SportsJune 12, 2009

DETROIT -- Nicklas Lidstrom, 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 finals 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...

By IRA PODELL ~ The Associated Press

~ The Penguins and Red Wings face off at 7 p.m. tonight.

DETROIT -- Nicklas Lidstrom, 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 finals 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.

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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 winning his 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," said Osgood, 15-7 with a 2.00 goals-against average in the playoffs. "Game 7 is just another game to win the Cup. That was our Game 7 in Pittsburgh."

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