The Final Dance

This is it! The Penguins have vanquished 3 opponents. Only one remains... the Detroit Red Wings. This is a Stanley Cup Final that the NHL could only dream of. They have not had a championship matchup this good in over a decade. Two incredible teams. Two huge hockey markets. Two teams that were the dominant powerhouses of the 90s. Two teams that seem so evenly matched. But how ever much they are alike, they do have some differences. They each took different routes to get here. At the turn of the century, the once-proud Penguins faded away and suffered under a broken economic system. They spent years at the bottom of the NHL standings. But in doing so, they were able to rebuild in a way no one has seen in 20 years. They were able to stockpile premier prospects and, through maturity beyond their young years, arrive at the dance much sooner than anyone could have expected. The Red Wings on the other hand never left contention. Through excellent scouting, they were able to defy a system meant to support weaker teams. They haven't won the Cup since 2002 but have been a part of the picture each and every year. Contrary to popular opinion, they are not that old of a team. With guys like Zetterberg and Datsyuk, the Wings have formed a strong young core that will be around for years. Both teams have deadly offenses, but I would give the Penguins the edge there. They just have too much firepower in guys like Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, Malone, Sykora, Staal, and Gonchar. The Penguins have a great and very underrated defense but with guys like Lidstrom, Rafalski, and Kronwall, Detroit has the edge there. Osgood and Fleury have been the best goalies in the playoffs, but has Osgood really been tested? I'll give the Penguins the slight edge in net. On special teams, the Penguins have the advantage there. The Red Wings have excellent special teams as well, but the Penguins' powerplay has been scary and their penalty killing unbelievable. Coaching may be a push. Mike Babcock is a renown coach but Michel Therrien has displayed a remarkable ability to have the Penguins adapt in any kind of situation possible. They can play any type of game, from playing run-and-gun to traps, and win. That's a sign of a great coach. With intangibles, the Penguins have more skill and speed, but the Wings have a lot of experience. Which will win out? I don't know! This is the toughest opponent that Penguins have faced yet. This is the final that I predicted. Come on, Pens! Let's have it end as I predicted too!

The journey so far...



Four more wins till immortality!