Streaking: Penguins center Evgeni Malkin had a run of six consecutive multiple-point games broken in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final, while Sidney Crosby has been shut out just once in the past 12 games. Red Wings right winger Dan Clearly has a goal in five of the past six games, but teammates Tomas Holmstrom and Pavel Datsyuk have gone 12 and 11 games, respectively, without one.

Difference-makers: Good luck finding a line, defense pairing or goalie crease in this series that doesn't feature at least one of these. Crosby and Malkin, who are tied for the playoff scoring lead, are the Penguins' premier game-breakers, but guys like Bill Guerin and Ruslan Fedotenko have shown a knack for scoring timely goals. And while ex-Penguin Marian Hossa might be Detroit's top quick-strike threat, guys like Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Jiri Hudler, among others, can alter the course of a game with a burst of individual brilliance.

Special teams: This could be the facet of play that shapes the outcome of the series. The Penguins' power play is on a 12-for-46 roll over the past 10 games, despite failing to score in two of the past three. Detroit, meanwhile, had allowed at least one man-advantage goal in 13 consecutive games denying Chicago on both of the Blackhawks' chances during Game 5 of the Western final. Detroit's power play, which is converting on 25.7 percent of its chances, will present a major challenge for the Penguins' penalty-killers, who have a modest success rate of 83.6 percent but are 11-for-12 over the past five games.

Intangibles: Detroit appears to be supremely confident, and should be. The Wings have home-ice advantage, have won their past four Cup finals appearances, play stifling team defense and, with the addition of Hossa, have an even better lineup than they did when they beat the Penguins in six games last year. The Penguins haven't faced a team with Detroit's pedigree this spring -- not that there are many -- but have developed a strong belief in themselves, thanks mainly to their outstanding efficiency and execution through most of the first three rounds. Winning one of the first two games in Detroit would only add to that, and the experience gained on hockey's biggest stage last year will be invaluable.

Who will win: Penguins in six.