Pittsburgh Penguins to upset Detroit Red Wings
The stage has been set for a rematch of last year's Stanley Cup Finals; the Detroit Red Wings vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins. This is the first time since 1984 that the same two teams have met in the finals in back to back seasons. Last year the Red Wings won this series in six games, but the Penguins have come a long way since then, and I expect them to have their names engraved in the Cup this time around.
There is no doubt that Detroit is an excellent team, and they are arguably the better team on paper in this series. But this notion that they are invincible or in a league of their own that some fans and bettors seem to have make no sense to me. In their first series against Columbus, Detroit was obviously not only the better team but facing a team that was overwhelmed to even having made the playoffs. In their last series against Chicago, Detroit ended up winning with what looked like a pretty easy series final of 4-1; but in actuality three of the five games went to overtime and game one was tied in the third period before Detroit ran away with it. Only game four was a convincing blowout victory, and that was due to the fact that Cristobal Huet was making his first start of the playoffs and clearly had a lot of rust. In the end, Detroit’s experience was the difference maker in those close games, as they have been playing in these big time playoff games for over a decade now while the Blackhawks were in their first playoff berth in quite a while.
But have we forgotten the series sandwiched in between? The series where an eighth seeded Anaheim Ducks team that was experienced and confident and defensively responsible and not coming off of long playoff droughts like Chicago and Columbus actually pushed Detroit to seven games? Game seven was tied until Daniel Cleary scored the go-ahead goal with three minutes left on the clock. One bounce the other way and we are likely talking about a Ducks Penguins final right about now.
Detroit is not invincible, and they are not unbeatable.
The last time that two teams met in back to back Stanley Cup Finals series was back in the early 80’s when the veteran New York Islanders faced the young up-and-coming Edmonton Oilers. The first time around, the Islanders beat the young Oilers. Wayne Gretzky once said that walking past that locker room and seeing how beat up that Islanders team was made him realize what it took to win the Stanley Cup. Finesse and talent wasn’t enough; you had to leave everything on the line. They learned that the hard way.
The following year in their return to the Finals, the Oilers prevailed, ending the Islanders’ dynasty and starting one of their own.
The comparisons from this series over two decades ago are uncanny. Detroit plays the role of the veteran dynasty. Edmonton’s two young stars, Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, were being heralded as two future hall-of-famers destined for a dynasty of their own. Pittsburgh’s version is led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who draw the exact same hype.
Last year Detroit won this series in six games. I believe that Pittsburgh will be mentally tougher this year and will do what it takes to prevail. Both Crosby and Malkin appear to be in top form, tied for first in the playoffs with 28 points each. Since making the head coaching change to Dan Bylsma mid season, the Penguins are 30-8-4 overall including this playoff run. Players like Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin may not have the star power of a Marian Hossa, but they have the grit and have both won Stanley Cups before, and they can help show the rest of the young Penguins what it takes.
Prediction: Penguins in 6
Betting Strategy: Penguins series price at +140, and bet them individual games on the money line.
Pittsburgh Penguins to upset Detroit Red Wings (Article)
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