Cup finale ‘just another game’

 Nicklas Lidstrom (shown at right), Chris Osgood and Kirk Maltby spread out like a perfectly shaped triangle in the Detroit Red Wings’ dressing room and tried to explain how Game 7 of the Stanley Cup final is really like any other game.

 When that seemingly unbelievable message comes from guys who have championship rings that nearly cover a whole hand it begins to sound plausible.

 “It’s hard to really mentally sell it to yourself that it’s just another game, but it is,” Maltby said Thursday.

 Lidstrom, Maltby, Tomas Holmstrom and Kris Draper are going for their fifth title in 12 seasons tonight in Game 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

 Osgood is on the verge of a fourth ring, third as the Red Wings starting goalie. Detroit had a shot for its second straight Cup on Tuesday night in Game 6, but fell 2-1 in Pittsburgh. The Red Wings have one more chance to secure it, and they will try at home where they are 11-1 in the playoffs – 3-0 in this series.

 “It’s no different,” Osgood said. “Game 7 is just another game to win the Cup. That was our Game 7 in Pittsburgh. “It makes no difference if it’s Game 4, 5, 6, or 7. If you can win the Cup, you’ve got the exact same type of game.

 “The only difference is they have a chance now, too.”

Associated Press