Through five (and nearly six if you count overtime) games, there's one obvious conclusion.

The Detroit Red Wings are a superior hockey team to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

There's no arguing it. Most of the Stanley Cup finals has followed a familiar flow.

The Wings dance through the neutral zone, attacking the Penguins goal and last-man-standing Marc-Andre Fleury.

Meanwhile, the Pens are divided into two camps -- half of them are standing around watching and the others are desperately trying to make up for the ineptitude of their teammates.

But the Wings have trouble closing teams out in every round except the second when Colorado's health deteriorated right in front of them.

On 95 per cent of the ice, Detroit has a killer instinct. Unfortunately for them and their octopi-tossing fans, the other five per cent happens to be right in front of each net.

The third period of Game 5 told the story of the series. The Pens looked like they were playing with one guy -- a goalie while the Wings were all over them but couldn't bury them.

The Pens might somehow find a way to go on to win the Cup. But it's going to feel a lot like 1995 when the powerhouse Red Wings -- one of the most successful clubs ever assembled -- was quickly dismissed by the New Jersey Devils. It was gimmicktry, bounces and timely goals that did that team in.

There's a difference between being the best and being champions, as strange at that sounds. Just ask the 2007 New England Patriots about that.