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Red Wings, Penguins ready for Cup quest

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published May 24, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Pittsburgh Penguins forward Marian Hossa, right, celebrates his goal with Sidney Crosby in Game 2 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals in Pittsburgh.

Photo by Gene J. Puskar

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Marian Hossa, right, celebrates his goal with Sidney Crosby in Game 2 of the NHL Eastern Conference finals in Pittsburgh.

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Big Red Machine vs. March of the Penguins.

Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg vs. Sidney Crosby, Marian Hossa and Evgeni Malkin.

Chris Osgood vs. Marc-Andre Fleury.

Hockeytown vs. Steel Town.

The Stanley Cup Finals, pitting the Detroit Red Wings against the Pittsburgh Penguins, is one of the most highly anticipated championship series in years, matching two high-scoring, puck-possession powerhouses.

"The hockey gods are smiling so wide, we can count their missing teeth," NBC broadcaster Mike Emrick said.

Game 1 of the best-of-seven series is tonight at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit (6 MDT, Versus).

It's the first time since 2003, when New Jersey beat Anaheim, that two U.S.-based teams are in the Finals.

The Red Wings finished first in the Central Division and won the Presidents' Trophy for having the NHL's best record, with a mark of 54-21-7, good for 115 points. They beat Nashville, the Avalanche and Dallas in the first three rounds of the playoffs.

The Penguins were first in the Atlantic Division and second overall in the Eastern Conference, with a 47-27-8 record and 102 points. They beat Ottawa, the New York Rangers and Philadelphia in the opening three rounds.

With three Cups in the past 11 years and 10 players who have won it at least once, the Red Wings have experience on their side, but the Penguins have youth, along with talent and confidence.

"We want to keep it as normal as possible, the same way we've approached every series, and that's to make sure we worry about ourselves," said Crosby, who, at age 20, is the youngest captain in Stanley Cup playoff history.