Sports Thread #2 for 5/30/09: 2009 Stanley Cup Finals- Penguins vs Red Wings, Game 1 Thread

Illustration from ESPN.com

It's the rematch everyone in the league wanted, as the Detroit Red Wings try to go for the franchise's 12th title against a Penguin team hungry to lift the Stanley Cup for the first time in 16 years

ESPN's asked their analysts eight key questions in the series, including this first one:

1. Which captain makes the bigger contribution in this series? Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom or Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby?
Burnside: Got to go with Crosby, who leads the NHL in points (tied with teammate Evgeni Malkin) and goals, especially given that Lidstrom is just now returning to the lineup for Game 1 after missing the past two games of the Western Conference finals with a lower-body injury.

Hradek: Being the offensive threat, Crosby's contributions likely will be more tangible. And, as usual, his every move will be under the microscope. He has taken his total game to another level during the first three rounds of the playoffs, but the challenge will be greater against the tenacious Wings. Lidstrom, meanwhile, will continue to do all the little things that have made him one of the great defensemen to ever lace up the skates. These two guys are always monster contributors. If the Penguins are going to win, Crosby's contributions will have to be bigger because I see the Wings as the deeper team.

LeBrun: Last season, it was Lidstrom, this time around, it will be Crosby. There has been no greater playoff performer than Sid The Kid this spring. He has brought his game to a whole new level and he's going to crank it up a notch against Detroit. If you thought his series against Washington was impressive, wait until you see what he's got in store for the finals.

Three of ESPN's experts pick the Wings to defend their title, while the other three picked Crosby, Malkin, and company to lift Lord Stanley's Cup. Look to see which three right here.

And Sports Illustrated's Allan Muir believes the Wings will the Cup yet again:

My heart is saying Penguins, but the defending champs have done nothing over the last two months to suggest the title is up for grabs. Red Wings take it in six to become the first repeat winners in 11 years.

Hockey just hopes that the ratings will come. But it probably won't come from me though.

By the way, I think the penguins will break through, win the title, and hopefully give hockey the jolt it needs. But I doubt it though.