FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Both Detroit and Pittsburgh are indeed "facing the giants".  They don't really know each other except by watching tapes and from what they've heard from other scouts and players.  They both have superstars and role players.  They both have goalies who really lay in the shadows of their fellow team mates.  I'm sure they have their doubts about how everything is going to play out.  Detroit has been listed as a "favorite" but lets be honest here, nobody knows for sure.  You can take how each other did during the regular season and throw it out the window.  You can take all of their playoff games and their stats and throw them out too.  This is now a series of who can win 4 games, period!  All the hype and garbage being talked about by the "experts" is indeed just that, garbage.  It will all come down to who wants it more and what role player will step up and get that "unusual or garbage goal" that will decide most of these games.  The superstars will play well and get some of the goals but if you know anything about hockey at all, it will be the guy who scores his 1st or 2nd goal of the year late in the game that will decide some of these games.  They talk about skill and yes, we will see a lot of that but we will also see the grinding and crashing into the net and the lucky bounces, etc.  Both teams are expected to win but the pressure is and always has been on Detroit.  Anyway you slice it the burden is going to fall on the Wings.  They have the "best team" if you go by points.  They had the "easier road" as everyone is saying to the Cup.  We all know that's hogwash.  Any time you get to the Stanley Cup Finals, you HAD to play somebody worth their salt.  There is pressure on Crosby though.  He is the next Gretzky according to many experts.  (I don't know about you but I think there won't be another Gretzky but that's my humble opinion).  As in football, the QB's are judged by "Did he win a Super Bowl?".  The same applies in hockey.  Can Crosby lead the Pens to a Stanley Cup?  I believe he can and will.  I don't think it will be this year but I think it will be in the next year or two.  Again, my humble opinion.  Both teams are facing the unknown right now.  All they can do is prepare for each other and do the best they can.  The media is creating this "Giant" that both teams are expected to put on this magnificient show for the world to watch.  Expectations are at the highest probably ever for a Stanley Cup.  Both teams would be wise to stay away from the media and not read the press clippings.  I do believe that these were the two best teams this year and the most consistant.  This year two great teams will battle to get their name etched on the Stanley Cup.  I know many people who don't even watch hockey that are showing an interest in this Stanley Cup.  I think that no matter what happens at the end of all this, that we will go away talking about this series for a long, long, time.