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The 2009 Stanley Cup which begins later today marks the first title rematch since the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Islanders met in 1983 and 1984.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are headed back to the NHL championships, clinching a return trip with a 4-1 rout of the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night that finished off a sweep in the Eastern Conference finals.

First look is at the forward slot. Sidney Crosby’s 2-goal performance in a game 7 win over Washington is a sign of things to come against Carolina. Hurricanes’ Eric Staal is the club’s career playoff scoring leader with 41 points. This will undoubtedly draw the attention of his brother, Jordan, Pittsburgh’s checking center.

With only Chicago through to the next round after their exciting six game series against Vancouver, all three remaining matchups come down to a seventh game.

Anaheim vs. Detroit

The Red Wings had clinched their last eight playoff series wins with victories on the road and looked to do the dame here, but Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry each had a goal and an assist and Jonas Hiller made 38 saves as the Ducks beat the Red Wings 2-1 last night to force a decisive Game 7 in the Western Conference semifinal series.

Scott Niedermayer and Bobby Ryan added assists for the Ducks, who built a two-goal lead in the second period and managed to shut down the Red Wings until Johan Franzen brought Detroit within a goal with 2:25 to play.

Facing elimination, the Ducks returned to the form that carried the team to a league-best 10-2-1 mark in the final weeks of the season, then through a first-round upset of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning San Jose Sharks.