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.

Patrick Kane has shown he can deliver in the crunch. Who would have ever thought that Dustin Byfuglien would have seven points after the first two series and prove to be such a powerhouse? Then there's the speed of the defence and the performance of their Cup-winning goaltender in Nikolai Khabibulin.

Their youth was supposed to be a weakness, but so far it has been a strength. These guys just don't give up on a game or on a series. Their penalty kill is weak, only Detroit ranks lower, but they do have the best power play of the playoffs.

As usual in the playoffs, it comes down to goaltending. So far Nikolai Khabibulin has held is own. Many would argue he outperformed Roberto Luongo, which is why the Hawks defeated the Canucks in six.