It is strange how nobody has talked about the Detroit Red Wings as Stanley Cup contenders for most of the season.
You know, the team that won the President's Trophy -- again. The team led by Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, and Norris... err, I mean, Nicklas Lidstrom.
The team coached by coach of the year candidate Mike Babcock. The team with three Stanley Cups in a little over a decade. The team that plays in a city that calls itself Hockeytown.
Yes, those Detroit Red Wings. Some would say the Wings are back, but did they ever go away?
Sure, there's been some disappointing playoff runs since their last Stanley Cup in 2002, but disappointing takes on a different tone in Hockeytown. Last season, the Wings made the conference finals and were less than a minute from going up 3 games to 2.
Of course, Anaheim came back to win that series and the Stanley Cup, but Detroit learned from the experience. After a transition period where the Wings adjusted to life without the likes of Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan, the stars seem aligned for Detroit to return to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Now, about those Stars. Dallas might have something to say about it, especially after an impressive six game series against San Jose. Marty Turco is playing some of the best hockey of his career, and his pad save in the first overtime Sunday -- the one earmarked for the top corner -- certainly ranks among the season's best stops.
But it is not all goaltending for the Stars. Brenden Morrow has been the best player in the NHL through the first two rounds of the playoffs, dominating in a manner reminiscent of Mark Messier.
Still, it is hard not to consider Detroit the favorite. They play a puck possession style that frustrates opponents in a very different manner than most systems. Simply put, if the league kept time of possession, the Red Wings would lead the league by a large margin.
Look for a competitive series, but Detroit should take it in six games.
EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW:
With just one loss through two rounds, many are quick to anoint the Pittsburgh Penguins as Stanley Cup Champions.
They have two of the league's best players in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The trade deadline acquisition of Marian Hossa has paid dividends. And Marc-Andre Fleury is playing some of the most consistent goaltending of his young career.
Considering those tidbits of information, why does it seem Philadelphia might be poised to go to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in more than a decade?
These Flyers are on a roll. They have not necessarily been the better team the first two rounds if you break down the game minute by minute, but they've been the best team when the chips are down. Philadelphia has been tenacious, aggressive, and relentless -- in other words, they've been the Flyers.
R.J. Umberger has become a household name in the playoffs, while Marty Biron has been outstanding between the pipes. Daniel Briere has shown why he got a huge contract last summer. The defense, questioned by some, has been plenty good enough to win.
The Flyers knocked off Washington, arguably the hottest team in the league down the stretch, in the opening round. In the second round, they handled heavily favored Montreal in just five games.
It will not be easy, and it will be physical. These two teams do not like each other at all, which should make for some good hockey.
Pittsburgh will unquestionably win more than one Stanley Cup in the coming decade if they are able to keep the team together. Yet these Penguins have yet to face their first real tough test. In the first round, they swept an Ottawa team in turmoil, while the Rangers seemed to be at less than full strength in the second round.
It could be the Penguins really are that good, and they've made everyone look bad so far. Yet most great teams have to stumble before they walk, lose before they learn to win.
This one could go either way, but call it a hunch -- Flyers in seven.
There's no way that Morrow could be considered the best so far in the playoffs. Detroit has 3 guys who have played better. The Mule, Dats, and Hank are all playing at a way higher level.
Det's D locks down the Stars and the offense is clicking. It will go to Det like you said in 5 or 6 if Turco steals more than one game.
While Morrow's been playing well, R.J. Umberger has been lights out. Briere has shown up BIG TIME in the postseason. The Flyers have shown why they led the league in shorthanded goals. And of course, Martin Biron is channeling Bernie Parent. While the Pens' individual pieces may well be better than the Flyers, the Flyers' whole is better than the sum of its parts.
The Rangers not at full strength? You must have watched a different series then I did. They played their guts out in that series. Jagr was giving his best effort in probably 8-9 years. And losing Sean Avery was not that big of a deal, because the Pens made him a non-factor. Give the Pens some credit. This is a team has been firing on all cylinders for a while now. Let's remember, the Flyers almost blew a 3-1 lead over the Caps. Wouldn't you say the Canadians were a team in turmoil over the whole Price sitution? The Flyers have played well, but the Pens have been better in all facets of the game. Philly and their fans know they are overmatched, so they are conjuring up all this stuff about how the Pens fear them, they are a team of destiny, and all this other ####. That is fine if they want to make themselves feel better, but it doesn't change the fact the Pens are simply better.
Thanks for the comments! No question, Franzen and Umberger have been great -- but to me, Morrow's the Conn Smythe winner if the vote came after two rounds. It's an intangible beyond any stats -- watching him in person in round one, he just put the team on his back. I really think so much of what Morrow does doesn't appear on television -- it's the stuff behind the play, the leadership on the bench and between whistles -- he's really impressed me. Having said that, Mule and Umberger have been unbelievable too, you can't ignore their goal totals.
The Habs in turmoil.... in my opinion, I don't really think so. I think Price legitimately needed to step back for a game, and I think that was the plan all along (him coming back in game five). But he did not play as well as I thought he would. I certianly agree on Jagr -- that was the best he's played in years. I think Avery is a big part of what makes that team tick though, looking at the record with/without Avery since he arrived. And I didn't think Lundqvist was as good as he can be. Still, there's no denying Pittsburgh was impressive.
With Timmonen out for the playoffs, I might change my pick, but it's already in print.. I just can't wait for that series to begin, it should be great!
As a life-long hockey fan and sports fan in general, sports has always been a big part of my life. I have combined that with my interest in writing to create a long-term interest in sportswriting , something that has manifested itself in various sportswriting opportunities over the years.
