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The Hockey News staff predictions

The majority of THN's staff see the Wings taking the Stanley Cup to Motown. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)

2008-05-22 11:11:11

Back again for the fourth go-around are The Hockey News staff predictions…we know this is what you’ve been waiting for.

Again, these predictions are for your entertainment and our in-office competition only.

Please, don’t put your first born child on the line because of what any of our writers or editors predict will happen…except maybe Edward, that guy is on fire!

So, for the final time this playoff season, here is our rundown of who each one of us thinks will win the Cup, in how many games and a quick one-liner why.

If you’re sitting on the edge of your seat, dying for the updated standings, the waiting has ended. Here are the rankings heading into the final:

Edward Fraser, THN.com Editor: 12-2
Ryan Dixon, Writer/Copy Editor: 10-4
Jason Kay, Editor: 9-5
Jamie Hodgson, Art Director: 9-5
Mike Brophy, Senior Writer: 8-6
Ken Campbell, Senior Writer: 8-6
Matt Filion, Designer: 8-6
Adam Proteau, Web Columnist: 7-7
Ryan Kennedy, Writer/Copy Editor: 7-7
Rory Boylen, Web Content Specialist: 7-7
Caroline Andrews, Publisher: 7-7

Adam Proteau, Web Columnist
Detroit over Pittsburgh 4-2 – Shouldn’t be a shocker if Pens upset here, but Wings’ Lidstrom is the best player on either team and will be the difference.

Mike Brophy, Senior Writer
Pittsburgh over Detroit 4-2 – Hey, everybody loves an underdog.

Ken Campbell, Senior Writer
Detroit over Pittsburgh 4-2 – The Red Wings' experience will make the difference after everything else cancels out.

Related Links

Jason Kay, Editor
Detroit over Pittsburgh 4-3 – Because the Queen said so on the quarter I flipped.

Ryan Kennedy, Writer/Copy Editor
Detroit over Pittsburgh 4-2 – Wings of the present beat Wings of the future.

Ryan Dixon, Writer/Copy Editor
Detroit over Pittsburgh 4-2 – Patience young grasshopper, patience; your time will come.

Edward Fraser, THN.com Editor
Detroit over Pittsburgh 4-2 – Forwards and goaltending even out, so the nod goes to the team with the better D and home ice advantage.

Rory Boylen, Web Content Specialist
Detroit over Pittsburgh 4-1 – Experience trumps Crosby, Malkin and any other Penguin.

Jamie Hodgson, Art Director
Pittsburgh over Detroit - 4-3 – In the greatest final in recent memory, the Pens’ dream season ends on the highest possible note. Beware the Penguin.

Matt Filion, Designer
Detroit over Pittsburgh 4-2 – It’ll be close, but I give the edge to Detroit.

Caroline Andrews, Publisher
Pittsburgh over Detroit 4-2 – Youth will prevail.

Read the THN staff predictions from Round 3 HERE.

COMMENTS (25)

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Steve R Posted
(2009-04-30 06:24:32)

How is it that 8 of you 'experts' picked the Wings to win yet officially your publication picked the Pens, who were picked by 3 of your more brilliant staff? Do you guys know how to add? Next time get your accountant involved to tally the predictions before going to press.

Mike Posted
(2009-04-30 06:21:34)

The Detroit Red Wings are the best and anyone who says something else is off their rocker

Tony Posted
(2009-04-30 06:21:14)

There are some frustratingly ignorant comments being made here by fans of both teams. Why would anyone take one world class player over two??? You're all suffering from homerism

Mike Posted
(2009-04-30 06:21:12)

Iginla and, Ovechkin both have 4 goals in 7 games. Johan Franzen has goals in 11 games! Crosby has 4 goals yet he has played in 14 games! Penguins had to play some easy teams and he could only score 4 times.

Mike Posted
(2009-04-30 06:21:10)

Crosby and Malkin play in the EAST its a little tougher to score goals when you are playing a team that can actually play hockey.

Adam Posted
(2009-04-30 06:21:06)

We have yet to see Crosby and Malkin play well on the same night in the playoffs...the result of only one of them on his game has equaled victory so far in the season and in the playoffs so imagine the both of them at the same time. The final is when they both take their game to another level!!! The pens will not be contained offensively. Fleury is the x factor! His playoff numbers dont lie and where he is mentally right now ive never seen before. His confidence and focus cannot be broken.

David Posted
(2009-04-30 06:21:03)

Well, John...were the Red Wings to lose in the Stanley Cup Finals to a team that finished the season with 102 points, I wouldn't exactly call that a "choke." Nor would I call losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champions in the conference finals in 6 games last year (minus 2 of their top three defensemen) "choking." As for Osgood, he's won a Stanley Cup as a starter - has Fleury? Fleury is just now proving himself as a stellar goaltender - he certainly didn't do it last year against the Senators.

Detroit in 6 Posted
(2009-04-30 06:21:03)

There's abetter chance of Pittsburgh putting Crosby and Malkin together than there is Detroit splitting up Datsyuk and Zetterberg. I'd bet the farm that there has never been two Selke trophy candidates on the same team with over 90 points apeice. That along with their superior D is why Detroit wins (Detroit would still have a better D even if Lidstrom, aka hands down best Defencemen of his era, were hurt.) The deciding factor of how long it goes is how the young Pens deal with starting on the road and perhaps going back to Pittsburgh down 2-0. (Malkin 14pts, +6 at home, 5pts -1 on the road). This is not coming from a bias Detroit fan but rather a hockey fan trying to do something other than work while at work.

Mike Darragh Posted
(2009-04-30 06:21:02)

What I want to know is how does THN officially pick Pittsburg to win, yet 8 of 11 THN staffers took Detroit? Detroits forwards are not as good offensively, but better defensively, so that's a wash. Special teams are about the same. Goaltending is pretty much even. Youthful exuberance might offset playoff experience. Defense is a landslide for MoTown. Wings in 6.

bob loblaw Posted
(2009-04-30 06:21:01)

Really Alexander???? Baseless arguments? Just take a look at the numbers?? How many times have either Datsyuk or Zetterberg had over 100 pts in a season? Malkin did it in only his second year and will surely do it again and again... and Crosby would have done it this year for the third straight time if he hadn't been injured. The numbers speak for themselves and there is no GM, coach, or even player for that matter that would ever pick D and Z over C and M. Granted they are both really good, to say D and Z are better, or even close to as good is just ridiculous. And i say this without being a pens fan

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