No, not the Belmont Stakes odds, silly. With all due respect to horse racing, it’s a fleeting few minutes of excitement.

We’re talking about the Stanley Cup Final odds – the battle for the trophy many online bettors call the hardest to win in professional sports.

This year, we have a much-desired rematch between Detroit and Pittsburgh. Will history repeat itself or will the Penguins dethrone the champs this time?

Penguins vs Red Wings odds
Online sportsbook lines for series: Penguins +135, Red Wings -155

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Red Wings-Penguins Matchup Preview: OFFENSE

It’s extremely tough to pick between two potent offensive units like these, but the difference will probably come down to health. The Kneejerk reaction for puck betting fans is to see the Red Wings offense as superior; with superstars like Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Hossa plus great depth players like Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom and Daniel Clearly, how could Detroit not have the edge? For one, Pavel Datsyuk is playing hurt; with just one goal in 13 playoff games, he’s so hobbled that he may as well be a different player at the moment.

The Penguins’ offense isn’t quite a two-man show, but it’s close, as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin do all the heavy lifting. But NHL odds followers shouldn’t underestimate the impact of having two of the top three offensive players on the planet on one team; they’ve both been men possessed in these playoffs, combining for 26 goals and 56 points in 34 Stanley Cup betting games so far this year. Head coach Dan Bylsma is also double-shifting the stars, almost creating the effect of three or four superstars in the lineup. Worse yet for the Wings, Datsyuk, the best defensive forward in hockey, can’t shut down Sid and Geno like he normally can because of his injuries.

Edge: Penguins

Red Wings-Penguins Matchup Preview: DEFENSE

Big advantage for the Red Wings odds here. The Pens’ group is comprised mainly of grinders, and Sergei Gonchar isn’t fully healthy. Youngsters Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski make too many mistakes. We know Nicklas Lidstrom is a legend but, even if he’s still banged up entering the Stanley Cup Final odds, the Wings have plenty of backup for him. Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart have made headlines laying out any forwards brave enough to cross the blueline and they’ll work hard to scare Crosby and Malkin early in the series.

Edge: Red Wings

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Red Wings-Penguins Matchup Preview: GOALTENDING

Chris Osgood is a polarizing goalie in sports wagering circles; some think he’s an overrated coattail rider who gives up soft goals while others think he’s underappreciated, pointing to the fact that he’s 10th all-time in hockey betting victories. Well, I think the point is moot; whatever you think about Osgood, Fleury is still better. He’s younger, more athletic, and he seems to really enjoy playing under pressure. He’s also good enough to steal a game – something Osgood never does.

Edge: Penguins

Red Wings-Penguins Matchup Preview: SPECIAL TEAMS

Without a fully healthy Sergei Gonchar, the Penguins don’t have the booming presence from the point needed to really make their power play go. Detroit’s power play is absolutely terrifying; it led the league at 25.5 per cent in the regular season and has actually bested that number in playoff hockey betting at 25.7 per cent. The flip side of the coin; the Wings’ penalty killing is awful at just 73.7 per cent in the playoffs, largely because of Datsyuk’s struggles. The Pens have the edge there.

Edge: Even

Red Wings-Penguins Matchup Preview: COACHING

It’s easy to give the Cup-winning Mike Babcock the edge, but we’re talking about who’s better right here, right now. The Penguins are 30-8-4 since Dan Bylsma took over and he’s done a great job mixing up his lines to exploit matchups.

Edge: Even

Red Wings-Penguins Matchup Preview: THE PREDICTION

Think of the Red Wings as the New York Islanders of 25 years ago – a strong dynasty ready to pass the torch to a team it beat the year before. The Penguins are the Edmonton Oilers – a young team that learned from the previous year’s mistakes and that rides two all-world stars to glory. The Wings are banged up and the Penguins have been the best team in puck betting for three months. It’s their time.

Stanley Cup Final odds pick: Penguins in six