[airborne]

The Stanley Cup Final gets under way Saturday night in Detroit (8 p.m. ET, VERSUS, CBC, RDS, NHL Radio), with the Red Wings facing Pittsburgh in a matchup of the NHL's two best (and hottest) teams. Here's a look at some numbers pertaining to the Wings and Penguins, the Final and this year's Playoffs.

0 -- Times the Red Wings and Penguins played each other this season -- and the number of times they've met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It's the third year in a row that the Cup finalists haven't met during the regular season. The teams last met on Oct. 7, 2006, when Detroit beat Pittsburgh 2-0 on the first weekend of the season.

1 -- Number of times a team has come from more than two games down in the Final to win the Stanley Cup. Toronto lost the first three games in 1942, then won the next four.

2 -- Teams that have won Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on the road. The 1971 Montreal Canadiens were the last ones to do it, winning 3-2 at Chicago Stadium. The 1945 Toronto Maple Leafs also won Game 7 away from home, beating Detroit 2-1 at the Olympia.

3 -- Three-goal games in the Playoffs this season, all of which have been accomplished by Red Wings. Johan Franzen did it twice in the Western Semifinals against Colorado, and Pavel Datsyuk had his first three-goal game in the NHL in Game 3 of the Western Finals against Dallas.

4 -- Times the Penguins have shut out the Red Wings since entering the NHL in 1967. The last one came on April 11, 1999, a 3-0 victory at Detroit. The Wings have shut out the Penguins six times, including 2-0 in their last meeting on Oct. 7, 2006.

More at link - http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=364165

[airborne]

STANLEY CUP FINALS PING!!

There are a multitude of stories on the NHL website - http://www.nhl.com/

And on the Red Wings website - http://redwings.nhl.com/

And on the Penguins website - http://penguins.nhl.com/

[ml/nj]

Something for the folks with VERSUS. What fools the NHL folks are. I'll be watching lacrosse tomorrow.

ML/NJ

[shove_it]

ATTA BOY AIRBORNE!!

Count me in for a case of Stroh’s in HockeyTown USA against what ever passes for beer in SteelTown.

[Loyal Buckeye]

They better hurry and finish this series because next year’s season starts in two weeks.

[Christian4Bush]

I think I’ll wait for the last 2-5 games, so I can catch them on HD. I don’t think VS. broadcasts in HD.

[rivercat]

Prediction: Detroit in 5 or less. Fleury is no Turoc, not even close.

[SouthTexas]

Aren’t you a tad early?

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

I’ll predict the Wings in 4........

[shove_it]

Why you should watch the Stanley Cup finals:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=stanley/080523

...see reason #20.

[steelyourfaith]

2008 NHL Playoff Combined Record by Team:

• Penguins 12-2
• Red Wings 12-4
• Stars 10-8
• Flyers 9-8
• Rangers 5-5
• Sharks 6-7
• Flames 3-4
• Bruins 3-4
• Capitals 3-4
• Canadians 5-7
• Avalanche 4-6
• Predators 2-4
• Ducks 2-4
• Wild 2-4
• Devils 1-4
• Senators 0-4

Semi Finals:

• Penguins 4-1 Flyers
• Red Wings 4-2 Stars

Quarter Finals:

• Penguins 4-1 Rangers
• Red Wings 4-0 Avalanche
• Flyers 4-1 Canadians
• Stars 4-2 Sharks

First Round:

• Red Wings 4-2 Predators
• Sharks 4-3 Flames
• Avalanche 4-2 Wild
• Stars 4-2 Ducks
• Canadians 4-3 Bruins
• Penguins 4-0 Senators
• Flyers 4-3 Capitals
• Rangers 4-1 Devils

I like the Pens' chances as long as Neil O'Donnell doesn't don the gold & black sweater.

[prisoner6]

Checking in but minght not be able to comment. I'm "watching" at work.

GO PENS!

prisoner6

[shove_it]

It sure is quiet in here. Welcome to HOCKEY TOWN USA!!

[rintense]

Go Red Wings!!!!!

[shove_it]

Thanks for posting this thread. You are a gentleman and a sportsman. Great final, great teams both Pens and Wings, GREAT GAME!!

[Lakeshark]

How embarrassing was that penalty call with less than two minutes to go.

The Wings had to beat the Pengys and the refs all series.

Your coach is good, but you might want him to stop the whining, it's not how you want to win the cup.

I'm guessing these two teams will meet next year once again.

Go Wings!