Did anyone watch the NHL playoff game today between the Red Wings and Chicago Hawks? 

The Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings has appeared on Fox with words showing comparisons of each (especially the offense), how the Wings were worn out, and how the Penguins are the preferred shooters of the National Hockey League. This column will present the comparisons of not only the offense (each are similar but there are major differences and while I am Red Wings fan I will point out the betters of Pittsburgh and contrast them with Detroit we will get better understanding that way), the age of the Detroit Red Wings, the young guns of the Penguins and the goalies for each team. My sources are three websites they are the stats machine from nhl.com, the Pittsburgh Penguins official website and the Detroit Red Wings official website; for team history and other interesting reading.

The roster for the Penguins is a list of verified talent from around the world. The same for the Detroit Red Wings. The leadership of each team is a difference on the rosters comparison. Here is why. The Captain of the Penguins is an offensive player young and eager to win the Cup for the first time. The Captain of the Red Wings is a defensive player in his thirties who is eager to win the Cup again (as was indicated during the photo op with the presentation of the Campbell trophy for the western conference champion Nicklas Lidstrom did not touch the trophy) he wants the biggest trophy in the sport; the Stanley Cup so retiring a winner is something that is important to Nicklas Lidstrom and starting his career as a winner is something that is important to Sidney Crosby; so here is where the comparisons are similar both want the Cup for reasons related to career statements. This will end the comparison of the Captains meaning that the personal accolades of both will not be listed, that information can be found in the player biographies of each on the teams websites.

With comparison number one we found out the the determination of the captains to win the Cup is similar and doing so would make a solid career statement. But there are differences in the comparisons because of the skill position for each age. One offenseand young and the other defense and in his thirties. Now we will delve to the age of the Red Wings with the youth of the Penguins and ask and answer the question of 'do the Red Wings and Penguins have comparable depth?' this might lead us to a very clear difference.

To start with the Pittsburgh Penguins is stating that this team has the youth mixed with NHL experience on this roster. Sidney Crosby, Evegeni Malkin, are the leaders and names of the NHL statistical columns. The goalie, Marc Andre Fleury is young and showing that he was the right pick at the right time in goal for the Pens.
The youth of the Red Wings, starts with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg who are both nominated for the Selke Trpohy which is an award that goes to the best defensive forward in the NHL. The goalie that has been starting for the Red Wings Chris Osgood, has experience and Stanley Cup wins. So we see here in the comparison that they match up very similarly until the youth breaksdown to cast a difference in the goalkeeper position which for the Red Wings has age. This is not a negative here at all for each team. To the contrary a logical argument can be made for each being positive. Fleury like Crosby wants the Stanley Cup to make a career statement now and the age of Osgood will make him slow. Wings have an experienced goalkeeper not slow at all but knows how to react to the pressure of the playoffs and he wants another Stanley Cup because going out a winner like Nicklas Lidstrom is important. The differences can make similar convincing arguments.

In comparison two the comparisons start to breakdown because of the age (or experience) of the Red Wings goalkeeper Chris Osgood. If fans and bloggers on Foxsports.com wish to debate, trash talk and predict with points that may seem strong a counter from another fan can be as valid and strong, Seeing this might help the debate be one of the best on this site.
The age of the Red Wings versus the youth of the Pittsburgh Penguins will we find who has the most depth to predict who wins what could one of the most exciting series of Stanley Cup Finals of the NHL?

Here we go to reach a conclusion promised very shortly. The Pittsburgh Penguins have a system that relies on four forward lines with lines as does Detroit. The defense of each team has depth . The conclusion is realizing that the outcome of the series will be the play of the powerplay units and penalty kill units. The defense of each team will face its fair share of tests, adversity, and challenges. The offense of each team will score, be shutout and knocked down.
Who wins is the team that outscores, outshoots and stays focused more on the Stanley Cup to be awarded to the winner.

     Dallas Stars fans were quiet last night for the first home game against the Detroit Red Wings at American Airlines Center.  The Dallas Stars have much to look forward to if they do not win this series.  The reasons for the Stars team to be proud are summed up in the words next year.  Here is why.

     Mike Ribeiro has proven himself on this Dallas Stars team.  He led the Stars with 83 points, he had 56 assists, and a fighters attitude.  He will be a star for the Stars and teams in the National Hockey League finally took notice of number 63. Mike Ribeiro has made the series against the Sharks in the second round and in the third round against the Wings exciting.  The intensity level he plays with will place the Stars to be contenders next year.

     Brad Richards has Stanley Cup experience and the ownership and management will be counting on the success he had with the Lightning to follow him to Dallas.  It has, there were alot of people who thought that Dallas would not be in the playoffs and certainly not in the Western Conference finals.  Brad Richards has the knack to find a way to win.  The Dallas Stars have reason to count on him and Ribeiro because they answered the question of can we?  Yes and the four overtime game versus the Sharks proves they can win and persevere against the best the NHL has to offer.  Last night there were chances for the Stars on offense and the powerplay, knowing when to capitalize will make the Stars even more dangerous.  It starts with the experienced Brad Richards.

          Brendan Morrow, captain for the Dallas Stars, had 32 goals in the regular season to lead the team in goals, and leadership that most teams in the NHL would like to have for the season and playoffs.  Brendan Morrow and his team took San Jose Sharks and displayed determination and drive to win.  This is something to be proud of and realize that next year we are going to even have that drive more.  When hockey players like Brendan Morrow want it even more the other teams in the NHL better take notice.  They have and they will next year.  Brendan Morrow is a star of the Stars and shooting the puck will get him to the next step to be taken in reaching the prize at the end.

     Stay positive fans.  From what has been seen on television the Dallas Stars are not that far from bringing the Cup to Dallas.  There are some questions for the Dallas team that will be resolved in the summer like will Mike Modano retire?  The question about Fabian Brunnstrom will be answered with the start of the 2009 season.  The fans of the Dallas Stars team that have been on Foxsports.com have been all class with Red Wings fans.  That is what makes the NHL the best.  So stay positive Stars fans next year will answer some questions for the team and the stars of the Dallas Stars will again have all the NHL taking notice.

     Darren McCarty is back where he wants to be.  He impressed Red Wings management and friends on the Red Wings team with his intensity and power; remember the "unforgettable" goal that would bring the Cup back to Detroit in 1997. That was the end of the drought after 42 years people were putting Gretzky, Lemieux, and Yzerman in the same sentence.  Because Yzerman in Detroit is the Red Wings and the fans made him one of the most popular athletes ever in Detroit Sports history, but that has something to do with Darren McCarty.  The Cup came to Detroit while Yzerman was captain.  McCarty is known to Detroit Red Wings fans as D MAC.  Here are some reasons why beside the one of helping Detroit's Captain win the Stanley Cup three times.

     Darren has the type of personality and work habits that typify what Detroit as sports city (Detroit is one of the best sports cities in the USA with ticket sales and television ratings) and a place to work.  It is not a stretch to write that Darren McCarty's work habits and "blue collar" style of play is what makes him so popular with Red Wings fans throughout the state of Michigan.  One thing about Michigan that everyone knows around the world is that people here work hard and hardly ever sleep.  That is what makes the automoblie capital of the US and world a hard to place to play sports professionally and in college.  People want the teams and athletes to win and be the best and put effort in to it all.  Darren McCarty brought that level of play to the ice every time he played in the regular season and the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

     Darren McCarty after the 2002 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes was up to negotiate a new contract with the Red Wings a team that he had fun playing for and fans of that team liked seeing him in games against Colorado Avalanche and of course all the other games in the schedule.  Fans thought the deal would get done.  Then we read in the papers and online that it did not.  D MAC was going to Calgary Flames for the 2002-03 season.  Okay that happens.  Players and people in jobs move on it is part of life.  The first game of McCarty's experience with the Flames at Joe Louis Arena he is given an ovation and then cheered the rest of the game when his line are on the ice.  This continues for the rest of Darren McCarty's career in the NHL every time he is on the ice with the Flames fans at the home of the Red Wings cheer him.  This does not happen for Sergei Fedorov who is one of the most prolfic scorers and talented two way forwards in Red Wings history.  The only player who has earned this type and level of respect from the fans is Chris Osgood.  Darren McCarty has earned alot of respect from the fans realizing that made D MAC appreciate the Red Wings and fans even more.

   Then some regretted choices brought Darren some hardship.  But like Detroit and Michigan right now going through some hard times he is back and is given a second chance a fresh start at a career like the people who spend hard earned money on the Wings tickets want from life.  This what makes sports so great it is exemplary of a city, a state, a nation.  Hard economic times and  layoffs working hard to get back in there or the game.  This is the Red Wings and Darren McCarty.  A chance to get back to the finals since 2002 for both the Red Wings and D MAC.  See now why the return of Darren Mccarty is important for Detroit and the NHL.  It is significant because it is a way to see that second chances do happen in life and that sports is a part of life that everyone makes time for.  Life is a spectator sport and it is good to see and know that the past and mistakes are sometimes forgotten.  This is why some might look at the Red WIngs and Darren McCarty as Americas team in the NHL and D MAC as America's hardest worker in sports.  There are some hard working people making your cars that you drive that already know D MAC is the one player in sports who gives it all for "eight hours".  That would be the people of Detroit.

                                                              Welcome back D MAC!!

 The NHL exhibition games are giving the young players from the minor leagues a chance to earn a spot on the roster.  I like watching these games to see what players are waiting to bust out of the American Hockey League in to the NHL.  At this time for the Detroit Red Wings Igor Grigorenko had a break away opportunity against Tampa Bay then hit the cross bar; it was not counted as a shot but it made an impression on people.  He has game.  Then with the game tied after the overtime period, the shootout.

  Grigorenko took the puck and with a deke, put the winning goal on the score board.  Yes, knowing that these stats are not going to carry over to regular season play, his confidence was above his shoulders.  Igor can play the game and will know where to put the puck next time.  In the net.  Igor was able to rise to the occasion, when he is given that chance on the Datsyuk line or any line for that matter he will fly on to the wings of success.

  During the game last night it was mentioned that he might go back to the Russian Super Leagues.  If that were to happen, it would be for money and yes that is ultimately what sports and even life decisions come down to.  But is not the waste of talent to be considered as well.  Igor has an important decision to make.

  I know that this is not my decision to make and that as a NHL and Red Wings fan these thoughts and words are loaded with bias.  But hang on for a moment here, you would write, say, and think the same way about your team, league and association.  So with that this really for a young Russian, to realize his potential and reach his prime in the NHL as Alexander Ovechkin and Pavel Datsyuk has.  One reason being a super star in a Red Wings uniform certainly did not hurt Sergei Federov and more recently Pavel Datsyuk and Alexander Ovechkin.  Money and being close to family would motivate a move home.  But consider this, the community of Detroit hockey fans.

  In the sport of hockey and in the NHL there are some passionate fans but the hockey fans in Detroit support the team, buy jerseys, and until recently have soldout Joe Louis Arena.  The lack of have been due to the economy situations here in Michigan.  That does not mean fans will not spend hard earned dollars on team merchandise.  We do, eagerly.

  Now one more fan point to consider for those that do not know Igor was in a car crash, had a lung illness that was life threatening, so why invest in his maybe playing for the Red Wings?  To walk away from this investment and spot on the team would declare to the rest of the league the administration involved with the Red Wings, the team is not willing to give people who tough it out and battle back from an illness an honest shot to make the roster of the Red Wings.  Ken Holland and others are not going to do that.  That is why Igors' decision will affect the team and his boss.  Take a look at how much patience has gone in to the recovery process.  The Red Wings were waiting for Igor to fly from Russia and show the league and more importantly the team and fans that the wait was worth it.  Worth the three years elapsed time of progress in to North American hockey.  Welcome to the Red Wings is what the team and fans were waiting for.

  The last words will be a question, "Will Igor be ready for the attention?"  I think the skills, talent, and tight knit team the Red Wings have will be more than ready to take Igor on the flight to the Cup.  It helps the decision making process easier for Igor not because of this post but this post might help a bit; Pavel Datsyuk is a good friend with Igor.  So time will tell and time has been shown posative regarding the hockey career of Igor Grigorenko.  If this one fan were given any say I think that Igor will stay and he will be open to starting in Grand Rapids if he has to, but without the access priviledges of interviewing Igor I can only conclude this post with the thoughts "of play in the NHL Igor and see where you go on the flight of the Detroit Red Wings".