The performance in the sixth game against Dallas was pretty impressive to say the least. The Red Wings showed great poise and confidence in going into Dallas and thoroughly dismantling the Stars. It is always a bonus when your two best offensive players, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, are also great defensively, able to play in all key situations. Those two have had terrific playoffs, along with Tomas Holmstrom, though he has had some discipline issues. While the depth players, the likes of Kris Draper and Dallas Drake, stepped up in the final game, the Red Wings are going to need more production from the supporting cast to prevail. Too much offence has come from too few, especially with Johan Franzen's status in doubt. The defensive play continues to be very good and Chris Osgood has been very good in goal. Special teams were a key against Dallas, which produced just three power-play goals on 30 chances.

Well, the obvious strengths haven't changed. The Penguins have firepower and plenty of it with the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marian Hossa, Petr Sykora, Ryan Malone and Jordan Staal. They get production and quality minutes from all four lines, which are also defensively responsible. Their ability to clog the middle of the rink and force turnovers proved deadly against the Flyers, who were frustrated by the defensive play of the Penguins. The gap between the Flyers defence and the forwards was wide, meaning they had trouble mounting an attack for extended periods. When the Flyers got the puck into the offensive zone, seldom did they do it with speed and seldom did they get to the puck first if they dumped it in. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury continued to be rock solid and the special teams are very good, as you would expect. They can win with offence or good defence.