The Hockey News: Mike Brophy's blog: THN.com Playoff Blog: Pens-Wings should be one for the ages

THN.com Playoff Blog: Pens-Wings should be one for the ages

Pavel Datsyuk of the Red Wings celebrates his goal against the Dallas Stars. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Mike Brophy
2008-05-19 22:49:11

A few years ago I went to Detroit to do a story on Henrik Zetterberg.

It was on that trip that Steve Yzerman, now an executive with the Red Wings and their inspirational leader for three Stanley Cup championships, told me the Wings were now Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk’s team.

There was no question Zetterberg and Datsyuk were the Wings best forwards, but did they have what it takes to lead a team to a Stanley Cup championship?

We will find out in the next three weeks.

One thing is certain, after a few playoff disappointments and some skepticism about Datsyuk’s horrible start to his post-season career, they are now big-time money players and the Pittsburgh Penguins will have their hands full trying to contain them.

Datsyuk, who once went 26 straight playoff games without scoring, has nine goals this season, all of them scored on the road.

Of course the Penguins have their own deadly duo in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for the Red Wings checkers to be concerned with.

Give the Dallas Stars credit. After falling behind 3-0 in the Western Conference final, they threw a little scare into the Red Wings. And even though they lost, Stars goalie Marty Turco exorcised his demons finally winning a game as a pro at The Joe. It is safe to say Turco is now a dependable playoff goaltender after some years of concern.

There was little doubt Monday night who would win Game 6. The Red Wings came out flying and the Stars looked like they finally hit the wall.

The game, for all intents and purposes, was decided in the first period when Detroit roared into a 3-0 lead. While the players Detroit counts on for goals came through, the Stars’ top threats – Brad Richards, Mike Modano and Mike Ribeiro – were silenced.

Related Links

Ribeiro, in particular, had a poor conference final series after two solid rounds.

Referees Marc Joannette and Brad Watson did their best to get the Stars back into the game with numerous questionable calls against the Red Wings in the second and third periods, but it wasn’t to be.

In the end, the best team won and now we can settle in for what has the potential to be the best Stanley Cup final since the Rangers beat the Canucks in seven games in 1994.

THN.com's Playoff Blogs, featuring analysis and opinion on the night's action, with insight on what happened and what it all means going forward, will appear daily throughout the NHL playoffs. Read more entries HERE.

Mike Brophy, the co-author of the book Walking with Legends, is a senior writer for The Hockey News and a regular contributor on THN.com. His blog appears Mondays and his column, Double OT, appears Wednesday.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (66)

Sort: Oldest | Newest Filter: All | Videos

Wickedwinger Posted
(2009-04-30 06:20:30)

I am really excited for this final! I think that the Red Wings have the advantage and heres why: faceoffs and second chances. If Osgood can maintain a 2 goals or less mentality and the faceoffs and second chances follow their trends the Wings could really dominate. If Pitt finds a way to overcome some of their struggles it could be domination in the other direction. I am a huge Wings fan but I have nothing but love for players with the skill of the Penguins. Either way, I can't wait. P.S. Looks like Jim Reineke has rubbed just more than one winger wrong... I guess that should be expected from someone with his 'intelligence.' Good luck Pens, Go Wings!

Jordon Emans Posted
(2009-04-30 06:20:27)

Of course they can score when they have goo teammates...thats the point of having good teammates. I'm sure you could probably get a goal or two if you were on that line. The point is, and I'm going to type this s-l-o-w-l-y so you understand it, thats the point of being on the team..to score points. If he were on a bad team and he was the one who had to shoulder most of the scoring burden, then who knows what would happen? But we don't have to worry about that beingsthough he is on the team he is on and has the linesmates he does. We don't use "What-ifs" in arguments, we could play he said/she said all day, the only things that matter are what you can prove, and Ryan Malone proved he is an asset to this team all season/post-season.

Bill Posted
(2009-04-30 06:20:24)

Joe Willix - Kevin Stevens was a great player until he fell face first onto the ice. His forehead was like a crushed potato chip and had to be replaced with metal plates. That was the major factor in his decline. Of course, he wasn't as good as he was when he played with 66. Lemieux made everyone better.

Jason Corley Posted
(2009-04-30 06:20:23)

Joe i forgot one thing. The Crosby sweepstakes was nothing like when the pens drafted Mario. Crosby came in after the lockout year when the lottery percentages were based on the last season played unless you think the pens tanked a lockout year to get a good player. The two drafts were nothing alike including no lottery when mario was drafted. Now i will say that that draft year and what lead up to it is the reason we now have a lottery.

Jason Corley Posted
(2009-04-30 06:20:22)

Oh Joe i forgot that peskey lockout year but Ryan did score 22 goals on each side of it. BUt since we are compairing lets just look at all these great depth players detroit has. Holmstrom-11 seasons 950gms 175gls 387 pts, Cleary- 11seasons 540 gms 82gls 209pts, Draper- 17seasons 950gms 173 goals 314pts. Now Ryan Malon- 4seasons 299gms 87 goals 170pts. He has played a only a third as long as and is either already past or is half way to the carrier marks of these great depth guys detroit has. One other point just for the record Georges Larouqe- 11 seasons 634gms 52 goals 148 pts. I would say thats comparable with the vaunted mr cleary and cleary doesn't even drop his gloves in the lockeroom by accident. I could go on but whats the point all the blind coolaid drinkers out there aren't going to give credit where credit is do. I have posted on the CBC hockey web (pens wing your view)site under jbird if you don't believe i give the wings credit. I still think Pens in 7

Joe Willix Posted
(2009-04-30 06:20:19)

I'll type this slowly so you understand it, Jordon. Certain players, without the benefit of their highly-talented linemates who get them the puck, aren't very productive. I'm not saying Malone's not going to score, but no one's going to confuse him as an end-to-end playmaker. LIKE Phil Borque. Or ask any team that overpaid Kevin Stevens after 1992 and never got the goal-scorer they thought they were hiring.

Sue M. Posted
(2009-04-30 06:20:17)

Kent - Well yeah, of course there are lots of Canadians playing on most of the teams, but these days there are also lots of great Europeans too, and I think DC has a problem admitting it. And to people who think the Wings have deep pockets.... The main team that was "bought" was in 2002, other than that our cups (97/98) were won with lower round picks that our scouts sussed out (and the Russians). Plus the usual cast of characters was on the 2002 team, too (still had Yzerman, Shanahan, Lidstrom, Draper, Maltby, et al). I actually think the Pens are deeper at this point. Just because skaters like Chelios, McCarty (ok, that was a brain fart, but also a great PR move), Malty, and Draper can't keep up sometimes. We'd be better if management had been able to cut the cord on those guys this year. We've got some great talent in the farms right now, and it's time to bring them up. I think we'd be better if we had Ericsson, Hartigan, Meech and some of those guys playing. Lilja probably played the best game of his career last night. But that's unusual. Under pressure, his brain often goes on vacation....

2020martin Posted
(2009-04-30 06:20:17)

As an East Coast person, I tend to watch more Eastern Conf games than Western Conf games, but when I do stay up late to watch the West (a few games a week) the one thing that stands out is that it's a different style, so I find comparisons/predictions futile. Also, I'd be curious to know how much these Crosby-haters have actually seen him play. He's not the highlight player that 08, 71, and 40 are. He's more dynamic. Unfortunately, I learned that from watching him light up my Flyers for a few years. You'd all pick him over anyone in the world for a pond hockey game (that is, if you actually watch him play).

Jordon Emans Posted
(2009-04-30 06:20:17)

First off Joe Willix...remove the "superstars? What the hell are you talking about? He is on a team, a team that is doing very well. Ryan Malone is a very good player that always skates hard to the puck, battles along the boards, and isn't afraid to go to the net or even thrown a punch or two when the time comes. Remove the superstars. So he's not a good player just because he is on a line that clicks well together? Give me a break. And I agree, the refs had little to do with the Penguins winning their series against any of the teams. Bad calls and non calls were mad on the behalf of both teams, causing crucial goals or incredible scoring chances. The Penguins got here because they played better than any team they went up against...pure and simple. Now, we will just have to see what happens on Saturday. Honestly, I cannot wait for the weekend!! Go Pens!

Joe Willix Posted
(2009-04-30 06:20:15)

A depth guy goes to the net, or can kill penalties, never takes a shift off, and still manages to show up on the score sheet every once in a while. Like a Draper. Like a Holmstrom. Like a Franzen. Like a Cleary. When Laraque is one of your depth guys, you're in trouble.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next »