FanHouse KrisDraper

CHICAGO -- They are a mind-numbing machine, really, almost monotonous in their dominance, discipline and staying power. Sport in the 21st century isn't conducive to a dynasty lasting a dozen years, but the winged-wheel jersey and slimy octopus of the Detroit Red Wings have been lodged in our consciousness since 1997, good for four Stanley Cups and maybe a fifth next month.

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Perhaps it was fitting that the Red Wings' first goal on Sunday came short-handed. After all, Detroit was without two significant contributors from the get-go in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.

Hart Trophy finalist Pavel Datsyuk missed his second game with an ankle injury, while Norris Trophy finalist Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit's captain and one of the great defenders in league history, was an unexpected scratch with a lower-body injury. The Wings, also without Kris Draper, shrugged off their missing men and cruised 6-1 at Chicago to take a three games to one lead in the series with Game 5 set for Wednesday at Detroit.

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Huge news out of Chicago, where the Detroit Red Wings are severely crippled in their bid to gain a stranglehold on the Western Conference Finals. All-Everything defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom suffered a lower-body injury in Game 3 of the series Friday night and will miss Sunday's game. It's the first time in Lidstrom's career that he has sat out a Red Wings playoff game -- a streak of 228 games..

Also out is forward Pavel Datsyuk, who will miss his second straight game in the series with a bad foot. He took a puck off his foot during Game 2 in Detroit.

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One of the more confusing story lines in this year's playoffs has been the sudden disappearance of Pavel Datsyuk's offensive production. In Detroit's 13 postseason games, the Hart Trophy finalist has recorded just one goal to go with six assists after putting up his second consecutive 97-point performance in the regular season.

During the Red Wings' overtime win in Game 2, Datsyuk was reportedly injured when he was hit in the foot by a puck, which leaves his availability for Game 3 on Friday up in the air. The 30-year-old forward sat out practice on Thursday, while Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports that Datsyuk will be a game-time decision in Chicago. Could this be the break the Blackhawks need to get back in the series?

Panthers 5, Hurricanes 0: With the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference on the line the Florida Panthers went into Carolina and pulled out a 5-0 win. The Hurricanes actually held a commanding edge in the shots department, firing 42 shots at Tomas Vokoun, who stopped them all to pick up his fourth shutout of the season.

Florida managed only 23 shots on goal, but was able to get four behind Cam Ward and another past Michael Leighton. The Panthers now hold a three-point edge over Carolina for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Though we don't often boast about it, FanHouse has sources everywhere, and a little bird just gave us a preview of how the odds makers in Sin City view this year's version of the Stanley Cup Finals.

As always, these numbers are passed along for recreational purposes only. And I mean that in the most sincere way possible.

In short, Detroit is the favorite to win the series. According to the people who talk to us, the early moneyline for the series should be somewhere around Detroit (-160) and Pittsburgh (+120).

For those of you who aren't used to betting the money line on the NHL or anywhere else, the odds are pretty simply to understand. In order to win $100 on the Red Wings, you'd need to lay $160. On the other hand, if you laid $100 down on Pittsburgh, that bet would pay off at $120.

As to how they derive these numbers, I'm at a loss to say, especially since the two teams haven't met in the regular season since the beginning of the 2006-07 NHL campaign, when Detroit won a 2-0 decision at Mellon Arena. Kris Draper and Johan Franzen scored for Detroit, while Marc-Andre Fleury had 23 saves for Pittsburgh.

Game One is Saturday night in Detroit.

When you think of the Detroit Red Wings, the name Kris Draper ought to come to mind quickly. After playing all but 20 of his 895 career NHL games with the Winged Wheel, Draper has long been synonymous with the fine defensive, systematic play the Wings are known for, as well as a big part of their Stanley Cup successes.

Good news for Wings fans, then, that Draper appears to be set to sign an extension that ensures he will never wear another team's uniform.

As reported by The Detroit News:

Kris Draper didn't want to leave to go anywhere, and the Red Wings didn't want him to. Now, it looks like Draper will be able to finish out his career in Detroit, just like he's wanted to do all along. Draper and the Red Wings wrapped up the finishing touches on a three-year contract Thursday night that'll be officially announced Friday.

Draper, 36, could have been an unrestricted free agent next summer. But he agreed to a three-year extension worth $4.75 million, giving the team salary cap relief (Draper is earning $2.1 million this season on the final year of his current contract) while ensuring he'll likely end his career in a Red Wings jersey.

Although I am not fond of the evil Red Wings, I have always respected Draper's work ethic and attention to the defensive side of the game. Draper's offensive numbers from his junior days never translated well to the NHL, but instead of pouting about it, Draper asserted himself to being one of the best at his craft, and it paid off with a Selke Trophy back in 2004. If I had a kid who played hockey, I'd point to Draper as somebody to look up to.

Seeing Kris Draper on another team just wouldn't seem right, and the terms are wholly reasonable. D00d's got 5 goals in 10 games this season, and certainly doesn't look like he's on the downturn just yet.