Yes, two games have already been played. Yes, both of those games have gone to the Detroit Red Wings. Yes, I still stick by my previous prediction: the Pittsburgh Penguins will win the Stanley Cup this year.

Stanley Cup Finals

DETROIT vs PITTSBURGH
PREDICTION: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS in 7 games.

Much as with my Conference Semi-Final picks, I did make this prediction before the start of the series, I just haven’t had time to write this entry. Pittsburgh, at least before the series started, looked more determined, and better than they did last year. With Crosby and Malkin playing better than anyone has played in the playoffs since the lockout and with Jordan Staal looking like an even better shutdown man than before, it looked like easy going. It hasn’t been that way thus far but I still have faith.

Home-ice advantage for Detroit really hindered Crosby’s ability to get anything done other than a few great plays in the first two games. Zetterberg is a talented shutdown guy. Home-ice for Pittsburgh should really let the Penguins play their game and bring it back to Detroit for game 5 tied at 2 games apiece.

One can hope at least.