Okay, near perfection.

And so much for the theory that the day of the dynasty in the NHL is dead. It is no sure thing, but the chances are definitely not dead.

An incredible season and a remarkable spring, has been followed by a very impressive summer for the defending champion Detroit Red Wings, who Wednesday somehow managed to sign free-agent winger Marian Hossa.

It doesn't often work out this way, but the Detroit Red Wings are champions and that is how it should be.

Make no mistake, from the start of the season they have been the best team in the NHL, with the exception of a brief stretch late in season when they were badly injured. But they started strong and they finished strong.

And their chances of winning the Stanley Cup.

That stretch of one minute and 26 seconds, of course, was the two-man advantage the Penguins were given midway through the third period of Game 4, trailing 2-1 to the Detroit Red Wings at the time, on home ice where they hadn't lost all spring and with some of the finest young talent in all of hockey on the ice.

Because, until you win a game, you never really are a part of the final. Until then, you are an after thought and a punch line in waiting.

That is the simple explanation for the predicament the Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in against the impressive Detroit Red Wings after two games of the Stanley Cup final.

No goals, no chance.

But after 4-0 and 3-0 losses in Detroit, the Penguins can lament the chances they missed, the troubles they had generating scoring opportunities, the flopping of the goaltender, and the zeroes on the board - but their biggest concern should be the next goal to be scored in the series.

The same applies to losing.

And both applied in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final, which the Detroit Red Wings ultimately handily won, 4-0, over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And the final, between the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, is no different.

It is difficult, for starters, because both teams statistically match up so well. Over the final three quarters of the season, there is exactly a two-point difference between the two clubs, with Detroit owning one more win. In the playoffs, of course, Pittsburgh has lost just twice, the Red Wings four times.

Yes, his rear-end, derierre, butt, or whatever they call it in Swedish.

Holmstrom, of course, is the Detroit Red Wings forward who is noted for standing on the lip of the crease, screening and bothering goaltenders. He might be the best in the NHL at his trade, in fact.

But despite his talents and his good record, the decision to fire him as coach of the San Jose Sharks was the right one.

For whatever the reasons, while Wilson was able to assemble great regular-season records, the Sharks under performed in the playoffs - or at least didn't meet their own expectations and goals.

After all, under two seasons with Maurice as coach, the Leafs did miss the playoffs both times, though it could be argued the circumstances in both seasons dramatically changed as well.

But given the search for a new general manager, given the appetite for sweeping change, it was only a matter of time before Maurice was shown the door, despite having a year remaining on his contract.

What is curious, though, is why now, one month after the regular season ended and who knows how long before the new general manager is hired?

But it isn't their goal.

Although the decision the other night to start Jaroslav Halak in goal in Game 4 was somewhat controversial, it was also the right one and it neither won nor loss the game for the Canadiens.

The same can't be said for the presence of Martin Biron in the Philadelphia Flyers goal, however. He has been the difference maker.

We've discussed that earlier in the season and the point has been reinforced with six straight victories to open the playoffs, four versus the decidedly beatable Ottawa Senators and now two against the very difficult New York Rangers.

So if you thought it was just the Senators propping them up, think again.

That penetrating glance into the obvious was brought to you by San Jose Sharks coach Ron Wilson, and he is as obvious, of course, as he is right.

The loser tonight in San Jose, either the Calgary Flames or the Sharks, is indeed out.

But it is not quite that simple, though in many ways it is.