Here is your schedule for the Stanley Cup Finals
GAME 1. Sat, May 24 – at Det, 8:00 pm EDT (VS., CBC)
GAME 2. Mon, May 26 – at Det, 8:00 pm EDT (VS., CBC)
GAME 3. Wed, May 28 – at Pit, 8:00 pm EDT (NBC, CBC)
GAME 4. Sat, May 31 – at Pit, 8:00 pm EDT (NBC, CBC)
GAME 5. Mon, Jun 2 – at Det, 8:00 pm EDT (NBC, CBC)
GAME 6. Wed, Jun 4 – at Pit, 8:00 pm EDT (NBC, CBC)
GAME 7. Sat, Jun 7 – at Det, 8:00 pm EDT (NBC, CBC)
We’ve posted a few anti-Senators pics, some anti-Rangers pics and some anti-Flyers pics…..we’d be seriously jinxing the Pens heading into the finals if we didn’t give the Red Wings the same treatment. (shout-out to thepensblog for making these pics easily findable)
PREVIEW:
*This is the first time in a while that the absolute best team in the East is facing the best team in the West. This is what last year’s Super Bowl should have been (Dallas vs New England). The speed, skill, and superstars that are going to be on display over the next two weeks are a hockey fans dream. The NHL needs to market this series like crazy (unfortunately the first two games of the series are on Versus and not available to everyone).
*Pens fans should enjoy this series…next years team will look much different than the team you see vs Detroit. Conklin, Orpik, Ruutu, Laraque, Malone, Hossa, Dupuis, Roberts, and others could all be gone.
*Detroit is the best team the Penguins have seen all playoffs
*Pittsburgh is the best team the Red Wings have seen all playoffs.
*The Penguins MUST win either game 1 or game 2 in Detroit to give themselves the confidence they need to win this series. If they fall down 0-2 coming back to Mellon Arena for Game 3, we might have a problem. The Pens haven’t trailed in ANY series this entire playoffs so going down 0-2 would be a huge hole. The first 10 minutes of Game 1 in Detroit will be very telling. Can the Penguins “hang with the Wings or will they get blown out of the building like Game 1 vs Ottawa last year?”
*I really, really hope this isn’t the case….but part of me thinks that this series could be a PowerPlay fest…with each team scoring about 2 PP goals per game. I want to see a few PPs mixed in but I want to enjoy the 5-on-5 play.
*Don’t sleep on Drake, Draper, or Maltby. These are 3 grizzled veterans that would love nothing more than to terrorize the young Penguin forwards and defensemen. All 3 hit, all three play in-your-face, and all three can put the puck in the net on occasion. You will learn to hate them by the end of the series.
These teams are incredibly evenly matched….check out the stats compiled by SmartMoniesClub.com
Offensive Shots on Goal
Wings = 36
Pens = 32
Defensive Shots on Goal
Wings= 23
Pens = 27
Shooting Percentage
Wings = 9.2%
Pens = 11.0%
Shooting Percentage Allowed
Wings = 8.2%
Pens = 6.7%
FACE Off win percentage
Wings = 55%
Pens = 46%
Power play conversion percentage
Wings = 21.5%
Pens = 24.5 %
Power play conversion percentage allowed defensively
Wings = 12.7%
Pens = 13.0%
Shorts Handed Goals scored
Wings = 5
pens = 1
Shorts Handed Goals allowed
Wings = 0
Pens = 1
5 on 5 goals for and against Ratio
Wings = 1.48
Pens = 1.71
Number of 1st Period Goals
Wings = 23
Pens = 14
Goals for and against Differential
Wings = +1.50
Pens = +1.78
Goalie save Percentage
Osgood = 93.1%
Fleury = 93.8%
Win Percentage when Leading after 1st Period
Wings = 91%
Pens = 100%
Win Percentage when Leading after 2nd Period
Wings = 100%
Pens = 100%
Average Power rating of opponents played in the playoffs
Wings = 3.4
Pens = 3.0
Prediction: I wouldn’t be surprised if the Penguins won in 5. I wouldn’t be surprised if Detroit won in 4. Wouldn’t be surprised if the series went 7 games. I haven’t made a prediction all playoffs long and I’m not going to jinx the team by starting now. Go Pens!