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Conference Finals Predictions
Authored by Douglas Benton - 8th May, 2008 - 2:12 pm
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Then there were four. The conference finals are set with two teams most expected (Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins) and two surprises (Dallas Stars and Philadelphia Flyers). Will the favorites make the Stanley Cup or will the surprises make it to the final round? Read on to find out.

Detroit Red Wings vs. Dallas Stars

The Detroit Red Wings rolled through the last round with a convincing four game sweep of the Colorado Avalanche. The Red Wings are 6-0 since inputting Chris Osgood into the starting goaltender role. Osgood has a GAA of 1.52 and a .937 save percentage.

The top players for Detroit have been centers Johan Franzen and Pavel Datsyuk and left wing Henrik Zetterberg. Franzen has 11 goals in 10 games while both Datsyuk and Zetterberg have 13 points in 10 games. On the blue line, stalwarts Brian Rafalski and Nicklas Lindstrom are both +7 through the first two rounds.

The Stars on the other hand beat the San Jose Sharks in six games, including a thrilling four OT clinching win in game six. For Dallas, it starts with goaltender Marty Turco and his outstanding play which has led to a 1.73 GAA this postseason. It is hard to believe this guy was once thought to not be a big game goaltender by many NHL experts.

However, for the Stars to win this series, they need their solid offensive core to bring consistent production. Brendan Morrow has been very good this postseason with 11 points and a season-high seven goals in 12 games. Also, Mike Ribeiro has worked well as a facilitator with 11 assists and 14 points in 12 games.

While the Stars have lasted much longer than I thought they would, I think it ends for Dallas here. Detroit showed last series that when they want to, they are at a different level than anyone else in the league. I think this team is peaking at the right moment and will win the Western Conference.

Detroit in five games

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers

It is an all-Pennsylvania final for the Eastern Conference as both team won in five games as the Flyers dispatched the top seed Montreal Canadiens and the Penguins finished off the New York Rangers.

For the Flyers, Daniel Briere is playing like the big free agent signing with eight goals and 14 points in 12 games while getting good support from Mike Richards and Vaclav Prospal. Center R.J. Upshall also has 11 points in 12 games with a team best +6 rating.

Goaltender Martin Biron was better in the second round than he was in the first round, but he needs to play out of this world in this series to hold down the Pittsburgh offense.

That offense has been paced by Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Marian Hossa. Each is averaging over a point a game, and Crosby has directed the attack with a team high 12 assists. They have also received strong play from Ryan Malone (9 points in 9 games) and defenseman Robert Scuderi, who has a team best +7 rating.

Add on top of this the outstanding play of Marc-Andre Fleury, who has a .938 save percentage and held strong against some odd man rushes, and Pittsburgh will be tough to take down in a seven game series.

The outstanding offensive talent of Pittsburgh and the play of Fleury are the reasons I see Pittsburgh winning this series. Philadelphia will make it a long series and take at least one game from out competing Pittsburgh, but in the end, Pittsburgh is just too talented and will meet Detroit in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Pittsburgh in seven games

- Who do you think will play in the Stanley Cup Finals? Send your picks to Douglas.Benton@realgm.com
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