Is it possible for the Pittsburgh and Detroit Stanley cup series to get any more exciting?
Now, I know that they are not technically there yet, but come on. That is what it's going to be, and oh what a series it is going to be. They are both playing incredible hockey right now with 3 lines that can produce sustainable offense and provide good defense as well.
Both power plays are clicking right now, with a slight advantage going to Detroit, but with Pittsburgh throwing out the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, Malone and Gonchar for their Power Play, it is bound to explode with offense.
Not to say that Detroit's Penalty Kill is not good. I mean they do arguably have the two best well rounded players in the league right now with Datsyuk and Zetterberg. I mean, they play regular strength, Power Play and Penalty kill, pretty much anything and everything that their team needs. Something similar to Crosby and Malkin. One difference obviously, they are not seen very rarely on the Penalty kill, but provide more offense than Datsyuk and Zetterberg.
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The two things that I see are Fleury and Frazen. Fleury, although coming into his own finally this season and showing that he can be a number one goalie shows signs sometimes of weakness, as apparent in game three against Philly and people will wonder can he handle a team like Detroit for six or seven games when you have Holstrom crowding you at every turn or Datsyuk and Zetterberg working their magic and Lidstrom creating plays as usual with his intelligent play, the list really could go on and on. I really do think that he can go, but we are going to find out i guess.
Franzen is my question mark for Detroit, only because he is injured. Detroit has dominated so far in the playoffs because of his play, timely goals and his overall ability to balance pest play, physical play and offense. So with his injury you can't help to wonder if and when he gets back into the lineup, is he going to be the same playoff Franzen or regular season Franzen, either way, it is going to be up to the Pittsburgh defense to step up, and play a great series, relying on Whitney, Gill, Gonchar to provide a wall against not only Franzen but a equally high powered offense of Detroit.
So, Pittsburgh and Detroit for the cup. Am I happy that Canada does not get a winning team again this year? Am I happy that my team the Habs are not playing for the cup again this year? Not particularly to both. But am I going to sit down with a couple buddies, relax and watch two titans clash and play a game that we all love and a cup that we all adore. Absolutely, because every true fan of hockey loves a good series, and this one my friends has the potential to be a great one.
My prediction, cause really everyone is going to have one. Pittsburgh in 6.
Thanks for reading
Ryan Gillis
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3 months ago
While everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. I'm shocked that there are still prejudicial comments regarding the sport of hockey
May I remind you Ryan, hockey is a global game, not just American..and your close-minded enthusiasm about not having any Canadian teams making the Stanley Cup finals is completely shallow.
Yes, the Penguins and Red Wings are U.S. based, but the two teams are littered with Canadians, Russians, Swedes. Czechs and yes, Americans.
When you make a blanket statement like, I am happy Canada does not have a winning team this year, you are annoying an entire country where hockey is a national treasure.
3 months ago
I never got the whole "Canadian Team must win the Cup!" notion. So what if a Canadian team does win it, it's not like its TEAM CANADA.
I am Canadian by the way. But to the Finals!
I am pumped for the Wings/Pens finals. Every day I switch my pick back and forth. However, I will give the slight edge to The Red Wings.
Even without Franzen, they are dominating the Stars. They have too many guns.
Agreed, so does the Pens, but I think Detroit will out work them. They have the team to cover Crosby, Malkin and Hossa, Philly doesn't.
Red Wings in 6 or 7.
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