NHL 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Final Four: Expect The Unexpected Edition.

"That loss in 1998 probably was the beginning of everything for us", Michigan native and former team captain Mike Modano told the Dallas Morning News of the Stars bouncing back in 1999 (after moving to Dallas) and winning the '99 Cup and losing in the 2000 finals. "That was the beginning of a lot of success for us. They (Wings) are just as good now as they were then."...Goalie Marty Turco who has been outstanding so far in '08 has an ugly 2-10-5 record against the Wings and hasn't won at the Joe Louis Arena since he played at the University of Michigan...The Stars are coming off four overtime games, the most in one NHL series since 1999 when they beat the St. Louis Blues in six...The wings are trying to reach the final for the fifth time since 1995...They are led by a pretty powerful group of players including Henrik Zetterberg (7-6-13 pts) and super scorer Johan Frantzen who leads the playoffs with 11 goals and having scored 10 in his last six games...on defence they are powered by the two Nicks' (Kronwall and Lidstrom)...The gritty Stars are being fronted by Mike Ribeiro and his 14 points and team captain Brenden Morrow (11 pts), throw in trade deadline acquisition Brad Richards and you have a formidable foe for the Red Wings...The wings are 7-0 when leading after two periods so far in these playoffs, but the Stars are the only team above .500 when trailing after two (3-2).

The only injuries to report are Detroit is missing C Tomas Kopecky (torn ACL knee) and Dallas will be without D Philippe Boucher, but he may return soon.

Keilty Predicts: Detroit in six.

Eastern Conference Finals

Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs Philadelphia Flyers (6)

Begins tomorrow night (May 9th) in Pittsburgh.

SEASON SERIES

Last season was a horrible year for Philly, they lost all eight meetings against the Pens.This year the Flyers won the first four games by a combined score of 20-8, they also won the season finale 2-0. The two teams had a lot of physical, almost violent games together. The Pens were rarely healthy with both star players Sidney Crosby and first string goalie Marc-Andre Fleury injured for most of these confrontations.

PLAYOFF HISTORY

This is the latest in the playoff history of these two cross state rivals. The Flyers have won all three previous series, in 1989, '97 and 2000, with the '89 Patrick Division final going to Game 7.

THE LOWDOWN

It is probably a good thing that there is a very large mountain range that keeps these two teams apart. The four to five hour drive between the two rivals is also a good thing because these two teams do not like each other..that is a given.

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