Tonight's game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Red Wings and the Penguins (8 PM, on NBC) is quite possibly the most anticipated game seven the sport has seen in the last decade.
Arguably hockey's most successful franchise goes up against the best star-duo in the league. How about the captains match-up? Nic Lidstrom for Detroit, the smartest and most successful defenseman from this decade goes up against Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, one of the NHL's superstars.
The goalie match-up? Chris Osgood for the Wings, three Stanley Cups to his name in 14 seasons in the NHL. Marc-Andre Fleury, the number one overall pick in the 2003 for the Penguins.
Detroit's advantage in the coaching match-up is why I see Nic Lidstrom receiving the Cup from Gary Bettman tonight after the game is all said and done. Detroit Head Coach Mike Babcock has been through it all already. He led the Wings to a Cup last season with a less talented team (only less talented than this year because of the addition of Marian Hossa in the off-season).
The Wings will also have home-ice advantage. This is huge and most casual fans don't realize why. The home team has a large advantage on every face-off because the road team must put their stick on the ice first, allowing the home team's centerman to win the faceoff by one sweeping motion as soon as the referee drops the puck.
The road team also must put their lines out first, then the home team gets to match the road team's line. This will allow Detroit to select which lines they want to put out to contain Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
I believe that tonight is the night for the Wings. At the beginning of the series I stated that Detroit would win in six games or less, but Pittsburgh has shown a ton of fight. The Wings should take care of business tonight at Joe Louis Arena, as the home team has won every game thus far in the series. Look for that trent to continue tinight in game seven.
As always keep it here on First and Short for reports and reaction tomorrow following tonight's big game.
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