 |
POWER
PLAY |
11TH
- 18.1 |
PENALTY
KILL |
1ST
- 85.5 |
FORWARDS |
MIKE
RIBEIRO |
27-56-83
(+21) |
BRENDEN
MORROW |
32-42-74
(+23) |
BRAD
RICHARDS |
20-42-62
(-27) |
DEFENSEMEN |
SERGEI
ZUBOV |
4-31-35
(+6) |
STEPHANE
ROBIDAS |
9-17-26
(0) |
MATT
NISKANEN |
7-19-26
(+22) |
GOALTENDERS |
MARTY
TURCO |
32-21-6
(3 SO)
2.31 GA
.909 PCT |
|
JOHAN
HOLMQVIST |
21-16-6
(2 SO)
3.04 GA
.889 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Dallas
vs San Jose |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
APR.
25 |
DALLAS
3 - SAN JOSE 2 (OT) |
SEED
5 |
2 |
APR.
27 |
DALLAS
5 - SAN JOSE 2 |
SEED
2 |
45-30-7
(97) |
3 |
APR.
29 |
SAN
JOSE 1 - DALLAS 2 (OT) |
49-23-10
(108) |
| |
4 |
APR.
30 |
SAN
JOSE 2 - DALLAS
1 |
|
| |
5 |
MAY
2 |
DALLAS
2 - SAN JOSE 3 (OT) |
|
| |
6 |
MAY
4 |
SAN
JOSE 1 - DALLAS 2 (4OT) |
|
| |
7 |
MAY
6 |
DALLAS
at SAN JOSE |
|
| Dallas
Wins Series 4-2 |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW |
|
|
The Dallas Stars have advanced the Western Conference Semi-Finals where they will face the San Jose Sharks who placed first in the Pacific Division with a record of 49-23-10 for 108 points, nine points ahead of the third place Stars.
As the Stars enter Round Two, they do so with confidence that can be viewed from several different perspectives.
Most crucial to the foundation of Dallas’ confidence, the Stars defeated the Anaheim Ducks. Taking two games away from the defending Stanley Cup Champions on their home ice in the first two games gave the Stars the boost they such needed after wrapping up the regular season in disappointing fashion.
With the Ducks early exit that granted the Stars advancement, the Round One exit black cloud that has been looming over Dallas for the last five years finally blew away from winds that originated in the Pacific Division.
The Stars faced the San Jose Sharks eight times during the regular season, went 4-2-2 with four games in each building. Of the four games in San Jose, Dallas posted a 3-0-1 record whereas at home, Dallas had more difficulty posting only one victory for 1-2-1 on home ice.
Dallas has proved they can skate away with victories in San Jose. The only home win for the Stars when hosting San Jose, was the last regular season scheduled meeting on Sunday, April 6 which was the last regular season game for Dallas.
Entering the play-offs, Dallas posted 3-0-1 for the last four meetings with the Sharks. It appeared Dallas had solved San Jose. The Western Conference Semi-Finals are set to commence on Friday, April 25 with a 2-2-1-1-1 format giving San Jose the home ice advantage.
Forwards
Mike Ribeiro (6-2-8) leads Dallas in play-off point totals with veterans Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen and Brenden Morrow all trailing two points behind, an average of one point per game in the 4-2 series win over Anaheim with Stanley Cup veteran Brad Richards and Loui Eriksson both clocking in at five points.
Stars captain Morrow had no concern establishing a physical presence during the Anaheim series to accompany his scoring skills. In doing so he showed his leadership on the ice. When needed the leading scorers produced and those individuals will need to continue. The forwards have a smooth scoring and physical system that is capable of carrying over to Round Two. It’s something that needs to continue.
Defense
Stephane Robidas (1-5-6) leads the defensemen in scoring and ranks with Modano, Lehtinen and Morrow averaging one point per game from the Anaheim series. Robidas’ play during Round One was an asset.
Steve Ott’s contributions from Round One were crucial and on par with Modano, Lehtinen and Morrow. Ott netted two goals leading during the series putting him up with the leading team goal scorers. Play from all the defenseman complimented each other during the Anaheim series and a smooth transition into the next round should pose no problem.
Goaltending
Net master Marty Turco’s play against the Ducks was phenomenal where he blanked Anaheim in Game 1 on their home ice. Turco’s shut-out gave Dallas a mental advantage that the Stars utilized where they walked away with two victories. Even though Dallas dropped two games during the series, Turco continuously made unbelievable saves and will continue to do so against San Jose. He has the confidence.
Intangibles
With the Stars coming off the high of shutting down the defending Stanley Cup Champions in Round One and breaking their five year, Round Two drought, the Stars posses an amazing solid level of confidence. As with the wins against Anaheim, Dallas proved during the regular season they have no problem winning in San Jose and the Western Conference Semi-Finals will be no different. Dallas has the components to repeat their success on the road as with Anaheim.
What to Expect
A physical hard fought series is to be expected between the two. The first two games in San Jose will be crucial and will set the tone of what will follow.
Dallas takes the Western Conference Semi-Finals in six games.
San Jose Sharks:
The San Jose Sharks are ready to take on the Dallas Stars in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Western Conference Semifinals.
The long rivalry between these two teams will come head-to-head in the Shark Tank at the HP Pavilion on Friday, April 25th. Dallas and San Jose have won a combined six of the last seven Pacific Division titles. This series will be the Sharks third try to win against the Stars. The Stars won in 1998 and 2000. But, the Sharks will have home ice advantage this time and hope to come out on top.
During the regular season, these teams split the series at four apiece. In post-season, Ryan Clowe has been the leader with four goals and four assists against Calgary. Then there’s Jeremy Roenick—who Stars fans love to hate—who scored four points in a single night, helping the Sharks win Game 7. Joe Pavelski scored three goals and four assists against the flames, helping to push the Sharks ahead in two of the games.
The Sharks primary goalie, Evengi Nabokov has had a fantastic season and post-season. His record of 46-21 makes him the best goaltender in the league for the regular season. For the post-season, he has a .895 save percentage and a 2.45 goals-against-average.
The Sharks were forced to play all seven games against the Calgary Flames, with the last game taking place on Tuesday they haven’t had much time to rest. |
|
| Game
1 |
Dallas
3 - San Jose 2 (OT) |
|
Shellie
Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Dallas
Leads Series 1-0 |
San
Jose, CA - The Sharks and Stars came out in game one in a hard hitting, physical game, just as anticipated. Dallas had a slow start in shots, but managed to take the win in overtime with a score of 3-2.
The first period was scoreless. Stars’ Marty Turco denied ten shots on goal, while his offense only had two shots against Evengi Nabokov.
At 15:10 into the second period, the Sharks found the net. Jonathan Cheechoo provided the screen, while Thornton passed to Milan Michalek just to the side of the net, and the puck squirted through the legs of Turco. During a hooking minor by Devin Setoguchi, the Stars’ Mike Modano scored a power-play goal with an assist by Mike Ribeiro. Until this point in the game, the Stars were just playing enough to get by, but this power-play goal added some energy and momentum to the Stars’ line up and at 10:52, Ribeiro took the puck from behind the net, around the side, and Brenden Morrow tipped it in past Nabokov, putting the Stars up 2-1.
In the third period, both teams had a single five-on-four opportunity to score, but only the Sharks were able to take advantage to tie the score at 2-2 and take the game into sudden-death-overtime. With only 3:02 left in regulation, Cheechoo caught a rebound off Turco and tipped the puck in past traffic in front of the net.
Throughout the regulation time of the game, Dallas had only 15 shots on goal to San Jose’s 27. But the Star’s Brenden Morrow knocked in his second goal of the game at 4:39 into overtime to win the game at 3-2.
Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
2 |
Dallas
5 - San Jose 2 |
|
Shellie
Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Dallas
Leads Series 2-0 |
San
Jose, CA -The Dallas Stars won their second game of the series with a score of 5-2 over the San Jose Sharks Sunday night at HP Pavilion.
The Sharks scored the first goal at 10:13 into the first period on a tip in by Joe Pavelski, off assists from Craig Rivet and Jonathan Cheechoo. But Dallas answered back at 15:37 with a wrist-shot goal by Mike Ribeiro, from a rebounded slap-shot by Brenden Morrow off Evengi Nabokov. Mattias Norstrom also received credit for the assist for the Stars. The Stars gave the Sharks plenty of opportunities for scoring, but were able to kill off three power-plays in the first ten minutes of play.
In the second period, the Sharks’ Milan Michalek put the puck past Marty Turco at 14:54, with assists to Brian Campbell and Rivet putting the Sharks up 2-1.
The Sharks defense went missing and the third period belonged to the Stars. At 30 seconds into the period, Pavelski made an error in passing and passed the puck directly to Brad Richards, who scored on a wrist shot to tie the game at 2-2. Three minutes later Mike Modano was able to drop the puck past Nabokov on a feed from Sergei Zubov. The Stars put the finishing touches on the game, with just over six minutes left, and again at 1:15 left in the period with two goals by Niklas Hagman, both assisted by Richards, to give the Stars the win with a final score of 5-2.
The Stars outshot the Sharks 31–26, while Marty Turco had another awesome game. The Sharks put in back-up goalie Brian Boucher to replace Nabokov in the last 2:45 left in regulation.
The Stars and Sharks will go to Dallas for Game 3. The Sharks are hoping for some new luck in the American Airlines Center on Tuesday, April 29th, while the Stars hope to go for their third straight win of the series.
Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
3 |
San
Jose 1 - Dallas 2 (OT) |
| Brian
McClean - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Dallas
Leads Series 3-0 |
Dallas,
TX - The Dallas Stars were trolling for a home
victory as well as a commanding three-game series lead
against the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference
Semi-Finals Tuesday night in Dallas in what would be a
hard fought Game 3 contest.
It was evident from San Jose’s aggressiveness the Sharks
were fully aware how devastating a loss would be. Even
though Dallas sat in the penalty box four times in the
first, the Sharks were not able to convert with the man-advantage
but San Jose did connect short-handed on Patrick Marleau’s
breakaway from a Sergei Zubov giveaway with 35 seconds
remaining, giving the Sharks a one goal lead.
The second period remained scoreless and as with the ending
of the first, Dallas closed out the period on the power-play
but unlike the first, the Stars steered clear of penalties.
With an early third period assault that had Dallas on
a five-one-three advantage, Sergi Zubov tied the contest
with a blast between the pads of Sharks goalie Evgeni
Nabokov. The lone goal would be the only thing Nabokov
would let by for the remainder of the regulation play
although he was tested on several occasions including
Niklas Hagman’s penalty shot at 10:50.
For the second time in the series, overtime would decide
the victor. Dallas was able to walk away with a victory
on Mattias Norstrom’s lengthy wrist shot through traffic
giving the Stars a commanding series lead 4:37 into overtime.
With a solid three-game series grasp, the Stars will look
to advance with a Game 4 victory on Wednesday in Dallas.
Contact the author at: brian.mclean@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
4 |
San
Jose at Dallas |
| Brian
McClean - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Dallas
Leads Series 3-1 |
Dallas,
TX - Puck giveaways and power-plays determined
the outcome in the Dallas Stars effort to secure a victory
Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals
against the San Jose Sharks. A Stars triumph would eliminate
San Jose sending the battered, bruised but gritty Sharks
team home winless in the best-of-seven series.
Once Jere Lehtinen broke the scoring drought at 5:25 of
the second period on a giveaway from San Jose’s Devin
Setoguchi, the Dallas Stars increased the intensity only
to have the plug yanked on a Sergei Zubov giveaway resulting
in a short-handed goal by Patrick Marleau at 9:19. The
goal was the second San Jose short-handed strike of the
post-season and series with both the notches coming from
Marleau in back to back games. The two adversaries would
continue their on-ice combative mission but the battle
period would remain scoreless.
San Jose’s early third period pressing paid off with Milan
Michalek’s power-play goal at 3:26 giving the Sharks back
a one goal lead where the game played out and keep the
Sharks post-season hopes alive.
The series returns to San Jose for Game 5 on Friday where
the Stars will look to repeat their success of the first
two games.
Contact the author at: brian.mclean@prohockeynews.com |
|
| Game
5 |
Dallas
2 - San Jose 3 (OT) |
|
Shellie
Lima - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Dallas
Leads Series 3-2 |
San
Jose, CA - At HP Pavilion the San Jose Sharks had three unanswered goals to take the win of Game 5 and closed in on the Stars, as the Sharks reduced Dallas' lead to 3-2 in the series.
The first goal was scored at 6:14 into the second period. Stars Sergei Zubov hit a shot towards the goal that was deflected by Jere Lehtinen past Evgeni Nabokov. Midway through the period a Stars’ goal was overturned due to a kicking motion. Then the Stars were able to net another goal when Brenden Morrow hit a simple wrist shot that went past Nabokov putting the Stars up 2-0 to end the second period. This was Morrow's sixth goal of the postseason.
San Jose was able to close the gap at 6:20 into the third period with a pass from Joe Thornton from behind the Stars net to the front to Milan Michalek. Michalek, who was waiting on the door step and fed the puck past Marty Turco.
Brian Campbell hit his first goal of the post season to tie up the score 2-2 with a feed from the red line from Jeremy Roenick. Campbell fired a shot that lifted up and over the left shoulder of Turco. Campbell’s shot was the last of regulation play.
At 1:05 into sudden-death overtime Joe Pavelski drove the puck from the neutral zone, crossed in front of the net and fired the puck shot past Turco, giving San Jose the win 3-2 over Dallas.
Game 6 will take the teams back to Dallas on Sunday evening at American Airlines Center.
Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
6 |
San
Jose 1 - Dallas 2 (4OT) |
|
Brian
McClean - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Dallas
Leads Series 3-2 |
Dallas,
TX - The Dallas Stars were attempting to do Sunday
night on home ice what they haven’t been able to do in
their last two meetings with the San Jose Sharks, that
is put a victory in their back pocket to close out the
Western Conference Semi-Finals. The deciding game played
out in the fourth overtime period of what became a grueling
match and goaltender clinic.
The Stars set the tone early utilizing the perks the home
ice advantages. Dallas challenged San Jose goalie Evgeni
Nabokov on a handful of occasions only to be blanked on
each attempt during the physical and up-tempo paced first
period. With two ticks remaining Stars goalie Marty Turco
made a spectacular glove save from a Brian Campbell blast
keeping the period scoreless.
Just under five minutes into the second period Antti Miettinen
answered on net for Dallas on assists from Sergei Zubov
and Mike Modano for an even strength goal but five minutes
later at 10:09 San Jose was on the power play pushing
hard to even the match. Turco stood tall, denying the
much needed man-advantage for the Sharks while dramatically
increasing the arena volume. The Stars were able to close
out the period with the one goal lead.
Realizing their play-off hopes were 20-minutes away from
coming to an end San Jose’s Ryan Clowe put the Sharks
on the board at 1:39 where the score stood through regulation.
No one was able to score in regulation and the two teams
battled into overtime. Each goaltender came up with saves
which defied logic and allowed the game to plug away into
the early hours of the morning. Nabokov came up with one
particular save which had Brad Richards and the rest of
the Stars in disbelief. Turco answered with stunning saves
of his own including one in which the officials needed
to refer to replay to ensure the Sharks had not tallied.
Four overtime periods later at 9:03 Brenden Morrow gave
Dallas a power-play goal and a ticket the Western Conference
Finals where the Stars will now face the Detroit Red Wings.
The eighth longest game in NHL history was ended when
Morrow directed a pass from Stephane Robidas past a defenseless
Nabokov. The goal added to the budding legend of Morrow.
Morrow set the unofficial NHL record for hits in a game
during this contest and the overtime goal was his second
overtime winner of the series.
Contact the author at: brian.mclean@prohockeynews.com
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
POWER
PLAY |
10TH
- 18.8 |
PENALTY
KILL |
3RD
- 85.8 |
FORWARDS |
JOE
THORNTON |
29-67-96
(+18) |
MILAN
MICHALEK |
21-34-55
(+19) |
PATRICK
MARLEAU |
19-29-48
(-19) |
DEFENSEMEN |
BRIAN
CAMPBELL |
8-54-62
(+8) |
CRAIG
RIVET |
5-30-35
(+3) |
CHRISTIAN
EHRHOFF |
1-21-22
(+9) |
GOALTENDERS |
EVGENI
NABOKOV |
46-21-8
(6 SO)
2.14 GA
.910 PCT |
|
BRIAN
BOUCHER |
3-1-1
(1 SO)
1.76 GA
.932 PCT |
|
|
|
