The Stanley Cup tickets race was on for Game 1 and the favorite to win this series was surely the Red Wings. Game 1 in this 2008 Stanley Cup series produced a flurry of goals for Detroit but nothing for Pittsburgh; former Pengiun Mikael Samuelsson rapped two unassisted scorchers into the net in a 4-0 slam that had "series winners" written all over it. Stanley Cup tickets holders were dumbfounded at the one-sidedness of the battle, while personnel were slightly more inclined towards a sporting attitude. Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood and coach Mike Babcock acknowledged the Penguins strength in offence (as well as their tired defense) in this whirlwind start to the 2008 Stanley Cup, and understandably the Red Wings were massively confident of a major result in the long run.

Game 2 was a Memorial Day disaster for the Penguins there in Hockeytown. Stanley Cup tickets again moved like crazy, as Penguins fans knew they weren't out of the race just yet. The Red Wings controlled the puck with precision and force as they did in Game 1, and at the end of Game 2 Stuart, Holmstrom and Filppula all appeared on the scoreboard, while the sad Penguins again failed to register. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was quick to point out that Detroit were lucky in their shooting, putting their few chances in the back of the net, but nobody could deny that goals win games, and the Red Wings had taken full advantage of whatever came their way there in the Joe Louis Arena. The most impressive aspect of this Detroit game, though, was their sheer possession and dominance; Pittsburgh managed to release just six shots throughout the entire Game 2.

Game 3; Penguins fans had almost given up on buying Stanley Cup tickets, and the team were stuck in a self-loathing and recrimination drive that threatened to unhinge what confidence may have remained. Goalless and near-hopeless, the brave birds from the Burgh shuffled onto the ice and began to pick up the pieces. Sidney Crosby, the Pittsburgh Center, scored twice to give the Penguins a 2-0 lead, and with their Goalie Fleury in fine form (he blocked an amazing total 32 out of 34 Red Wing shots) the Penguins emerged gleaming from a brilliant first half display. Detroit predictably scored but the Penguins answered it with one of their own, and a concrete sense of relief swept around Mellon Arena. Game 3 ended 3-2 Penguins, with a new twist on the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals.

When people buy NHL hockey tickets, especially Stanley Cup tickets, they hope to see hockey that uplifts the audience to a different plane than that enjoyed by regular season hockey crowds. Game 4 was a return to the grim and crushing Detroit machine, as it established another win in this 2008 Stanley Cup series, with a narrow 2-1 victory. Sadly the game took place in Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena but this home advantage was of no use to the Penguins. All eyes were now on Joe Louis Arena, where it was believed the Red Wings would swipe the Stanley Cup on home ice and the celebration would begin.

Detroit hockey fans bought Stanley Cup tickets and smiled after Game 4, and that's when things changed; the Red Wings were 35 seconds from winning the Stanley Cup in Game 5, possibly the most memorable Stanley Cup game in recent memory. The Penguins had been on the ropes throughout much of this series, and on the night of Game 5 they were looking like lambs at the slaughter, despite taking an initial 2-0 lead in the first period; the Red Wings had clawed their way back and begun making a game of it, and seemed about to put their Pittsburgh opponents to the sword, before the heroics of Penguins' goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and forward Petr Sykora combined to keep them in the Stanley Cup. Only four other games have gone to longer overtimes in Stanley Cup history, and after the previous four games nobody expected this one to hit the top 5, time-wise.

But it did.

And now, with all the rules broken, we had an epic struggle on our hands. Who wasn't now fascinated by this classic battle between these mighty masters of skate and stick? Game 6 would tell the final story...

The Stanley Cup has returned to Hockeytown, and it is hard to imagine it being any other way after a pretty solid series by the Detroit Red Wings. Always a big seller, Red Wings tickets will be in even higher demand than usual next season, after this resounding statement to the hockey world. Still reeling from their near-record overtime loss in Game 5, the Red Wings played a tight Game 6 in Pittsburgh, delivering yet another hockey lesson to the hapless Penguins at Mellon Arena. The score was 3-2 to the Red Wings, but the Penguins can forgive themselves; nobody dreamed they would ever make it this far, and Detroit are simply on fire right now. Henrik Zetterberg deservedly won MVP for the postseason and Detroit won the Presidents’ Trophy for the best record during regular season play. Penguins Goalie hero Fleury allowed an uncharacteristic error to make it 1-3 Red Wings, and the Detroit side harangued Fluery's goalmouth with a vicious succession of drives and runs. None of the weariness predicted after their triple-overtime loss materialized and this time the Hockeytown boys made no mistake. The game ended 3-2 Wings, but this really didn't reflect the run of play. The champagne is flowing and Hockeytown rejoices. What a fantastic series though. One of the best Stanley Cup series we have seen in years.

The Penguins' great escape was big news in NHL this season. This time last year they were virtually consigned to a black ravine from which they weren't expected to emerge, but emerge they did - straight to the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals! If you're one of the runners-up, there's always next year; our cheap Montreal Canadiens playoffs tickets, Detroit Red Wings playoffs tickets, and Boston Bruins playoffs tickets can be browsed and purchased here, so take a minute to pick the ones you want most, and get going to the climax of the hockey season!