: Pittsburgh.

Defensemen

Pittsburgh's blue liners are playing out of their respective minds. But Detroit is just all world when it comes to its defensive core.

Detroit wins this battle hands down.

Goalies

Chris Osgood has been called a "product of the system" and I personally do not believe this for a minute. The fact is the guy wins games and has the rings to prove it.

Doing battle at the other end of the ice is Marc Andre Fleury. While Fleury's numbers are not as strong as his save percentage and goals against average last year, he has been solid for most of these playoffs and has been in a zone through the last round versus the Carolina Hurricanes.

Edge: Marc Andre Fleury

Power play

Detroit made its first-round opponent, the Columbus Blue Jackets, pay for taking penalties. The Wings have not had the same success through the next two rounds. Pittsburgh on the other hand has picked up the pace on their power play and trails the Wings by only a couple percentage points.

Edge: Pittsburgh

Penalty kill

This stat is not even close since Detroit has struggled with the penalty kill during the playoffs. While Detroit is a very dangerous team, it looks as if you can draw penalties against it, the team will struggle.

On the road this season, Detroit has a 69.2 percent penalty-kill rate. Penalties at home are a bit better but nowhere near good enough. Pittsburgh killing penalties at a 83.6 percent average. Detroit will have to try and keep their game composed as to not expose this weakness.

Edge: Pittsburgh

In closing, statistics do not tell the entire story. Every team who faced these two finalists is different in their own way.

The way I see it, this is going to be a long, drawn-out series with maybe a couple of overtime games. Pittsburgh will be victorious in six games to start their reign at the top of the NHL.

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