Sorry for the layoff, I’ve been taking some time to myself and just enjoying the beginning of summer.  But alas, here we are, nearly done with the Stanley Cup playoffs, and I haven’t said peep in a while.

Let’s change that.

I’m sure that many of you feel the same way about this series; been there, done that.  I know it feels monotonous to have the Wings playing the Penguins again in the finals, but for me, it solidifies each teams depth and greatness. Neither team was the favorite going into the playoffs, instead a projected matchup of Sharks vs Bruins was at the top of the list.  Next came the Duck’s have a perfect playoff team, then the cinderella Hurricanes.

But in the end, it came down to two teams and a few key guys.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have finally proved that they belong in the NHL elite and can compete with the Red Wings of the world. The Detroit Red Wings have finally proven to me that they can win without their top guys.  Both Datsyuk and Lindstrom, the Wings two biggest game changers, have battled injuries, and still Detroit has been impressive.

Part of the Red Wings success is the elevated play of Chris Osgood.  He’s been the best goalie in the playoffs, and he’s made some huge saves at big times.  I’ll admit I’ve been a critic of the aging Osgood.  I didn’t think he had what it took to survive a strong West and a high scoring East team in the finals, but he’s silenced myself and everyone else who bashed him for his subpar performance towards the end of the season.

The series is 2-1 in the Wings favor, and I don’t think the series is over just yet.  If the Penguins can put together a convincing win on home ice tonight, then they have a chance at upsetting the Wings in Detroit in game 5 and a chance to close it out at home in game 6.

If Detroit wins tonight, then they’ll be hoisting the cup on home ice in Game 5.