Re: If you must play the Stanley Cup Final, lay the wood
Pitt is the right team folks.
I think that Detroit rode the perfect wave to get to this spot. The first series was vs the Nashville Predators, the 8 seed and Detroit lost 2 games in this series. The Pred actually played Det tougher than their next 2 teams. In their 2nd series, Colorado went in there and on the eve of game 1, their goalie became sick. He played that game sick and gave up a few goals and then went directly back to his hotel room halfway thru that game due to illness. Det had a 3-1 lead and colorado closed it to 4-3. In the final 10 mins of that game 1 vs Colo, the avs were the superior team and detroit was saved by their goaltending to win. Colorado could have won that game despite their goalie being sick.
I think colorado had key injuries early in that series aside from their goalie not being able to recover in time to be 100%. It all went downhill from there and the Avs ended up just surrendering ........so, that series, while it was 4-0, was a 'throwout' series because Colorado fell apart at the wrong time...that wasn't colorado's best effort.
Detroit next got Dallas. The Stars came off an extremely hard, physical and draining series vs San Jose. Also, the Stars first opponent was Anaheim, who is big and physical. They defeated the Ducks and Sharks, but at a deep price. I watched almost all the Stars games in their entirety and i can tell you that Dallas was a shell of themselves in the Det series. Again, Detroit was well rested vs an opponent who tanked (colo) while Dallas went to a blood and guts 4 overtimes to dispatch of SJ in 6 games. Dallas was exhausted in that series and despite all that, took Det to 6 games. Dallas at full power would have beaten detroit.....the dallas that played anaheim and SJ was amazing, they would have beaten the Wings had they had any strength at all but their competition was vs the current cup champs and the team who was considered the best in the west by many.
The wings did what they had to do, but they are now going to face a great, talented, mentally tough and well rested opponent.
Switching to Pitt. The Pens dispatched of Ottawa by sweeping (while Detroit couldn't sweep Nashville, Pitt was sweeping a better team in round 1) Pitt beat the Rangers and Philly fairly handily, neither team ever had a shot, pitt was so superior to their competition that i can't really tell you how good pitt is. They never really had to go to the well....pitt is like an undefeated racehorse who wins easy under wraps and you dont know how good they can be if pushed.
Here's the thing i feel is very interesting about both teams so far in these playoffs and something that Pitt has done that no other team, including detroit, has done so far and that is this.
Pitt is the only team who's never had any stretch of any of their games, even for 1 minute, where the other team dominated play. There were stretches for Detroit vs Dallas and even Colorado briefly where those teams totally dominated play for mini stretches of 1 to 2 minutes. There were a handful of times when Detroit was dominated and their goalie saved them. In game 3 vs Dallas at Dallas, the Stars had a 3 minute stretch where they had a ton of shots on and at goal and eventually scored, but i dont think Detroit touched the puck once in 3 minutes.......that NEVER happened to Pitt at any point in any of their games....pitt was either the dominant team or the play was neutral. Sure, other teams had their scoring chances, but there wasn't that 'dominating' puck possession keep away stuff where Pitt wasn't able to physically get the puck from the other team.
To me, that's awesome. Almost every team goes thru that at times, but Pitt wasn't one of those teams.
I'm not even going to get into the league conspiracy stuff, but if you believe that exists, you have to think the league wants Crosby to win this thing.
Bet Pitt in the series and take Pitt in game 1 (and in game 2 if Det wins game 1)...they are plus 160 that's an absolutely ridiculous price considering both teams haven't played in what seems like weeks. In a 'rustathon' like this, you want the underdog i have to believe.
Detroit has their hands full. If you want to bet on Hockeytown, you're going to have to work awfully hard to cash that -160 series bet...it isn't going to be as easy as the first 3 serieses were for Detroit i can promise you that.
Good luck whatever you decide to do, it ought to be a great series.
