2007-08 Stanley Cup Final: Preview and Predictions

            Osgood has put up very similar numbers compared with Fleury. He has a 10-2 record as well as a 1.60 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage. He, like Fleury, has been a large part to his team’s success. When Dominik Hasek began to falter early in the first round, Osgood was there to pick up the pieces, and some.

            But there is a big statistic that stands out when comparing Fleury and Osgood: total shots against. Fleury has faced 364 shots this postseason and Detroit is averaging the most shots in the playoffs 36.3. Therefore, Fleury won’t have any trouble adjusting to the high shot totals that Detroit will more than likely put up.

            But then there’s Osgood, who has had the privilege of only facing 268 shots so far. If the Penguins continue to average 32.3 shots per game, Osgood and the Red Wings could be in some serious trouble.

            Overall Edge (Goaltenders): Pittsburgh

            Special teams present an interesting match-up. Pittsburgh has scored on 25% of its power-plays so far this postseason, whereas the Red Wings have killed off 87.3% of the penalties they have taken.

            Detroit’s power-play has converted on 21.3% of its opportunities, whereas the Penguins have also killed off 87.3% of the penalties they have taken.

            Pittsburgh has scored one shorthanded goal, whereas Detroit has scored a whopping five (two from Zetterberg). But Crosby on the power-play is much more lethal than Zetterberg on the penalty-kill, barely.

            Overall Edge (Special Teams): Pittsburgh

            Pittsburgh and Detroit have been the two best teams this postseason and deserve to be where they are. The players and teams as a whole have put up the best numbers, but these numbers are going to have to give for one of the teams. But which team will give?

            The Finals will come down to who will have to adjust more, and Detroit will have to do a lot more adjusting in their game play if they want to take out the Penguins young guns.

            Neither of these two teams has played down in a series yet, which means the team that loses game one will be playing at a disadvantage. Since Detroit has home-ice advantage, it appears they have the upper hand. The Wings are 7-1 at home, while the Penguins are only 4-2 away.

            But the Penguins have proven to be a better home team at 8-0, while the Red Wings are just 5-3 away.

            This series is going to go seven games, regardless of the victor. The Penguins will not lose all four games at Detroit. They might even win a couple at Joe Louis Arena. But the Red Wings are going to have their hands tied trying to beat the Penguins in Pittsburgh.

            Series Prediction: Pittsburgh 4-3

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