NHL Playoff Predictions 2007-08 (Stanley Cup Finals)

The Stanley Cup Finals begin tomorrow and the two teams participating, the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, were my picks for the final, bringing my overall record to 9-5 for the year. Both teams, although they’ve hit some speed bumps on their way on the final, they’ve been nothing short of dominant. It’ll be tough to pick the winner this year with such an embarrassment of riches when it comes to talent on these two teams.

I’m sure the NHL will be hoping that Pittsburgh goes home with the Cup as they’ve been waiting for the day when Sidney Crosby, the face of the new NHL, hoists the Cup. No disrespect to all the winners in the past decade but too many times have those teams been in places that couldn’t care less about hockey. The last real iconic moment for a Stanley Cup winner was probably the look on Mark Messier’s face when he raised Lord Stanley’s Cup over his head when the Rangers defeated the Canucks in ‘94. The NHL has been hoping and praying for another moment like that.

It’s not a stretch to think the Penguins will be taking the big prize this year. They have arguably the best, most balanced offense in the playoffs with Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marian Hossa, Sergei Gonchar, Jordan Staal…the list goes on. They’re not slouching on defense either as their blueline has really stepped up and Marc-Andre Fleury is silencing all his critics in a hurry.

However, the Detroit Red Wings have been the most dominant franchise in hockey since the Oilers with Gretzky and they are the most complete team in the league, both offensively and defensively. Hennrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk are not only totally insane when it comes to scoring goals but they’re both incredibly defensive. In fact, they’re actually the checking line…both with nominations for the Selke this year. Add to the mix a solid supporting cast including playoff goal leader Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom, Valtteri Filppula, and a lot of other dudes I can’t spell and you have a juggernaut. Oh right, they also have the best all-around defenseman in the game today in Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris Osgood isn’t doing too badly either.

Overall, it’s too close to call and I’d expect the series to go to a seventh game. If I had to pick, I’d probably go with Detroit since I believe experience is vital in the post-season. Detroit has too many guys that have been here before and…they just might do it again.

Predictions: Red Wings in 7.

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