BY GEORGE B. EICHORN of the Detroit Monitor

It takes two. That’s all it takes now for the Detroit Red Wings to win a 12th Stanley Cup. Following successive 3-1 home-ice victories over the outmanned Pittsburgh Penguins over the weekend at Joe Louis Sports Arena, the Red Wings are sitting pretty in their quest for back-to-back championships.

While one could have predicted that goaltender Chris Osgood’s star would shine, who in their right mind could have predicted that unknown minor leaguers such as Jonathan Ericsson, Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader would be stars of the show in the National Hockey League’s greatest spectacle?

No one could likewise have guessed that injuries to Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and Kris Draper would have like zero impact on the outcome of the first couple of games, okay, Lidstrom was back in Game 2, but still. The Red Wings of 2009 look every bit as hungry as the Red Wings of 2008 who won the franchise’s 11th up championship.

The Penguins meanwhile do not have an answer — as yet — for Detroit’s stiffling defense. And it is not just the defensemen who are playing solid defense; look all around.  There’s Henrik Zetterberg covering a loose puck in Game 1 atop Osgood’s No. 30 jersey. And there’s Zetterberg again in Game 2 inside the goal crease blocking a shot while Osgood lay prone. Everyone is pitching in to help. Everyone wants to taste from the Cup again.

NBC and Versus are going way overboard in heaping publicity and praise on the Penguins and especially superstar Sidney Crosby. The pressure most be enormous on Sid the Kid. Yet a funny thing happened last June on the way to the Finals. The Red Wings still proved they are the better team. History could repeat itself again.

Sure, Detroit is not a sexy team, and not a sexy town. Red Wings fans are spoiled and expect the best out of their team year in and year out. That does not translate into many extra viewers or fans nationwide. The Red Wings are like the New York Yankees of hockey — you love them or hate them. Unfortunately, the latter is the case nationally. In fact, I’d dare say more hockey fans are jealous of the Red Wings than actually hating them.

This is a series to be won now by Detroit. They have the home-ice advantage and took care of business at The Joe. Now comes the hard part — winning at Mellon Arena in front of some harsh and vocal fans who will support their Pens to the bitter end.

Buy George Eichorn’s book, "Detroit Sports Broadcasters On The Air," for $19.99 at www.amazon.com. Reach him at geichorn@yahoo.com.

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