Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 Preview

• Red Wings-Penguins Game 7 Date: Friday, June 12, 2009
• Red Wings-Penguins Game 7 Time: 8:00 ET
• Red Wings-Penguins Game 7 Location: Detroit, MI
• Red Wings-Penguins Game 7 TV: NBC
• Red Wings – Penguins Game 7 Odds: Detroit -1.5

So who will take the Stanley Cup?

Originally, we broke down the NHL betting matchup edges into offense, defense, special teams, goaltending and coaching. Have the edges shifted in any of these categories entering Game 7?

Stanley Cup betting lines for Game 7:
Penguins +160
Red Wings -190

Red Wings-Penguins Game 7 Preview: OFFENSE

The Penguins are not the same team offensively on the road. In Pittsburgh, they’ve forechecked hard, beating the smallish Detroit defenders to pucks in the corners and taking the body. Jordan Staal, Tyler Kennedy and Maxime Talbot have been particularly impressive. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were brilliant in two of Pittsburgh’s three home games but have done very little in Detroit – amazingly, Crosby has no points at Joe Louis Arena in this series.

Save for Game 5, the Red Wings’ offense hasn’t exploded but it’s been relatively steady. Pavel Datsyuk’s return to the lineup breathed major life into the team in Game 5 and should help distribute Detroit’s scoring in Game 7. Henrik Zetterberg is clutch, as is Johan Franzen, but Marian Hossa has disappeared off the face of the Earth. He looks uncomfortable with the physicality of this series and can’t be relied upon to bust out in Game 7.

Overall, since Crosby and Malkin have been neutralized on the road, the edge shifts to Detroit.

Original Edge: Penguins
Game 7 Edge: Red Wings

Red Wings-Penguins Game 7 Preview: DEFENSE

Both teams should be commended for their overall defensive efforts in Stanley Cup betting, though they go about their success in different ways. The Wings have relied on skill, speed and smothering positioning to take space away from the Pens forwards while the Penguins have used their size, brute strength and shot blocking to keep pucks out of the net. As courageous as the Pens have been, they’ve been more tentative and, more importantly, less disciplined on the road, so Detroit keeps its edge here.

Original Edge: Red Wings
Game 7 Edge: Red Wings

Red Wings-Penguins Game 7 Preview: GOALTENDING

Could this be the deciding factor in NHL betting lines for Game 7? So far, the matchup has gone just as it seemed it would on paper – Chris Osgood has been solid if unspectacular for the Wings and Marc-Andre Fleury has alternated scintillating and horrible performances. Fleury remains the more physically gifted netminder; he showed in Game 6 that he can singlehandedly steal a game as he stopped 13 Detroit shots in the third period and made some spectacular saves. However, Fleury has melted down on the road and Chris Osgood has loads of big-game Stanley Cup experience, as he’s seeking his third ring. Fleury still can’t be counted out as he’ll need to carry the Pens, but Osgood is oh-so-steady, so Detroit pulls even here.

Original Edge: Penguins
Game 7 Edge: Even

Red Wings-Penguins Game 7 Preview: SPECIAL TEAMS

Nothing has really changed here. We know the Wings power play is second to one and we know its penalty kill is brutal. The Wings showed in Game 5 that they will bury anyone who takes penalties against them, but the Pens’ PK has been brilliant aside from that game and its power play has been adequate. No real offshore sportsbook advantage here, but the Pens must stay disciplined.

Original Edge: Even
Game 7 Edge: Even

Red Wings-Penguins Game 7 Preview: COACHING

You have to hand it to Dan Bylsma; he guided the Pens from almost missing the playoffs to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final and he found a way to instill confidence in them for Game 6 after the ugly Game 5 loss. However, Bylsma has never coached one deciding game with the equivalent significance of the Super Bowl. Mike Babcock has. He’ll be cooler under pressure, so the Wings get the edge for Game 7.

Original Edge: Even
Game 7 Edge: Red Wings

Red Wings-Penguins Game 7 Prediction:THE VERDICT FOR GAME 7

As you can guess based on the analysis above, I’m picking Detroit to win Game 7. My original online wagering prognosis – Penguins in 6 – was contingent on the Penguins being up 3-2 heading home. Back in Detroit, the defending champs are just too good and the Penguins haven’t shown that they can handle the hostile environment at Joe Louis Arena. Another factor to remember: the home team is 12-2 in Stanley Cup Game 7s all-time.

Stanley Cup betting pick: Detroit Red Wings -190

However, as a devoted sports lover, I enjoy watching any sporting event in which the best players in the world at their respective sport are playing with something great on the line. Certainly, when the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins take to the ice in the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, some of the best hockey players in the world will be battling it out for something great on the line.

And I will watch. (Although, as we all know, hockey is much better viewed live. But I don’t think I’m getting out to Detroit or Pittsburgh anytime soon…)

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Maybe I won’t watch every game, but I’ll tune it for most of them. Or at least flip over during the commercials if the Stanley Cup Finals are played concurrently with any NBA games.

And here is the TV Schedule for the 2009 Stanley Cup Finals, a rematch of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Last year, the Red Wings came out on top and won their first Stanley Cup since 2002. In addition to being the defending Stanley Cup winners, the Red Wings are the last team to win the Stanley Cup in back-to-back seasons (1997,1998). Pittsburgh is looking to take home the Stanley Cup for the first time since they won it back-to-back in 1991 and 1992.

Yesterday, our good friends from BetOnline broke down the matchups and offered up a Red Wings-Penguins Stanley Cup Finals prediction. They picked the Pens to come out on top in 6 games. What do you think?

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