Friday news: Wings-Penguins: One game for The Stanley Cup

After 1,230 regular season games, three full playoff series and six games in the Stanley Cup final, the 2008-09 NHL season comes down to one game for one team – either the Detroit Red Wings or Pittsburgh Penguins – to hoist hockey’s Holy Grail.

Game Seven is set for 8pm Eastern at Joe Louis Arena (CBC, NBC).

Will it be Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin tasting championship glory for the first time?

Or will Nicklas Lidstrom and Kris Draper have their names engraved on hockey’s most famous trophy for the fifth time in 12 years?

Can Pittsburgh-turncoat Marian Hossa, who has had a subpar playoff in a Red Wings uniform – elevate his game and put his stamp on his decision to bolt for Detroit?

The answers to these questions, and many more, will come later this evening.

Here are the hockey headlines in the news this morning:

Leafs News

• Offside Friday – Good news, bad news for Leafs Toronto Sun
• Add No. 93 to the 7 crew Toronto Sun
• Thursday Sports Review Toronto Sports Media

Marlies News

• Marlies picked for Scotland exhibitions Toronto Sun

Stanley Cup Final

• Super Seven Ottawa Sun
• Sykora a long shot for tonight Ottawa Sun
• ‘Great’ for Hossa Ottawa Sun
• Hossa takes scoring slump into Game 7 Toronto Star
• Hossa under the gun The Globe And Mail
• Game 7 perfect opportunity for unexpected star to shine Toronto Star
• Pressure is squarely on Red Wings Toronto Star
• Winner-take-all game a rare event for Wings franchise Toronto Star
• Penguins out to defy the odds, history Windsor Star
• Home is where the effort is The Globe And Mail
• Crosby one win away from first Cup CP
• Seven signs that your team is not winning Game Seven Down Goes Brown

NHL News

• NHL, Balsillie wait decision Toronto Sun
• Hamilton councillor threatens Sabres boycott National Post
• Crawford to ‘command’ Stars Toronto Sun
• Heatley trade impacts all facets of Senators Ottawa Citizen
• NHL, KHL should talk: Kelly Faceoff.com
• Globe Hockey Roundtable The Globe And Mail
• NHL’s injury policy a pain The Globe And Mail
• NHL should tread carefully on fee issue The Globe And Mail
• Draft Watch ‘09: Part Two – The Fab Five Maple Leafs Hot Stove