NHL Playoff Morning Papers (Stanley Cup Saturday Edition): Wings sick of hearing Pens are hungrier, Was Crosby back in Cup planned, Schenn brothers in Toronto, Osgood a Hall of Famer?, Hedman could be “once in a lifetime player”, Bettman’s sunbelt roadtrip hits a rut

Stanley Cup Finals Game 1 Edition

Detroit Red Wings (2) versus Pittsburgh Penguins (4)

• Three words were offered for consideration to 36-year-old Chris Osgood a day before tonight’s Stanley Cup Finals begin: “Hall of Fame.” If you’re expecting Red Wings backup goaltender Ty Conklin to provide trade secrets on the Penguins, you’re out of luck.  Zetterberg helped slow down the Penguins last season; can he do it again?  Some say Penguins are hungrier, but don’t tell that to the Red Wings.  Hossa still feels good about his chances to win the Cup and has no regrets.  Octopi to fly at Joe Louis Arena.
• Getting Sidney Crosby & Co. back to the Finals was a coup for hockey’s purists — and its promoters.  After the puck slid past Osgood and the Penguins lost they began an improbable march (of the Penguins) back to the Cup.  Penguins coach Dan Bylsma might be the favorite son of Grand Haven, Mich., but make no mistake: This is Red Wings country.  Since he was fired, former Pens coach Michel Therrien has spent most of his time in Pittsburgh, where he still owns a house.  Penguins goalie coach Gilles Meloche says the only thing Fleury is lacking is a ring to give him elite status and he feels that he is poised to achive that in these Finals.  Hockey schedule a bow to NBC.

Teams that are not in the playoffs

• Chicago Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon is wasting little time in trying to keep the team together after a strong run in the postseason.
• Brayden Schenn would be thrilled to join brother Luke in Toronto, but two other teams also showed interest in the Brandon Wheat Kings centre at the prospects combine
• Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch thinks that the arena plan needs to be considered.
• Tampa Bay area hockey fans looking to catch Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals rematch between Detroit and Pittsburgh on Saturday won’t be left out in the cold.
• Former NHL player Mike Danton is one step closer to release from prison after being transferred to a minimum-security prison in Kingston, Ont.
• Hedman could be “once in a lifetime player”.
  
  Photo: Brett Gundlock/National Post

Coyotes situation

• Bettman’s sunbelt strategy hits a rut.
• New team in Hamilton could jeopardize Sabres’ ticket base.
  
  Photo: via Globeandmail

Calder Cup Final

• Bruce Southern collects ‘information’ for the Moose, and he’s very good at it.
• Bears boast lots of backbone, have faced adversity head-on.
• Bears, Moose ready to open Cup finals.