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.

Any doubts about Sidney Crosby being a playoff performer no longer exist. He has been magnificent in every facet of the game. He is tied for the most points, leads in goals scored and his plus-12 rating ranks second in the playoffs. Then there's Evgeni Malkin, who has been brilliant. Sergei Gonchar, when healthy, and Marc-Andre Fleury have also been at their very best. This team appears stronger than the one that lost to Detroit in six games last season.

Last year, the Penguins were known as a talented team that lacked playoff toughness. So far this year, they have shown no hint of playoff nerves. These guys have have a job to do and are entirely focused on winning. Surprisingly, one of their weaknesses is the power play. They have scored fewer power-play goals than the Red Wings and their success ratio is much lower.

There doesn't seem to be any doubt that Sidney Crosby will deliver. At the moment, his game is flawless. That puts the pressure on Evgeni Malkin to keep up his torrid pace and on Marc-Andre Fleury, who must be at the top of his game for every minute of every game.