It's a game of bounces. And some of the bounces arguably cost the Penguins Game 1, but Wes Goldstein says this more mature and wiser Pittsburgh team is not making any excuses for the defeat.
Chris Osgood says, 'What happened last year isn't going to have any bearing,' on this Stanley Cup Finals. Wes Goldstein agrees, because this time the Penguins could go Gretzky-Oilers on all of us.
Few players are faster, but Darren Helm's road to the NHL has been deliberate. Wes Goldstein says Helm's goal that lifted Detroit to the Cup Finals was another case of the 22-year-old making the most of limited chances.
The Penguins looked dead in the water at midseason. But promoting rookie coach Dan Bylsma -- and some snappy deadline deals -- have sparked them into the Stanley Cup Finals.
Yes, the Blackhawks are eliminated by an experienced Red Wings in five games, but Wes Goldstein says this young team should be proud of their accomplishment this season and look ahead for better things to come.
Both teams are dealing with injuries, but while things don't look all that great for the Blackhawks in the all-or-nothing Game 5, the experienced Red Wings look to close the West finals.
Carolina looked like a tough test, at least before young Penguins stars Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby took their games to another level, Wes Goldstein says.
Still boiling over Niklas Kronwall's hit on Martin Havlat, the Blackhawks come into Game 4 looking for blood. But the Red Wings have ice water running through their veins, Wes Goldstein says, and they display their cool attitude in a dominant 6-1 victory.
All the talk in the Western Conference finals centers around Niklas Kronwall's hit on Martin Havlat in Game 3. Not surprisingly, both teams see the play differently, Wes Goldstein says.
The 'Hawks stay alive against the Red Wings thanks to a hard-working goalie that doesn't complain. Cristobal Huet is called upon to replace the injured Nikolai Khabibulin, and Wes Goldstein says the backup was perfect when he got his chance.
Often an afterthought when it comes to Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, Wes Goldstein says Evgeni Malkin reminds everyone he's on par with the league's two superstars as he takes over with a hat trick and all-around great effort in Game 2.
Be aware, the Hurricanes find themselves a game down against the Penguins -- a similar scenario they faced in earlier series in these playoffs. But hold on, Wes Goldstein says this is when they start charging.
Although Chicago plays a lot better in Game 2, but finds itself down 2-0 against Detroit in the West finals, Wes Goldstein says the young Blackhawks stay positive and believe in themselves.
Dan Cleary has found a starring role in the NHL, but it has come a decade or so after most expected it. Wes Goldstein says the ex-phenom credits a Detroit organization that knows how to develop talent.
Blame it on youth? Red Wings coach Mike Babcock isn't buying it, and Chicago isn't thinking of its inexperience as a detriment. Instead, the West finals will turn on the Blackhawks' ability to avoid mistakes, Wes Goldstein says.
Daniel Cleary scores twice as the defending champion Red Wings open the West finals with a 5-2 victory against the visiting 'Hawks. Experience plays a major role for the veteran Detroit club, Wes Goldstein says.
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