The NHL has a dream match up for the Stanley Cup Finals this season. The Presidents' Trophy-winning Detroit Red Wings versus the young superstar team of the Pittsburgh Penguins. And this time, people are watching. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals drew the highest-rated cable telecast of the championships in six years with 2.3 million viewers. Too bad only one team has showed up to the series so far.

Pittsburgh’s hope of speed and skill dominating the finals has been trumped by their youth and inexperience. The Red Wings have plenty of depth and experience to go around. Detroit has outscored Pittsburgh 7-0 and is out-shooting them 70-41.

The Game 2 breakdown tells the tale of the Red Wings domination. Halfway through the first period, Detroit already had TWO GOALS when Pittsburgh had their FIRST SHOT ON GOAL. Detroit’s shut down unit made up of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski have done a phenomenal job against Pittsburgh’s top line of Ryan Malone, Sidney Crosby, and Marian Hossa. Detroit is also on the winning end when it comes to snapshots of the game. Valtteri Filppula has the goal of the series with his successful 1-on-1 goal in the third period.

Now here is the best thing about playoff hockey, this could all change! The series shifts to Pittsburgh where the Pens have won 16 straight games and have yet to lose a single playoff game this season. Expect to see back to back “whiteouts” from the fans and a recharged Penguins team.

Head Coach Michel Therrien should stop worrying about Detroit and their affinity for obstruction and focus on regaining the middle of the ice to control the puck. The Penguins rely on their speed to control an offensive attack and in the past two games, they’ve rolled over like a sleeping dog and have given away puck possession in the neutral zone to the Wings. Pittsburgh must get down and gritty to take back control and get their offense back on track. If they do, the Penguins should regain the momentum and give this series the super charge it needs. Not to mention the fact it could redeem my prediction of the Penguins to lift the cup in six.

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