The Colorado Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings are in the position to provide the passion play of emotion that embodies the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Avalanche are likely to be drained at the start of the series, the result of their two seven-game series which got them to this point, but it will not take long to bring the encounter to a full boil.

The Avalanche and Red Wings, each winners of two Cups since 1996 (Colorado in 1996 and 2001, Detroit in 1997 and 1998), are playing for more than a little bit of one-upsmanship. Although there is little chance for a team in this age to compare with the dynasties of the Canadiens, Islanders or Oilers, if the Red Wings or Avalanche advance to beat Toronto of Carolina in the finals, they'll be considered the top team of this era.

This series also provides the NHL with a unique platform to showcase its stars, as well as the physical play and passion that wasn't as evident in the Olympics. For whatever reasons, the NHL believed the Olympics would provide the stage for people to see what hockey is all about. However, this series will show why NHL playoff hockey is far more grueling and emotional than a single-elimination medal round at the Olympics.

Two of the biggest spotlights in this series will be on two players who didn't even play in the Olympics -- Colorado goalie Patrick Roy, who elected not to play, and Peter Forsberg, who was unable to play for Sweden due to foot surgery in January.

Forsberg, who is already honored on a stamp in Sweden for his goal that won an Olympic gold in 1994, is one of the major reasons the Avalanche have managed to find their way to the conference finals.

And Roy is in a position to lay claim as the best goalie of all time, if he hasn't already.

Does that sound absurd? It shouldn't.

Roy has already won more games than any goalie, and with two Game 7 wins in these playoffs to date -- including the 1-0 shutout over San Jose -- he is adding to his reputation of being the best of all time.

And, as if the plot needed additional storylines, there is the matter of Roy against Dominik Hasek, the other goalie who is given consideration as the best on the planet. However, Roy has something Hasek does not, Stanley Cup rings -- two with Montreal, and another pair with Colorado.

Then too, there are the two captains. Colorado's Joe Sakic remains among the most elite players in the league, a quite leader with a real sense of what it takes to win beyond gaudy offensive statistics.

Meanwhile in red, the title of superstar was not applied to Steve Yzerman until late in his career. The Red Wings captain was under appreciated in the earlier stages of his career for no other reason than a couple of guys named Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux were also playing that position. As Yzerman matured, he developed to the point where any list of great players over the past 25 years would have to include him among the top five, right there with Gretzky, Lemieux, and Mark Messier.

What is even more amazing is that as an older player, Yzerman still carries the Red Wings on the ice when they wobble. He was the rock when the Wings staggered through the first few games of the playoffs against Vancouver, and he will again provide the foundation against Colorado.

From Yzerman to Sakic, Roy to Hasek, this will be a series full of future Hall of Famers -- not discounting the one behind the Red Wings bench, coach Scotty Bowman.

The Olympic experience? Who needs that when you've got Colorado and Detroit?

Al Morganti covers the NHL for ESPN.