Detroit is playing like the defending Stanley Cup champion should and intends to keep it that way. Injuries to Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom and Kirk Maltby only seemed to improve the team, if that is possible. Henrik Zetterberg has put on a clinic on playing flawless offensive and defensive hockey. In Game 4 against Chicago, Marian Hossa became the smooth playoff specialist the Red Wings expected. Chris Osgood is showing why he has three Stanley Cup rings. Add to that the performance of players like Dan Cleary, who leads the playoffs with a plus-15 rating, and the Red Wings look formidable.

It seems hard to believe that heading into the post-season, goaltending was Detroit's biggest problem. Chris Osgood is now looking amazingly like one of the best goalies in playoff history. But penalty killing continues to be surprisingly bad. The Red Wings have allowed 15 power-play goals. On the other hand, they're right at the top in power-play goals.

The key for the Red Wings will be their status of their injured players. Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk must get back into the lineup. To lose either one for an extended number of games might just be too much to overcome. That means all eyes will be on Chris Osgood.

The Ducks looked very good in eliminating the Sharks. Jonas Hiller was great in goal, the defence with Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger, was good and tough and moved the puck well. And when the Ryan Getzlaf line was on the ice they most often dominated.

The penalty killing is going to have to improve if they are going to have a chance in this series. A lot of the Ducks' offence comes from a small handful of players - Getzlaf, Perry, Bobby Ryan and Teemu Selanne - so they will need to find some unsung heroes.

Jonas Hiller. Enough said.