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DETROIT -- Heading into tonight's Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, here are five things each team needs to do to win:

Pittsburgh Penguins

1. Everyone says a fast start is important
The Red Wings, who have started slowly in most games in these finals, say it. So do the Pens. But what they really mean is -- and this is especially important for Pittsburgh -- score first. If the Pens score first in Game 5, how does that change the complexion of that game? It really doesn't matter if the Wings take the first 10 shots on goal in Game 7 -- if the Pens score first, it will force the Wings to start to chase the game. If the Wings score first, an already difficult environment for the Pens will become significantly more imposing.

2. The goaltending
Marc-Andre Fleury has struggled in his three games at Joe Louis Arena this spring and is 1-5 through the past two Cup finals series against the Wings in Detroit. He will have to be sharp, especially early, to keep his teammates from starting to think negative thoughts. Remember his golden save on Alex Ovechkin's breakaway early in Game 7 in Washington in the second round? A stop like that -- and he had one in Game 6 at home against Henrik Zetterberg early on -- is worth its weight in gold, or Stanley Cup silver.

3. The big guns
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been held without a point in the past two games. Game 6 marked the first game this postseason in which the two dynamic centers failed to register a point and the Pens still won. The chances of that happening in Game 7 in Detroit are negligible. Now, part of getting points is having linemates who can finish, something that has plagued Malkin and Crosby in this series. That said, this is the time for the top two playoff scorers to find themselves on the score sheet one way or another.

4. Calling for backup
Jordan Staal and his linemates Tyler Kennedy and Matt Cooke were the best offensive unit on the ice in Game 6 and they will likely see favorable matchups against Brett Lebda and Jonathan Ericsson on the Detroit blue line if the matchups remain similar to what they've been earlier in the series. If this hard-skating, hard-checking trio can create some turnovers, perhaps draw a penalty or two and maybe, if the hockey gods are smiling, chip in a goal or two, the Pens may end up stealing Lord Stanley from the Wings.

5. Special teams
Early on in this series, the Penguins' power play looked like it might be a difference-maker, while the Wings' power play was sputtering. Now? The Pens have failed to score with the man advantage since Game 4; if that drought continues in Game 7, their chances of success go down exponentially. The Pens generated good pressure in Game 6, but if Sergei Gonchar (without a point in the past three games and just two in the series) can spark the power play in Game 7, it would be a huge bonus. And while we're on special teams, the Pens don't need to be reminded of the three second-period power-play goals the Red Wings scored in Game 5 to chase Fleury and the Penguins in a 5-0 rout.

Detroit Red Wings

1. Better start
The Wings, for whatever reason, have been slow starters in the Cup finals. Pittsburgh has scored first in four of the six games and has had the better opening 10 minutes in five of the six. When it comes to Game 7, Red Wings blueliner Brian Rafalski wants to see that trend end. He played in Game 7 of the 2001 and 2003 Cup finals and you know what his biggest piece of advice was to his Detroit teammates?

"The start is very important," Rafalski said. "The first goal is very important. It can give your team a big boost."

The Wings were asleep for the first 30 minutes of Game 6. They dominated the rest of the game, but didn't get going until the Penguins were up 2-0. They need to start when the puck drops Friday night.

2. Use home-ice advantage
And we're not just talking about getting pumped up from the fans and the flying octopi. Rafalski believes there's a tactical advantage to playing on home ice.

"I think so, I think it makes a difference," he said. "I think there's a few shifts every period where the road team has to get that change and they can't maybe sustain that pressure on the other team like they're able to at home. The road team has to try and get their players out, get more of a matchup and it creates a little bit of offense for that team."

The Wings' coaching staff can better control matchups with the last line change and that's been key in their three home wins in the Cup finals.

3. Better forecheck
The underbelly of the Penguins is the depth, or lack thereof, on their blue line. The Wings need to pressure that group.

"I think we have to get the puck more on their defense and get a better forecheck on them," said Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom. "That's what they've been doing to us. I think we can get the puck in a lot more to get our game going."

4. Win the special teams battle
The Wings are 4-for-21 on the power play in the series, while Pittsburgh is 4-for-13. Three of Detroit's four goals were in Game 5, so the power play hasn't exactly been on fire. The Wings had a pair of key power plays in the third period Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, but couldn't convert for the tying goal. They've got to come through Friday night.

5. Get a good game from Marian Hossa
The star winger has struggled in these finals, still waiting to score his first goal and having contributed just a pair of assists. He hasn't scored in seven straight games overall.

"You have to battle through it," Hossa said. "Sometimes it's a matter of being at the right place at the right time, sometimes a little bit of luck. You score a couple of goals in the first few games of a series and all of a sudden you feel good, and you just keep going. When you're used to scoring, maybe you try to press a little bit."

If Hossa shows up Friday night, the Wings will suddenly have two dangerous lines to throw at Pittsburgh instead of relying so much on the Henrik Zetterberg-Pavel Datsyuk duo.

Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun cover the NHL for ESPN.com.