Cup finals brimming with star power

0 Comments | USA TODAY, May, 2008 | by Helene St. James

DETROIT -- Fates could not have bestowed upon hockey fans a better Stanley Cup Finals than the Detroit Red Wings against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The series, which begins Saturday in Detroit, will feature the two most dynamic teams in the NHL, headlined by two sets of staggeringly skilled superstars: the Wings' Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg and the Penguins' Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Wings consultant Scotty Bowman scouted the last three Pittsburgh games, seeing firsthand how dominating Crosby, 20, and Malkin, 21, are.

"For their experience, they're big assets, big strong guys," Bowman said. "Crosby isn't as tall as Malkin, but they're both power forwards. You can tell how strong they are. Crosby is really a great, great playmaker. ......