How they match up

By Helene Elliott

May 30, 2009 12 AM PT

The Route Here

The Penguins, who were seeded fourth in the East, defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in six games, fought off the Washington Capitals in seven and then swept the Carolina Hurricanes.

The second-seeded Red Wings swept the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round, overcame the Ducks in seven games and then defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in five.

The Franchise Players

Sidney Crosby. Evgeni Malkin. Any other questions?

Pittsburgh’s dynamic duo of Crosby (14 goals, 28 points) and Malkin (12 goals, 28 points) share the playoff scoring lead. That’s a significant turnaround for Malkin, who was overwhelmed a year ago during the Penguins’ six-game loss to the Red Wings in the Cup finals.

Detroit’s strengths are widespread. Nicklas Lidstrom is a six-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s top defenseman and is a finalist again. Pavel Datsyuk is an MVP finalist but has had a quiet postseason, some of it because of a foot injury. But Johan “Mule” Franzen has stepped up with 10 goals, and grinders Darren Helm and Daniel Cleary have been invaluable.

The Coaches

Dan Bylsma replaced Michel Therrien on Feb. 15 and turned the flailing Penguins around. He installed some faceoff plays and outlet options and guided them to an 18-3-4 surge that put them back into the playoffs. He also convinced his freewheeling players that playing defense wouldn’t hurt them and could actually benefit them. His “interim” tag was removed after the Penguins beat the Flyers in the first round.

Mike Babcock has done a masterful job. He endured two early playoff eliminations before he got the balance of grit and skill that led Detroit to the Cup a year ago, and this season he dealt with defensive lapses and a stream of injuries.

The Special Teams

With Crosby, Malkin and power-play point man Sergei Gonchar, the Penguins should have had a better power-play success rate than 17.2% during the season, below the league average. They’ve improved to 19.3% during the playoffs. Their penalty killing, among the league’s best during the season with an 82.7% success rate, has improved to 83.6% during the playoffs.

The Red Wings had the NHL’s top power play this season at 25.5%, and they’ve improved during the playoffs to 25.7%. Their penalty killing has been weak: It was 78.3% during the season and is 73.7% during the playoffs.

The Goaltenders

Marc-Andre Fleury came of age during last year’s finals, when he made 55 saves in a triple-overtime victory in Game 5 that kept the Penguins’ hopes alive for one more game. He has given up some soft goals but made big stops when needed. His 2.62 goals-against average and .906 save percentage aren’t exceptional, but he’s capable of stealing a game.

Maybe it’s because Chris Osgood looks as if he’s 12 years old, but the Red Wings’ goaltender gets little respect despite having his name engraved on the Cup three times. His teammates are so good at limiting the number and quality of shots he faces that he rarely has to make acrobatic, highlight-reel saves. But after watching him clamp down against Chicago behind a battered defense, it’s time to acknowledge that his 2.06 goals-against average and .925 save percentage don’t lie.

The Intangibles

The Penguins are younger than the Red Wings and could be fresher. The Red Wings are banged up, especially on defense. The Penguins have matured, and losing in the finals last spring gave them an idea of the commitment required to win it all.

How Pittsburgh can win

Crosby and Malkin play the same way they’ve been playing and the power play kicks in a bit more. Bill Guerin forgets he’s 38 and remains productive around the net. Maxime Talbot chips in with supplementary scoring.

How Detroit can win

Datsyuk revives and Tomas Holmstrom regains his touch around the net. Niklas Kronwall and Brad Stuart pound Crosby and get him off his game. The power play makes the Penguins pay for every bad penalty.

-- Helene Elliott

NHL playoffs

STANLEY CUP FINALS

No. 2 Detroit vs. No. 4 Pittsburgh

Tonight at Detroit: 5

Sunday at Detroit: 5

Tuesday at Pittsburgh: 5

Thursday at Pittsburgh: 5

June 6 at Detroit: 5*

June 9 at Pittsburgh: 5*

June 12 at Detroit: 5*

*If necessary; all times PDT.