2011 Stanley Cup Finals: 5 Reasons Why Tampa vs Detroit Could Be Interesting

Right now we currently sit and wait for the outcome of the Western Conference Semifinals series of the Detroit Red Wings vs the San Jose Sharks.

The winner will move on to face the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference Finals.

In the Eastern Conference Finals it will be the Tampa Bay Lightning vs the Boston Bruins.

I realize that this is a very bold prediction as not all the match ups are set yet. However I wan't to pretend that I have looked into the crystal ball and this is what destiny has in store for both teams.

In looking way way way into the future, I will list five reasons why a Tampa Bay Lightning-Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup Final would be entertaining and interesting.

1) the Steve Yzerman Factor

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DETROIT - OCTOBER 5: Former Detroit Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman is introduced before the game against the Vancouver Canucks at Joe Louis Arena on October 5, 2006 in Detroit, Michigan.The Canucks won 3-1. (Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)

Everyone knows about Steve Yzerman and his historic hall of fame career with the Detroit Red Wings.

This man was their leader and captain for 20-plus years and led the Red Wings to three Stanley Cups.

Currently he is the G.M. of the Tampa Bay Lightning after serving the Red Wings in an assistant executive role for a few years.He also was the head of Team Canada for the 2010 Vancouver Olympic games.

When Ken Holland was given a contract extension,  Steve Yzerman took the vacant Tampa Bay Lightning G.M. position.

It had become apparent that Yzerman took the message that he would not become the Red Wings general manager anytime soon so he moved on.

I can only imagine the reaction he would get from the roaring Joe Louis Arena faithful in Game 1. Steve Yzerman would draw a lot of reactions from both sides and it would be interesting to see unfold.

By all accounts Steve Yzerman should win the GM of the Year Award. How fitting would it be if he won his first Stanley Cup against his former mentor Ken Holland and coach Mike Babcock.

I think it would be a very emotional moment for Yzerman and the fans of Detroit no matter where the deciding game took place.

2) Tampa Bay Offense vs Detroit Two-Way Game

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DETROIT - MAY 4: Pavel Datsyuk #13 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the San Jose Sharks in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 4, 2011 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Ja

Tampa Bay has a plethora of offensively gifted and talented scorers.

Vinny Lecavalier is one of the best passers Tampa Bay has had this playoff season. He has also been clutch when it comes to putting the puck in the net. 

Marty St.Louis has had his best season in the NHL this year. He had 99 points and  was nominated for the Hart Trophy.

Sean Bergenheim is a strange case. He has been uncharacteristically hot during the playoffs. He has played well on a line with other grinder and role players.

The Bergenheim, Downie, Moore line has been exceptionally productive this postseason.

Detroit is one of the best two way teams in the NHL. Pavel Datysuk is a wizard in both keeping and stealing the puck. Henrik Zetterberg is also a burst of offensive energy for the Red Wings.  

Dan Cleary, Tomas Holmstrom, Jiri Hudler, Johan Franzen, Valeri Flippula and countless others are some of Detroit's best players when it comes to shut down defense.

These players skate hard, play physical, and can turn on the jets to lead a shorthanded rush and put the puck in the net. Flippula showed that in Game 6 against the San Jose Sharks.

Would Tampa be limited offensively by Detroit? Would Detroit be able to keep up with the speed of the Tampa Bay Lightning?

With this is mind the combination of the two forces would be great to watch and would probably be a very even contest.

3) Goaltending- Youth vs Experience

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DETROIT - MAY 10: Jimmy Howard #35 of the Detroit Red Wings stops a first period shot by the San Jose Sharks of Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 10, 2011 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

For a relatively young goaltender, Jimmy Howard has done a good job for the Wings in the current series alone,

Howard has made some mind-boggling saves. He stands on his head and gets the job done and give the Wings a chance to win. Jimmy Howard is a big reason why the Wings have been able to even the series at 3-3.

Dwayne Roloson has been great in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Roloson is a 41-year-old goalie in a young man's game. He is defying the set standard that only young players can excel at this time of the year.

However the wily vet has proved the critics wrong and he has  posted a 2.01 GAA and a .941 SV percent thus far.

Seeing a matchup of two goalies both on one end of the spectrum would be interesting to watch. It would be reminiscent of when a young Cam Ward face off with Dwayne Roloson back in the 2006 Stanley Cup.

It could be one of the those Stanley Cup handshake line moment where the torch could be passed down from one goalie to another.

4) Coaching

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SUNRISE, FL - OCTOBER 1: Head coach Guy Boucher of the Tampa Bay Lightning talks to the team during a time out against the Florida Panthers during a preseason game on October 1, 2010 at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Lightning defeated t

Mike Babcock knows the situation Guy Boucher is currently in. Not too long ago Mike Babcock was behind the bench with the playoff inexperienced Anaheim Ducks.

Guy Boucher has been the best coach for the Lightning since current Rangers bench boss John Tortorella led them to the cup in 2003-04.

Boucher is like Babcock in the sense that he has taken a team that has under-performed in the past and have led them to playoff success thus far. (Babcock led the Ducks to the Stanley Cup back in 2003 where they lost to the Devils in seven games.)

This would also be an interesting factor when it came to strategy. Babcock has the experience and so do the Detroit Red Wings.

How would Guy Boucher strategize in a situation like this? As a rookie coach would he crack under pressure? Would this be his breakthrough moment in a similar fashion to how Dan Bylsma and the Pens shocked the world back in 2008?

Would Babcock and Detroit's experience prove to be too much for the Lightning and would they dominate for most of the series or would the upstart Lightning pull off an incredible upset?

What also makes this a great matchup ,as one reader pointed out, both Babcock and Boucher hold degrees in Sports Psychology. These guys definitely know the ins and outs of the players and what they are thinking.

5) Ratings

Tampa Bay is considered to be a small market team. Detroit on the other hand is a hockey town with rich history and is a big market team.

How would the ratings be for this series?

Would the world be drawn in to see a matchup of two very similar teams? Would they continue to watch a team that ,if they make the Stanley Cup Finals, dispatched of the Penguins, Capitals, and Bruins in an impressive fashion?

This Stanley Cup matchup ,when you consider the variables I listed, seems like a must watch series.

Everything loves to see a David vs Goliath battle. The Red Wings are battle tested and are made up of playoff veterans and warriors.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are made up of some youthful talent and are sprinkled with some veterans like Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis.

It would be hard to top the Philadelphia Flyers' Cinderella story run to the finals of last year but this would be a good series as a whole.

Comments, Questions, Concerns

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