Sports

13-Pavel Datsyuk 40-Henrik Zetterberg 96-Tomas Holmstrom

26-Jiri Hudler 51-Valtteri Filppula 11-Daniel Cleary

17-Dallas Drake 33-Kris Draper 37-Mikael Samuelsson

18-Kirk Maltby 43-Darren Helm 25-Darren McCarty

Synopsis: Production has dropped by more than a goal per game (3.8 to 2.6) in absence of surprise scorer Johan Franzen, who still leads NHL in playoff goals (12), even though he missed final five games of Dallas series because of concussion-like symptoms. He's likely out for Game 1 but could return - and his presence would give the Wings much-needed scoring depth. His return likely would bump Hudler from second line and McCarty from lineup. ... Wings have at least one speed guy on every line. ... Zetterberg and Datsyuk not afraid to hold puck until last possible second to make a play. ... Holmstrom is a legendary goal-mouth presence. Franzen's in the same mold. ... Team is masterful at getting pucks around bodies and on net, one reason it leads league in playoff shots per game (36.3). ... Top line doubles as power-play unit. ... Franzen, Datsyuk, Zetterberg all short-handed threats as well. ... Won't find many brawlers in this group; Wings had fewest fighting majors (21) in NHL this season. ... Lower lines littered with aging but still feisty players such as Drake, Draper, McCarty and Maltby. The latter three have nine Cups among them.

Best player: Take your pick between Datsyuk and Zetterberg, who finished 4th and 6th, respectively, among NHL scoring leaders this season. Zetterberg is tied with Sidney Crosby as leading playoff scorer and is only player in double figures in goals (10) and assists (11).

Stopper: Draper's a former Selke Trophy winner as league's top defensive forward; Datsyuk and Zetterberg are finalists for that award this season. Datsyuk leads team with 19 takeaways.

Who's hot: Zetterberg has at least one goal in nine of past 11 games.

Who's not: Cleary has one goal, minus-1 rating in 16 playoff games.

Mr. Clutch: Franzen has NHL-leading five game-winning goals in playoffs.

Iron man: Zetterberg plays 21:24 per game.

On the draw: Draper wins 63.4 percent of his draws, best in playoffs. Zetterberg (57.9 percent) and Filppula (52) not bad, either.

PROJECTED DEFENSE PAIRS

5-Nicklas Lidstrom 28-Brian Rafalski

55-Niklas Kronwall 23-Brad Stuart

22-Brett Lebda 24-Chris Chelios

Synopsis: This is by far the best group Penguins have faced. Start with five-time Norris Trophy winner Lidstrom, who is looking to become the first European-born captain to hoist the Stanley Cup. ... Wings had the best winning percentage in the NHL when leading after one period (35-3-1, .897) largely because of Lidstrom's ability to control the pace of a game. ... Rafalski was a brilliant acquisition. Early in career, often played next to Scott Stevens in New Jersey against other team's top players. ... Kronwall has shone in his first healthy playoff run. ... Chelios still looking for revenge from '92, when he played for Blackhawks in final against Penguins. At 46, he's the second-oldest player in NHL history (Detroit legend Gordie Howe was still playing at 52) and has played in more playoff games (258) than anyone. ... This group isn't overly physical. It's all about puck possession. As team consultant Scotty Bowman put it, "Detroit has a north-south game and an east-west game. They don't just throw the puck straight ahead; they use the full width of the rink."

Best player: Lidstrom.

Stopper: Lidstrom, 38, can shut a team down by himself in third period.

Who's hot: Kronwall has a point in nine of 16 playoff games.

Who's not: Rafalski was minus-3 with no points in final three games of Stars series.

Who's he? Kronwall, a 27-year-old Swede, arrived in NHL at age 24 and is finally showing his stuff. He's a devastating open-ice hitter who leads all NHL defensemen in playoff points (12).

Iron man: Lidstrom plays 25:42 per game.

GOALIES

1. Chris Osgood

2. Dominik Hasek

Synopsis: Hasek started the playoffs but went down in flames early in first-round series against Nashville. Osgood, 35, quietly put up the best numbers of his career during regular season and has been nearly flawless in playoffs, quieting the many Osgood bashers around town. ... His 1.60 playoff goals-against average leads the league. ... Modernized his game this season, going to more of a butterfly style. ... Won a Stanley Cup as starter in 1998. ... Average puck-handler. ... Still vulnerable to fluky goal now and again. ... Shooters often go 5-hole against him.

COACH

Mike Babcock

Synopsis: Babcock, 45, is in his third season with the Wings and will make his first Stanley Cup final appearance since his first year as a NHL coach - 2002-03, when his Anaheim Ducks lost to New Jersey. ... Has a 39-20 career playoff record. ... A fiery, in-your-face type who looks perpetually ticked off behind the bench and seems more like a football coach than a hockey coach. ... Sometimes referred to as Scotty Jr., after his mentor and Wings consultant Scotty Bowman. ... Obsessive on the details of the game. ... Has good rapport with team's many veteran players, who are given a say in team policies and freedom to run the dressing room. ... Has coached in finals twice in junior and once in NHL and is 0-3.

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