Detroit 2 vs. Pittsburgh 1 (Det leads series 3-1)

There’s a lot to be said for a young team coming up short under pressure, but I’m much more inclined to see this as an example of the better team winning.  Game 4 was in itself a microcosm of the entire series; the Penguins played hard, created chances and worried their opponents, but could ultimately do nothing to counter Detroit’s superior execution.  The Red Wings killed penalties when they needed to (including a two-man advantage in the third that basically ended the series), took the other team’s best players out of the game and converted the chances that came their way.  While Evgeni Malkin - hero through much of the earlier rounds - wilted, Pavel Daytsuk - himself mired in an awful scoring slump - started throwing hits.  That’s the difference.  Now I’m not saying Pittsburgh doesn’t have enough to extend the series - but for the crossbar this one might have pushed into OT - but there’s no way they take 3 in a row off of a Detroit team this dialed in.

I can think of no better moment to summarize the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals than Sydney Crosby unable to free his stick from the back checking Henrik Zetterberg - your Conn Smythe winner by the way - as the potential game tying goal slid harmlessly wide of the open net.