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.

Rookie goalie Steve Mason had a great year, with 10 shutouts, while Rick Nash also had a career season. They are very solid defensively, as you would expect from a Ken Hitchcock team, and they are hard-working. They finally qualified for the playoffs for the first time and the expectations are low. This is gravy time.

They have scored considerably fewer goals than the Red Wings, so that could be a difference. The power play ranked 30th, dead last, during the season. It's amazing that didn't hold them back, but you can't survive in the spring with that problem. They also don't have a lot of playoff experience, which could be a factor.

Steve Mason. He will have to steal a few games for the Jackets.