Blackhawks v Penguins: The Ultimate Showdown?

After last nights 7-2 steamroller over the Colorado Avalanche, it would appear that the Chicago Blackhawks are the public's favourite to retain their Stanley Cup crown this year! If they do succeed in taking back to back titles, it will make them the first team to achieve this since the 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings and will already make them one of the big successes of this decade alone! After their up and down start to their title defense, the Red Express has got back on the rails and it ain't going to stop any time soon!

But as always with winning, things are never straight forward because across from our brothers in Illinois are another team who are equally hungry and have a burning desire not to repeat last years play-off nightmare in the shape of the Pittsburgh Penguins! Both sides have an equally strong case as they possess offensive units to die for- Chicago this season have been led by free scoring winger Patrick Kane, whose 21 goals have pushed them to the top of the Western Conference, also captain Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp have as always been their excellent and consistent selves. But one the key differences has come in the shape of D-Man Duncan Keith who has contributed with a whopping 33 assists!

Pittsburgh as Eastern Conference top dogs have been equally high scoring and as per usual, Sidney Crosby tops the league points chart with 54 points and not far behind is Russian wizard Evgeni Malkin with 41 points. Wingers have been an important factor in their surge to dizzying heights with Chris Kunitz, Jussi Jokinen and James Neal have all chipped in with impressive stats. Marc-Andre Fleury seems to have recovered his confidence after his notorious meltdown during the Eastern Conference semi final last year and currently stands as one the NHL's most winning goalies this season with 21 wins!

But Corey Crawford has been a peculiar affair this year, because although contributing 17 wins, he has not looked his usual sharp self in net this season and in the early part of the season he has looked all the more likely to drop games than shut oppenents out. Plus being kept out through injury sure hasn't helped his cause! But backup Antti Raanta has been the find of the season and his 9 wins in less than 13 games played have been a major plus for the Blackhawks and when Crawford returns, he faces a fight to get that place back.

One very worrying element to both teams however, is the amount of goals against they have each conceeded. Chicago currently stands on 107 goals conceded (which is more than Vancouver or Dallas) whereas Pittsburgh has 91- last season other sides could barely find a way past either side for love nor money, but this year there seems to be a leak that needs fixing.

There is one side that I wouldn't count out though because they love to upset the apple cart wherever possible and that is the Boston Bruins. Although second in the East, this season they have looked a more skilled and slick team, not the rough and tough side that forced their way to a Stanley Cup final last year and the playoffs is an area where they and coach Claude Julien specialize!

So if it does come down to the predicted Blackhawks v Penguins final, who will the victor be? The answer here is anyone's guess but my money would have to be on the Blackhawk's because although they had a few rough patches last season come playoff time, they still kept their heads and claimed the main prize. Whereas Pittsburgh title attack was to plan like a text book last season, but they met the Bruins in the Eastern Final, the heads to earth like a bomb and they were swept feebly in four games!

Whatever happens though we can rest assured that this season will be one of the closest fights in history- better get the big cup ready Gary Bettman!