The Final Four is set, the teams have half the victories needed to win the ultimate prize, and if there is any indication from last round this one should be fun to watch. Now let’s get to the previews of both Conference Finals.
#1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #4 Chicago Blackhawks: The favorites vs. the dark horse is the theme in this Original 6 matchup. No team has repeated as Stanley Cup Champions since, well the Red Wings did it back in 1997 and 1998. The Red Wings are the first defending Stanley Cup champion to advance past 1st round since Colorado did 7 years ago. All these facts show you; number one how hard it is to repeat, and number two how talented this Detroit team is. Even with two of their top scorers Pavel Datsyuk and Marian Hossa (5 goals between them) struggling they have shown they have the offensive depth to match up with anyone. Led this postseason by clutch performer Johan Franzen, who has 33 points in his last 27 playoff game, the Wings will rely heavily on this depth matching up against the speedy Blackhawks, who sit right behind them in goals per game for the playoffs (3.67 to 3.64), and ahead of them in total goals (45 to 40)
The Red Wings took 4 out of the 6 match ups this season, including a memorable matchup at Wrigley Field on New Years, with the two Blackhawks wins coming in the last week of the season with Nikolai Khabibulin shutting them out in the last game of the season, and winning me my fantasy hockey league. With so much offense in this series it is hard not to overlook the goaltenders. Considering three of the four goalies left all have won a Stanley Cup in the past, both of the net minders have the talent to take their team to the promise land. Osgood was under much scrutiny for having a sub par regular season but has quiet skeptics by lowering his GAA by more than a goal per game (2.06 playoffs to 3.09 regular season). On the other side “The Bulin Wall” is still showing get him in a contract year and he can carry your team to the Conference Finals.
The Red Wings on defense are lead by the captain Nicklas Lidstrom, who has been a point per game player in these playoffs, and the return of his partner Brian Rafalski from injury has solidified the shut down pairing that will be needed for the Blackhawks, whose top line of Kane, Sharp, and Toewes have scored 17 of Chicago's 44 goals this postseason. Overall, I think the Blackhawks speed and power play will give the Red Wings trouble down low, but the depth of the Champs will matter more in another long physical series for these teams. The tandem of Datsyuk and Hossa has a lot to prove in this series as the Red Wings win in 6 games.
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes: The East two hottest teams down the stretch meat up in unlikely matchup. Not unlikely because of their talents but the way they got to this series. The Hurricanes have been living on their last thread all postseason, from scoring two goals in 48 seconds to eliminate the Devils, and after relinquishing a 3-1 series lead disposed of the top seeded Bruins in overtime by a villain scoring his first career playoff goal. The Penguins have rode the coat tales of Sidney Crosby, who leads the team and NHL in goals (12) and points (21), and their MVP candidate Evgeni Malkin is third in the league in scoring with 19 point. Though not a star studded as the Capitals Penguins matchup this one has it share of good young talent on both sides.
When Eric Staal scores the Hurricanes win, this is shown by their 7-1 postseason record when the big man scores a goal or a point (1-5 when he doesn't). Staal 41 career points in postseason, has already broken Ron Francis' franchise record (39), and his 9 goals these playoffs is only behind Crosby and Ovechkin, did we also mention he has something Crosby and Ovechkin do not have, a Stanley Cup ring.
This also is a matchup of two coaches who took over during the season, with Dan Bylsma the Penguins used their offensive talent more and with Paul Maurice the Canes played a more defensive grind it out style. This style is shown in that Carolina’s 5 of 8 playoff wins have been by 1 goal. In these tight games they rely heavily on Cam Ward to make the big save, and if I were the Penguins I would hope this does not make it to Game 7, for Ward is a perfect 4-0 in Game 7, no other goalie in NHL history can say that.
The return of Segei Gonchar from injury not only saved the Penguins during the regular season but it also saved them in the postseason, when he returned from a knee injury to have an assists in Game 7 vs. Capitals. Beyond Gonchar, both teams have obscured no names defenseman that just fit roles on the ice. So with that fact Gonchar’s health and performance means that much more in this matchup. I have to mention Jussi Jokinen in this preview, what a story it has been for this guy who was put on waivers twice by one of the worst teams in the NHL, Tampa Bay, to scoring 6 goals this postseason. It has also been the timing of his goals that has made him a standout. Overall, both these teams have shown the resilience needed to win a Stanley Cup and both have Staal’s on the ice, sorry had to make the brother’s reference in the preview like everyone else, but I believe the Penguins are riding the hotter player in Crosby and Penguins will win in 6 games.
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