There are plenty of sporting events hopping up on the radar such as boxing betting, the Belmont Stakes odds and the French Open odds, but the NHL playoffs have finally reached the finals. For only the second time in NHL history, there will be a Stanley Cup Finals rematch, and here are five reasons why this year will be different than the last:
1. The Penguins Are The Hottest Team In The NHL
It might feel like a distant memory, but at one point in the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins were one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference. On January 14th, they were 21-20-4 and a month later, when they were still hovering around .500, they fired head coach Michel Therrien. Since that time, the Penguins finished the regular season 18-3-3. There is no team playing better hockey, and oftentimes the hottest team is the one that wins the Cup.
2. Penguins Have An Advantage In Net
The Detroit Red Wings are still relying on 36-year-old goaltender Chris Osgood to lead the way, and while he has been steady in the playoffs so far, he was a weakness in the regular season. Osgood had a 3.09 GAA then, but he’s down to just 2.06 in the playoffs. Even so, the Penguins have the edge in net with Marc-Andre Fleury.
Given the way Canuck netminders such as Martin Brodeur, Cam Ward and Roberto Luongo finished up their playoff series, Fleury might be the best Canadian goaltender in the game right now. He’s won eight of his last nine games and he slammed the door shut on the Hurricanes in the previous series. While Osgood is a savvy veteran, the Penguins have the edge in net in this series.
3. Penguins Are Healthier
While the Penguins have their full roster intact, the Detroit Red Wings are fighting the injury bug. Stalwart defenseman Niklas Lidstrom (lower body) did not play in Games 4 or 5 of the Western Conference final, and it’s not clear whether he’ll be ready for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final. Pavel Datsyuk (bruised foot) did not play in the last three games of the Western Conference final and he’s in the same boat as Lidstrom. Kris Draper (groin) is also questionable for Game 1. Meanwhile, the Penguins are fit as a fiddle and that should make a big difference, especially since Games 1 and 2 are on back-to-back nights.
4. Penguins Have The Two Best Players In the NHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins have Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby on their roster, and those two players are the best in the NHL right now. That tandem has combined for 56 points in the playoffs, which is outstanding. Meanwhile, the Red Wings top gun and MVP candidate, Pavel Datsyuk, is not at 100%. Those making their NHL predictions know that the team with the best players usually wins, and in this case, the Penguins have the two best in this series. Should be a no-brainer.
5. Revenge Is Sweet
As The Bride once said in Kill Bill: Revenge is a dish best served cold. The Pittsburgh Penguins are over their loss in the Stanley Cup Finals last year but they are hungry to grow past it. Facing off with the same team will give them that opportunity.
The Red Wings are virtually the same squad while the Penguins feel they are much improved. Stanley Cup Finals odds handicappers will notice a change not only in the Penguins as a team but in the series as a result.
