We've got a rematch of last season's Stanley Cup finals tonight, but some of the actors have changed. Or simply switched sides.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in Detroit, where they'll see a familiar face in a Red Wings lineup that's as potent as ever. Penguin-turned-Wing Marian Hossa, who has looked dynamite in Detroit, has been a major focal point leading up to tonight's game. His "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" offseason decision was hard to stomach in the Penguins' dressing room, even if his former team has huge respect for him.
"It was a business/career move for him," Penguins forward Pascal Dupuis told ESPN.com last night from his Detroit hotel room. "We liked him as a guy; we wanted him back as a player, as well.
"It was just weird that he picked the team that beat us in the final. I think it left a bad taste in everybody's mouth in the locker room."
Tonight, the Penguins return to Joe Louis Arena, the place where they dropped two of three last June en route to a six-game series loss to the high-flying Red Wings.
"It's actually pretty fresh in my mind," said Dupuis. "At least this time we're not in the same hotel. We changed hotels to get some of the bad memories as far away as possible."
So far, only Pittsburgh has apparently had to fight off some elements of the so-called "Cup hangover." The two teams are actually only two points apart in the standings, but Detroit's 9-2-2 start has been more impressive, especially since eight of its 13 games played have been on the road.
Right now, the Wings look like the well-oiled machine that steamrolled to the NHL championship last season. They've essentially got the same lineup back, plus Hossa. The Penguins have been inconsistent at times (they've coughed up a few third-period leads), but their 8-4-2 record through 14 games isn't too shabby for a roster that's had so much turnover.
"Our top two defensemen are still out," said Dupuis. "It won't hurt us to get Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar back at some point. But our goaltending has been outstanding. Marc-Andre Fleury is playing really good, and Dany Sabourin, as well. I think we have the best goalie duo in the league right now."
The losses of Hossa and Ryan Malone to free agency continue to affect Pittsburgh's cohesiveness up front. The Penguins are 19th in the league in goals per game, averaging 2.79 per game -- pretty low for a team with Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby playing center. Penguins coach Michel Therrien has continued to shuffle his lines this season, trying to find the right mix. Right now, I don't see the perfect fit. And it may not come until the March 4 trade deadline.
The Wings, however, don't need to add anyone. Their challenge will be to keep everyone; in particular, Hossa, Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg. All three are slated to become unrestricted free agents July 1. I think you'll see Zetterberg be the first of the three to get an extension. It's going to be immensely difficult for Wings GM Ken Holland to get all three to fit under the salary cap next season, but he's going to take a crack at it.
Another Stanley Cup championship would do half the work for Holland -- it's tough to leave town after a feeling like that. Maybe Hossa will give Holland a Hockeytown discount if he gets a Cup ring. Imagine how that would go down in Pittsburgh.
Pierre LeBrun
