Osgood Vs Fleury

Excuse the absence. Let me explain in two words: Stag weekend. Besides, last week was a little slow.

I must say that I am impressed with the accomplishments of the cup final goaltenders. Osgood has gone 5 weeks of brilliant relief of Dominik Hasek since and has reminded people that he did indeed backstop the Wings to a Stanley Cup in the past rather than leave people questioning whether or not he had the mental toughness to go all the way. Much has been said of his efforts to reinvent himself and prove himself and to do it at this point of his career has been tremendous. He can stand proud of what he has done and ought to erase any doubts about his ability to be a first-string keeper (but will he really?).

Fleury has matured significantly since his return from ankle injury and has left everybody forgetting that there was a potential goaltending controversy brewing in Pittsburgh around the trade deadline. Who is his back-up again? Fleury has turned me into a believer with his play of late and it looks like he is in the right headspace to steal games when they count.

So who will win it? The early money would likely be on the Red Wings, but given the struggle they had closing the series with Dallas, there is reason to question their determination and ability to finish. They big thing they've had in their favour has been experience, but it's Datsyuk's and Zetterberg's first final. They've got experience in guys like Lidstrom, Chelios, Draper, Holmstrom and Osgood but there is quite a bit of youth there as well.

The main question about the Penguins is experience. They have managed to come through the first three rounds relatively untested which means that either they have the talent to overcome that lack of experience or the Sens, Rangers and Flyers did not bring what would have truly tested them. They are healthier than the Red Wings and showed with their 6-0 win over the Flyers that they have the killer instinct required. They also have the foot soldiers who can go in and do what has to be done to win a series as well. I'd give the Penguins the edge on offence and in net and give the Wings the edge behind the bench, on defence and the slightest, ever so slightest edge on special teams on the strength on their penalty killing. Prediction: a long series with the Penguins and Wings each winning one high score affair each, and four tight games that will go down to the last two minutes. Wings in 6 or Pens in 7.