By Topher Scott



After their long break, the Red Wings got back to work with two big games over the weekend. All that stood before them were the past two Stanley Cup champions. No easy task.



The Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks have reigned over the NHL for the past decade. But both have battled inconsistency this year and are fighting to make the playoffs.



Pittsburgh on Saturday, Chicago on Sunday. What a difference 24 hours can make.



On Saturday, Detroit just couldn’t keep up with Pittsburgh in a 4-1 loss. The Penguins played FAST and set a pace for the game the Red Wings just couldn’t match. Their star players littered the scoresheet as they made play after play around the Red Wings’ defense. If the Pens continue to play that way, I would have no hesitation saying they will be front-runners to win another Stanley Cup this spring.



On Sunday, it was a different story. The Red Wings played a great road game: They...