The young and talented Pittsburgh Penguins have found out what we Western puckheads already knew: The vaunted Detroit Red Wings make good teams look bad.
The Red Wings, who tonight host the Pens in Game 2 (6 p.m., Versus) of the Stanley Cup Finals at Joe Louis Arena, buried Pittsburgh 4-0 in Game 1 on Saturday.
Flash back to April 26, when Detroit waxed the Avalanche in similar fashion.
The Wings beat the Avs 5-1 in Game 2 of that series and later won by an even bigger margin — 8-2 in Denver — to sweep the Western Conference semifinal series.
Some Avs fans said their team simply stunk. In reality, the Red Wings just make teams look silly. The Avs were good this season but were eliminated by the best in the business.
Detroit is 13-4 in the playoffs, outscoring opponents 59-31. The Wings have yet to lose in the first two games of a series, going 7-0 entering tonight’s fray.
The Avs played the Wings close in Games 1 and 3, both 4-3 losses, and Pittsburgh likely will give Detroit problems in a game or two. But at this point, the Wings appear destined to win the Cup.
Pittsburgh is 12-3 in the playoffs, but no Eastern Conference team compares with the Red Wings.
Sure, Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are great young players. But the Red Wings’ Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk are experienced stars in their prime, and Detroit has many other dangerous scorers.
Hockey enthusiasts can only hope this isn’t the last week of the NHL season. Game 3 is Wednesday at Pittsburgh, with Game 4 on Saturday.
Will there be a Game 5 next Monday?
No panic for the Penguins.
“We’ve proven in the past after a fair performance we always bounce back,” Pittsburgh coach Michel Therrien said Sunday. “This is what I’m expecting from that team.
“And we addressed it with the players before the practice. And it was important to make sure we got the right attitude today. I thought our guys were sharp during practice. So, we’re going to try to bring that to (Game 2).”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
EARLY ENTERTAINMENT
People watching at Bolder Boulder.
Not interested in running? No problem. If you’re interested in people watching, you’ll have a blast at this morning’s Bolder Boulder citizens race.
There will be someone for everyone. The occasional “walkers” in funny costumes upstage the serious runners. A year ago, a guy named Justan Fransway wore Army duds and lugged a 50-pound backpack in honor of his peers for a terrific Memorial Day tribute. Check out all the runners at the Folsom Field finish line. The first wave will finish around 8 a.m.
TV GAME OF THE WEEK
Celtics at Pistons.
Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals is tonight (6:30, ESPN) in Auburn Hills, Mich. Boston will be looking for its second straight road win, after beginning the playoffs 0-6 in hostile environments.
Let’s hope Denver’s own Chauncey Billups, the Pistons’ point guard who has been hampered by a sore right hamstring, has a better performance than in Game 3. He was limited to six points on 1-of-6 shooting from the field.
OUTLAWS RETURN
Denver hosts Pride.
The Denver Outlaws (1-1) of Major League Lacrosse host the New Jersey Pride (0-1) on Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Check out the Outlaws’ Brian Langtry, who has a league-leading 14 points.
ROX ON THE ROAD
Phillies, Cubs on tap.
The Rockies, 4-1 winners over the Mets on Sunday at Coors Field, start a 10-game road trip today, beginning at Philadelphia. Colorado plays three games against the Phillies, four at the Cubs and three at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
ELEPHANT ROCK
Unique cycling fest.
The 21st annual Elephant Rock Ride is Sunday, starting at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Castle Rock. The cycling festival includes four road and two off-road courses, and a family course for cyclists of all abilities. For more information: .
FAIR TRADE?
A pitcher for some bats?
Last week, minor-league pitcher John Odom was traded from the Calgary Vipers of the Golden Baseball League to the Laredo (Texas) Broncos of the United League for . . . 10 nice bats.
True story.
“I don’t really care,” Odom told The Associated Press on Friday of the “unlikely” trade. “It’ll make a better story if I make it to the big leagues.”
And so the Odom watch begins.
