The Red Wings May Finally Win the Stanley Cup

by Wayne Chang

This year, however, the Red Wings may finally end the longest drought in the NHL with a victory in the Stanley Cup finals. There will be very little trouble advancing through their opponents. In the Western Conference, only the Chicago Blackhawks may provide the Red Wings' only real challenge. But with star Jeremy Roenick injured right before the playoffs once again, the Blackhawks may have difficulty giving the Red Wings any real problem.

The Red Wings are simply the most skilled team in the league. Head coach Scotty Bowman leads a team composed of five Russians, two future Hall of Famers, and two of the NHL's best goalies.

When the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup two years ago, they became the first Stanley Cup Champions to have Russian players. The Rangers, however, did not rely on these players as much as the Red Wings rely on their Russian stars. Sergei Fedorov, Vyacheslav Fetisov, Igor Larionov, Vladimir Konstantinov, and Vyacheslav Kozlov form a unit that relies on crisp passing and high speed offense. They have scored over a third of the Red Wings' 306 goals, and the best player on the entire team, Federov, leads Detroit in scoring. Federov also happens to be the first Russian to win the Hart Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player in the league.

Besides the Russians, the Red Wings can also depend on the experience and leadership of center Steve Yzerman and defensman Paul Coffey. Both are likely Hall of Famers, and Coffey has won four Stanley Cups in his career. They will prove to be a big key to the Red Wings' success.

The only problem the Red Wings may face is their lack of toughness and size. Most teams in the NHL now favor big, bruising lines and defensemen to clog passing lanes and provide strong checking. As a result, the Red Wings will hope that referees will enforce obstruction rules and give skill players room for offensive maneuvering.

There are three teams in the Eastern Conference that may prove a challenge to the Red Wings' attempt to end their drought: the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Philedelphia Flyers, and the New York Rangers. Last year's champions, the New Jersey Devils may be a factor in the post-season, but as of April 10, it is not certain whether or not they will even make the playoffs.

This year is the year of the Penguins' Mario Lemieux. He has led Pittsburgh to the best record in the Conference and will lead the league in scoring. Offensively, the Penguins are not topped. Besides Lemieux, they have Jaromir Jagr, the second leading scorer. These two have combined for 299 points, and in the playoffs, they will continue scoring. Goalie Tom Varasso provides the Penguins with a playoff tested goalkeeper, but as with the Red Wings, size and defense will pose major questions for the Penguins. Can they simply score their way to a Stanley Cup? Probably not, and a brilliant comeback season for Lemieux will end unrewardingly.

The Philedelphia Flyers will provide the biggest challenge to the Detroit Red Wings. Not only do they have one of the most talented teams, they have one of the biggest. The Flyers will rely on their large front line anchored by superstar center, Eric Lindross. He is not only their most talented player, he is one of their biggest, and the Flyers will go as far as Lindross will take them. Their size and bruising defense will block passing lanes and will follow the success plan (the neurtal zone trap) the Devils used last year to beat them and win the Cup. Goalie Ron Hextall will also be key. He has been a pleasant surprise and leads the league in goals against average, and his success has shored up a previously weak spot in the Flyers' lineup.

After ending their drought two years ago, the New York Rangers will again make a strong bid for the Stanley Cup. Center Mark Messier led the way then, and he will lead them again now. Messier will have to have another superstar postseason for the Rangers to win. They are too small to last a seven game series against Philedelphia, and they will get outscored by the Penguins. Although players like defenseman Ulf Sameulsson has provided extra toughness, the Rangers will rely on players like Messier and Pat Verbeek to provide leadership and scoring chances. They also have the luxury of having two quality goalies in Mike Richter and Glen Healy. It will, however, take a little luck and Messier's determination to get them to the finals, and that may still not assure New York of another Stanley Cup.

In reality, only the Flyers have a realistic opportunity to beat the Red Wings. Detroit can outlast a shoot-out with Pittsburgh of New York, but Philedelphia may physically beat them. They are larger, stronger, and have talent. The Red Wings, however, have more talent, and they should have no real trouble handling the Flyers. Detroit has learned from its beating last year from the Devils how to handle bigger physical players, and therefore, the Red Wings should end the longest drought in the NHL with a victory in the Stanley Cup Finals.