Detroit Wins Stanley Cup!

Well…statistically speaking, the league might as well forgo the next games in the series and simply give Lord Stanley to the Red Wings right now.

After taking a 2-0 series lead following Monday night’s domination of the Penguins, the Red Wings have taken what history has shown to be an insurmountable lead in the Stanley Cup final series.

The Penguins now find themselves up against the slimmest of odds. In fact, the all-time championship series record of home clubs winning the first two games is 30-1. The 1970-71 Chicago Blackhawks were the only team to blow a 2-0 lead built at home, losing to Montreal in seven games.

If you want to catch one more hockey game this season you had better get tickets for either of Games 3 or 4.

Home Sweet Home

If there is any luck remaining for the Penguins in this playoff run, it is the fact that they are 8-0 at home during these playoffs. Heading to the familiar confines of Mellon arena may be just the spark that this team needs to get back on track and build some momentum.

Of course the officiating is always to blame. However, Coach Therrien’s claims are very shallow and seem to be what is amounting to a last-ditch effort to gain some sympathy calls in the next couple of games. I suppose you have to pull out all of the stops to win a Stanley Cup.

Here is a sampling of Therrien’s complaints:

“They’re good on obstruction. It’s going to be tough to generate offence if the rules remain the same.

“This is the first time we’re facing a team where the obstruction is there.”

Interestingly enough, Sidney Crosby isn’t finding fault with the officials.  Although, Crosby spends his fair share of time whining at the men in stripes, he’s turned in another direction after the loss in Game 2.

“To be honest, they’re not getting that many more chances than us,” said Crosby, who had six shots on goal Monday. “If they were skating down every time getting tons of chances, I’d be worried. But it’s the nature of the game. They’re capitalizing (on their chances) and we’re not.”

As Good As Osgood

Chris Osgood has been fantastic behind an equally fantastic Detroit defense. As much as Osgood’s two straight shutouts in the Stanley Cup final have impressed fans, the defensive system of the Red Wings has stifled the most potent of NHL offenses by allowing just 42 shots in two games.

Here is what coach Babcock had to say about the Red Wings’ stingy defensive system:

“It’s the Stanley Cup Final. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. You gotta be jacked up to play, and it’s pretty evident who – Malkin is up for the MVP of the League. It’s evident that him and Crosby and Staal, and you can go through a lot of the forwards, are really talented people. So we have to shut those people down if we’re going to be successful.”

Brad Stuart, who played terrific in Game 2 was qwuick to praise his netminder. “A lot of credit has to go to Ossie,” Stuart told Hockey Night in Canada after the game. “He’s made some big saves, they easily could have had a couple goals in the first and second period.

The series can be summed up as follows:

• Osgood is on point and currently facing very few quality scoring opportunities.
• Niklas Kronwall is the best open ice hitter in the NHL next to Dion Phaneuf.
• The Red Wings have the best breakout and transition game in the league…period.
• Detroit gets secondary scoring in every single game – a key to their success.
• The Red Wings rarely retaliate and are much more disciplined than the Penguins.

Any other thoughts?  Feel free to share them in the comments!