preview

Here is an excerpt from my Cup Finals preview over at Covers: Regardless of who wins the Stanley Cup finals, it has the potential to be a classic. This rematch of last year’s finals features two of the league’s most talented offenses. Pittsburgh enters the finals as the highest scoring team in the playoffs, averaging 3.82 goals per game. Right behind them is Detroit, averaging 3.69 goals per game. Pittsburgh’s contributions have come from predictable sources: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The dynamic duo has combined for 56 points in the Penguins’ 17 playoff games. Trying to contain the Malkin and Crosby lines will be the offensively-minded, defensively-responsible pairing of Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski, and the bruising, physically-imposing pairing of Brad Stuart and Niklas Kronwall. Read the full article here.

Stanley Cup Finals: Betting Preview and Pick