WINGS TAKE GAME 1 OF THE CUP FINAL 3-1

Last night in Detroit, the Wings got the bounces they needed to get the win. The Wings goals were not quality goals but hay goals are goals and I'm sure the Wings will take what they can get. The first goal came off the boards then off of Fleury and in. The 2nd goal was similar, the Wings just shot it from behind the net and it went off of Fleury and in. The 3rd goal was just a shot blocker side on Fleury."I just tried to get it in," explained Stuart. "Stuff happens, it's a game of bounces. We got the win but it's a quick turnaround and we've got to get after them again tomorrow."

When Bill Guerin was asked if he thought the Penguins would have a easy time with the Wings he responded:"We never thought this was going to be easy, especially coming in here first and playing in their building," said Bill Guerin. "We know it's going to be tough. Tomorrow night's a new night." In my Opinion, the only reason why the Wings won last night was because Osgood was not letting anything go in the net. Just face it, if the Penguins can't score they obesouly can't win.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

P.S: Game 2 will be tonight at 8:00pm E.T on CBC,NBC and RDS.

THE PENGUINS WILL LOOK TO BE THE NEXT OILERS. AS THEY WILL TAKE ON THE WINGS IN THE FINAL

In 1983's Stanley Cup Final the Islanders beat the Oilers to win the Cup. But 1 year later the Oilers got their revenge on the Islanders in the Final by winning the Stanley Cup. Today Gretzky talked about the rivalry that was created against the Islanders. “There was a rivalry that was created between us and the Islander,” recalled Gretzky. “Losing that first final, walking by their locker room the one thought we had as players was that it was going to be a dreadful sight watching them celebrate and have a tremendous time."

"As we found out, it was pretty quite in there. Really, we kind of walked out healthy and they were pretty beat up and we realized then and there it takes more than just wanting to win, you were going to have to earn it and it was going to take a lot to win a Stanley Cup and be a champion.”Mark Messier also talked about the Cup final.“The Islanders presented a big challenge for us,” stated Messier. “They were very well coached, they played a very tight defensive game and they really took a lot of things away from us that we liked to do offensively.

"Getting swept the previous year, we knew we had to come back the next year and figure out a way to play better as a team defensively and harder.”The Penguins will look to do exactly what the Oilers did by beating the Wings to win the Cup.Over the years in Crosby's career he has been compared to Gretzky and Lemieux. But Crosby said he can not be compared to them unless he wins a Stanley Cup.They've won cups and, you know, and we've yet to do that," Crosby said. "So we still have some things to prove."

The other big story about this series is about Hossa facing his former team."It's a unique situation right now, definitely this doesn't happen often," Hossa said."I try to make the best of the situation for myself and try to help the team win a Cup." Look back at the NHL offseason 2008, Hossa turned down the Penguins offer and settled for less to sign with Detroit.Hossa signed with the Wings because he thought that Detroit would make the Cup Final and the Pens would not. "It was a really tough decision for me to make," Hossa said of his choice at the time. "When I compared the two teams, I felt like I would have a little better of a chance to win the Cup in Detroit."the Cup Final will start this Saturday.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

ROAD TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL 2009

RED WINGS WIN IN O.T TO ADVANCE TO THE CUP FINAL V.S THE PENGUINS

Last night in Detroit, Huet was keeping the Hawks in the game with save after save but it was not enough as the Red Wings won 2-1 in O.T with a goal from Helm. Now the Red Wings next task will be the team they beat in the Final last year the Pittsburgh Penguins. The big story will be going into this final will be Hossa facing his old team."It's a unique situation right now, definitely this doesn't happen often," Hossa said.

"I try to make the best of the situation for myself and try to help the team win a Cup."The Red Wings are matching up with Pittsburgh in what is the NHL's first Stanley Cup rematch since the 1984 Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Islanders."To have the opportunity against Pittsburgh should be a lot of fun," Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. "There will be a lot of hype." The Last team who won the Cup in back-back years was the Red Wings in '97' and '98.'

Stanley Cup Final schedule:

Game1:Saturday May 30th in Detroit
Game2:Sunday, May 31st in Detroit
Game3:Tuesday, June 2nd in Pittsburgh
Game4:Thursday, June 4th in Pittsburgh
If Necessary Game5:Fri Jun 6th in Deroit
If Necessary Game6:Tuesday, June 9 in Pittsburgh
If Necessary Game7:Friday, June 12 in Detroit

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

PENGUINS SWEEP SERIES AGAINST THE HURRICANES TO GO TO THE FINAL

Last night in Carolina, The Penguins completed the sweep with a 4-1 over the Canes and will move on to the Cup Final. But after the game the big story was about Crosby holding the Eastern Conference champion trophy."We didn't touch (the trophy) last year, and things didn't go the way we wanted," Crosby said. "I thought we'd change it up this year." Last year in the Cup Final the Penguins lost to the Wings. But this year they are ready to face the Wings in the final 9if the Wings knock out the Blackhawks in game 5 tonight)."They're the champs, and they'll be a big challenge for us," forward Miroslav Satan said.

Over the years in Crosby's career he has been compared to Gretzky and Lemieux. But Crosby said he can not be compared to them unless he wins a Stanley Cup.They've won cups and, you know, and we've yet to do that," Crosby said. "So we still have some things to prove.It's a compliment, and we'll try to keep playing the same way." If the Wings win tonight the Stanley Cup Final will begin this Saturday.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Stanley Cup Final will start on June 5th 2009 (Possible Final: Penguins V.s Red wings)

With the Red Wings win today against the Blackhawks and the Penguins win over the Hurricanes last night, both the Pens and the Wings are 1 win away from a rematch of last years cup final. Of cores both series are not done yet but just think about it the Canes need to win 4 in-a-row to knock off the Pens and the Hawks need to win 3-in-a-row to defeat the Wings. So if you just think about it realistically the Cup final will probably be the Pens V.S the Wings.The Stanley Cup Final will begin on June 5th 2009.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo

Possible Stanley Cup Final start dates

Today the NHL announced the possible dates for the Stanley Cup Final for 2009.If both conference finals end in 4 games, the Cup Finals will begin Thursday, May 28th 2009. If either series goes more than 4 games, the Cup Finals will start Friday, June 5th 2009. If both the Penguins and the Wings win their series it will be the second straight year that the Penguins will face the Wings in the final.

Written By Andrew Di Pardo