posted May 27, 2008 at 13:25 EST in NHL Free Picks

We’re two games deep in to the Stanley Cup Finals and we’ve been squarely reminded of one thing – don’t mess with the Detroit Red Wings. Top to bottom, they were quietly the best team in the league finishing 54-21-7. I say “quietly” because they were the best team in the league and received little attention from anyone other then the sports betting and NHL hockey betting faithful because everyone was making noise in the trade market.

One of those teams was the Pittsburgh Penguins, which landed Marion Hossa to everyone’s astonishment right on the day of the deadline. Hossa has 19 points in this postseason, tied with Evgeni Malkin for second on the roster. Yet here the vaunted Penguins are, down two games with zero goals to show for their efforts.

Is Chris Osgood that good, or is his blue line that amazing? It’s probably the defense. It’s not that Osgood is Osbad, it’s just that his numbers are ridiculous for a guy who has been a backup for the latter part of his career. The Wings allow 2.2 goals a game, and only 22.5 shots per game. The low shot total makes life for Osgood and hockey betting faithful wagering on the Wings that much easier.

So what are the Penguins to do? Stop panicking, relax and return to the game that made them the Eastern Conference Champions. Their online betting faithful have to be relieved that they return to the confines of the Igloo. The Pens were 26-10-5 SU at home this season, so I’ll be damned if they don’t find a way to crack that defense.

In truth all they need is one game. One game to break Osgood in half and shatter his confidence. Then the defense will know that they can’t rely on him, and the pressure will mount on Lidstrom-Rafalski-Kronwall to protect Ozzi. That’s what they’ve been doing so far, but if these Penguins get a taste of blood, there’s no telling what this dazzling offense can accomplish.

Gretzky lost his first Stanley Cup. Will Crosby follow suite? I say “no”, but that’s because I want to believe in this Penguins team. And I just don’t think that Osgood can carry a team to the point where they are hoisting Lord Stanley.

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