Stanley Cup Finals Preview

Your preview for Detroit Red Wings-Pittsburgh Penguins (the sequel):

Offense: The Pens have boasted the most firepower in all of their previous playoff series, with only the Caps coming close to matching them. But that won't be the case against the Wings, who score practically the same amount of goals (3.69) as the Pens (3.82). The Wings are deeper and more experienced and both teams will try to take up residence in front of the net. Pittsburgh might have the edge at center, though. Advantage: Wings.

Defense: Even with perennial Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom on the sidelines, the Wings' blueliners are still a scary bunch. But with him, it could be lights-out for the Pens. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, has some skill on the blueline, but cannot match Detroit's steller bunch. Pittsburgh will give Detroit more of a challenge than any of its previous opponents, but the Pens still will have trouble mustering an attack against Detroit. Advantage: Wings.

Special Teams: Detroit's penalty kill (73.7 percent) is its only glaring weakness, while Pittsburgh's average bunch (83.6 percent) will seem stout by comparison. On the power play, though, Detroit (25.7 percent) and Pittsburgh (19.3) excel. This series probably won't include too many penalties, but teams better batten down the hatches when they are shorthanded. Advantage: Push.

Goaltending: Chris Osgood doesn't get enough credit, at least outside of these parts. He's only won 71 career playoff games and three Stanley Cups. That experience has come through this postseason, when he's made some huge saves and come up big time after time. Meanwhile, Marc-Andre Fleury has battled inconsistancy and soft goals while playing just well enough to help the Pens get back to the finals. Advantage: Wings.

Intangibles: The Wings are experienced, hungry and determined. They're guided by the same coach who won the Cup last year and a team that knows what to expect. Although the Pens have excelled under Coach Dan Bylsma, this is his first trip to the finals and he hasn't even coached a full season in the NHL yet. Advantage: Wings.

Overall: This is going to be a close series full of one-goal games. Although the Wings are the better team, the Pens are a game, skilled bunch that will be in every game. But in the end, the defending champs prevail. Prediction: Wings in seven.