My fellow Pittsburghers have to respect the Red Wings. Last year a lot of you didn’t and the climbed up on the Penguins too fast for the Penguins to recover. This year is no different. Are the Penguins better than they were last year at this time? No doubt about it and no disrespect to Marion (I have a better chance to win the Cup in Detroit) Hossa. But if the Penguins had kept Hossa they would not have Satan, Fedotenko, or Guerin. There is also a possibility that others might not be around either like Brooks Orpik. In all honesty the Penguins had no room for another $7 million player on their roster. The Red Wings did. Alone he makes them better.

Despite the bumps and the bruises that are evident on every Detroit player you cannot downplay that they know how to win and have been doing it so far this post season. Remember, the Penguins won their second Stanley Cup with injuries and Lemieux playing with a broken wrist. So don’t think that injuries will mater.

Some of their players might be older, but age is not always a factor. Last year a lot of people thought that the older Red Wings would not be any serious match for the young, fast Penguins either and look what happened.

There is still a battle left in this war and to win the Penguins will have to draw upon every sound strategy ever implemented on the battlefield to come out on top. The most important of those is never underestimate your opponent and make them play your game. Don’t play theirs. That is where respect comes into play. Because if you respect your opponent you will not allow them to gain an unnecessary upper hand and take advantage of your foolishness.