Five reasons why the Detroit Red Wings will win the Stanley Cup:

5. Because ESPN The Magazine has already called this the greatest team in the history of ever
OK, so maybe that's a little self-serving, but the folks in New York can't end up with egg on their face over this one. The Red Wings owe it to posterity to make short work of the Hurricanes, so they darn well better go out and prove that they are the best team ever assembled in the NHL or any other league (including the WHA). We're expecting 7-0 games every night, gosh darn it. C'mon, hop to it, guys, this is no time to be timid. And, by the way, punch up those Hall-of-Fame scoring numbers while you're at it and cut down on those power-play goals against. Sheesh, you think the '77 Canadiens would have accepted this kind of mediocrity?

4. Because there still is plenty of hunger on this team

	Duchesne

	Robitaille

	Hasek

Yeah, yeah, we know all about the Hall of Famers and all of the rings, but that's overlooking a few key stories. Dominik Hasek has never won a Stanley Cup. Neither has Luc Robitaille or Steve Duchesne. Chris Chelios last hoisted the old canister in 1986 with the Canadiens. In Detroit, fans will accept nothing less. That means the previous four years have seemed like four decades as the Red Wings have gone out twice in the second round and twice in the first. It was easy to see that hunger in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, and it's easy to understand why Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov, Nicklas Lidstrom and crew are fighting so hard for their third ring. If this 11-year run ends with just two Cups, you could almost call it a huge disappointment.

3. Because that guy in net really is "money"
Not to dis' Chris Osgood, but this team really does play with a lot more confidence in front of Hasek. Even coach Scotty Bowman has said that Hasek has made a huge difference to a team that has lost a lot of big games over the past four seasons. Look, the guy is as goofy as they come, his style of play is erratic and his tendency to "explain" his teammates' deficiencies is downright irritating, but he is one heck of a backstop. And when a team believes in its goalie -- no matter how quirky/grating he can be -- that team has something very special. Bottom line, Hasek did not give up a goal in Games 6 and 7 of the conference finals. If the Hurricanes want to play a waiting game of "who scores first," Detroit will gladly jump right in.

2. It's not their top six forwards, it's their bottom six

	McCarty

Say all you want about Brett Hull, Brendan Shanahan and Yzerman, this team thrives because of players like Darren McCarty, Tomas Holmstrom, Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby. Carolina can mix and match and play its four lines throughout the finals, but it will have a tough time coming up with a combination that can slow down everything Detroit can throw its way.

1. Because you have to score to win
Take out the 13 goals the Hurricanes scored in two games to close out the beleaguered Canadiens and Carolina is averaging 1.68 goals per game in their 16 other contests. That's simply not enough to win a Stanley Cup. Detroit's power play is dangerous, its penalty kill can score (six shorthanded goals), its 5-on-5 play is at least decent. Sure, the Hurricanes can hold down Montreal and Toronto for a period or two while protecting a 1-0 lead, but can they hold down Detroit under the same circumstances? The Red Wings are third in the playoffs in faceoff winning percentage and also love to control the puck. While you can coax a mistake out of Detroit every now and then, you also pay a price if you let them have the puck. Carolina's team defense is great. Detroit's team offense is better.

Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.