At the start of the 2008-09 season, the majority view was that the Detroit Red Wings would be the best bet to (return| make another trip} to the Stanley Cup championships. With the main cast of Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk intact, along with the addition of Marian Hossa from Pittsburgh, there would be a good chance that hobbled city of Detroit would be celebrating a repeat.



But another Penguins ? Detroit Red Wing Final? After the poor performance early the Penguins had, replacing Michel Terrien as head coach, despite the prowess of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal, they were struggling to make the play-offs. A marked second half turn-around and an awe-inspiring7 game "best player in league" performance against Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals would be why we have our only final re-match in 25 years.

Could this be the year the young bundles of energy of Crosby and Malkin dominate for their only of possibly many Stanley Cups, much like Edmonton of the 1980s?

The Penguinslearned a tremendous degree from the Stanley Cup Final defeat in 2008. They are now a unit with vasterplay-off experience, a battle tested goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury and a leader in Sidney Crosby that grew up] markedly from his first deep play-off run. Also, facing the adversity replaced mid-season and almost missing the big dance, the Penguins certainly have the character marks needed to hoist the most revered trophy in all of sports.

The Red Wings are the logicalchoice, and have won more generation.

They only got stronger after 2008 Stanley Cup triumph, and have been the odds-on favourite to repeat throughout the season. Chris Osgoode could capture his fourth Stanley Cup, putting him in the rare company of Patrick Roy among other netminders to have accomplished the feat. Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen have continued in 2009 doing what they do best- scoring almost on demand in the playoffs.

But even though] all the logic of experience, depth and tradition claiming the Red Wings are favourites, there is also plenty of evidence that the Pittsburgh Penguins are ready to begin their own era.

Despite the intimidation on Detroit, the Penguins skill may be too overwhelming to betterthis year. We may his first Silver Chalice at the tender age of 22.