 |
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 Detroit |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
MAY
8 |
DALLAS
1 - DETROIT 4 |
SEED
5 |
2 |
MAY
10 |
DALLAS
1 - DETROIT 2 |
SEED
1 |
45-30-7
(97) |
3 |
MAY
12 |
DETROIT
5 - DALLAS 2 |
54-21-7
(115) |
| |
4 |
MAY
14 |
DETROIT
1 - DALLAS 3 |
|
| |
5 |
MAY
17 |
DALLAS
2 - DETROIT 1 |
|
| |
6 |
MAY
19 |
DETROIT
4 - DALLAS 1 |
|
| |
7 |
MAY
21 |
DALLAS
at DETROIT |
|
| Detroit
Wins Series 4-1 |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW |
| |
The Dallas Stars and Detroit Red Wings have respectively advanced to the Western Conference Finals in each team’s quest for the Stanley Cup. Both have been there, done that thing they do with the Stanley Cup and both obviously want to go back. The reality is only one team will advance and the pass to the finals which still doesn’t guarantee a skating date with the Stanley Cup.
Detroit has three Stanley Cup championships to their credit since the NHL arrived in Dallas for the 1993-94 season with two of those coming back-to-back in the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons. The following year it was the Stars turn to spend time with Lord Stanley. Three years later after the 2001-02 season the Red Wings once again hoisted the Stanley Cup. That was the last time either team has touched the Cup.
Detroit and Dallas have faced each other twice in the post-season with the Red Wings advancing in both series. The first meeting between the two occurred in the 1994-95 season with Dallas exiting in the first round. The second meeting in the 1997-98 season saw Dallas exiting in the Western Conference Finals with Detroit going all the way for their repeat Stanley Cup performance.
Eight years have passed since there has been a repeat Stanley Cup victor and that goes back to the Red Wings two year run in the late 90’s.
As for the regular season, Dallas and Detroit met four times, two in each venue with the Red Wings taking the advantage three games to one. The lone Stars victory occurred at home showing Dallas has difficulty winning in Detroit whereas the Stars were able to win both in buildings in Anaheim and San Jose.
Forwards
Both Detroit and Dallas have point makers tucked into their rosters but it’s the Red Wings that have the advantage when matching up forwards. Johan Franzen leads the post-season scoring for the Red Wings with 11-3-14 in ten games played, an average of more than goal or point per game. Franzen’s scoring rampage just didn’t arrive come play-off time, he wrapped up the season netting 15 goals in the last 16 regular season games and he has carried that momentum over into the playoffs.
Stepping up for Dallas in the last two series has been Stars captain Brenden Morrow who has notched 7-4-11 in the 12 post-season games, an average of just under one point per game not taking into consideration the two Morrow goals that were disallowed in Game Five against San Jose. Morrow is on track to keep with pace with Franzen. The point performance of these two skaters will lead the victors.
Defense
Since the return of Dallas veteran defenseman Sergei Zubov who departed on the eve of the playoffs to address a sports related hernia and returned in Round Two, there’s been a noticeable difference in the Stars defensive unit that was already working smoothly.
The Red Wings possess the talent of veteran Niklas Lindstrom on their roster. The five-time Norris Trophy winner is a key factor when Detroit is on the man-advantage.
With Zubov and Lindstrom on the ice together in opposing colors, anticipate spectacular defensive plays from each.
Goaltending
Detroit has two top goalies in Chris Osgood and Dominik Hasek but it was Osgood’s performance since replacing Hasek in Game 4 of round one that has allowed the Red Wings to advance to the Western Conference Finals. To his credit, Osgood has one Stanley Cup to his name as a starter whereas Dallas’ Marty Turco is in search of that first Cup victory.
Turco comes off an amazing Game 6 against San Jose where he stopped a mind boggling 61 shots through four overtime periods thus advancing Dallas to the Western Conference Finals.
Detroit may have the veterans in net with an aging Osgood at age 35 and a 43-year old Hasek but Turco, who is three years shy of Osgood's age, hasn’t kissed the sweetness of the Stanley Cup. Turco’s hunger and ever expanding confidence will drive Dallas far into the series.
Intangibles
The regular season standings for both teams may give a hint of the series conclusion before the puck drops. Detroit wrapped up the season with an impressive 115 pt. total and the President’s Trophy when compared to Dallas’ 97 points.
The Red Wings ability to guard their home ice and deny Dallas victories in Detroit is undoubtedly a major factor. The Stars will have to take a victor in one of the first two games from Red Wings in Detroit. Not being able to do so will shake and begin to tilt the confidence level of Dallas south.
Detroit closed out their second round series against the Colorado Avalanche in four games on May 1. Detroit is well rested entering the Western Conference Finals.
After beaching the Sharks in Game Six in the early morning hours of Monday, May 5 at 1:21 AM Dallas time, the Stars will only have two full days of rest before traveling to Detroit for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
What to Expect
A hard fought series with the taste of victory drooling from each bench. Anticipate spectacular saves in net as well as impressive puck-handling and scores from playmakers like Detroit’s Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk as well as Morrow, Brad Richards and Mike Ribeiro from Dallas.
Detroit should advance in six games in a mentally and physically exhausting series.
|
|
| Game
1 |
Dallas
1 - Detroit 4 |
| by
Brian McLean - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Detroit
Leads Series 1-0 |
Detroit,
MI
- The two goals each for periods one and two was all that the Detroit Red Wings needed in their effort to shut down the Dallas Stars on Thursday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
The solid penalty killing unit Dallas has been displaying throughout the post-season failed to show up in Game 1 allowing the Detroit offense three straight power-play goals from Brian Rafalski, Johan Franzen and Tomas Holmstrom giving the Red Wings a three-goal lead.
Detroit’s Valtteri Filppula added the fourth, final and only even-strength Red Wings goal at 15:37 of the second period on assists from Mikael Samuelsson and Niklas Kronvall. By the time the Dallas Stars were able to get on the scoreboard with a Brenden Morrow goal late in the second period, the damaging deficit was complete and the Stars were unable to overcome.
The victory gave Detroit the mental edge adding to the non-win misery Stars goalie Marty Turco has by remaining winless in his career at Detroit. The Stars will look to even the series on Saturday, May 10 in Detroit. There will be a two day break before the series moves to Dallas for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Wednesday.
Contact the author at: brian.mclean@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
2 |
Dallas
at Detroit |
|
by
Brian McLean - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Detroit
Leads Series 2-0 |
Detroit,
MI
- The Dallas Stars were attempting to bounce back on Saturday
night in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals from
a dominating defeat dished out by the Detroit Red Wings
in Game 1. Detroit's win humiliated the stingy Dallas
penalty kill unit in Game 1. Instead of a rallying point
for the Stars there was minimal bounce-back and the Red
Wings handed the Stars a Game 2 loss.
Dallas had several early first period scoring chances
including a nice looking four-on-one that resulted in
a missed net by Steve Ott. On the heels of that scoring
chance, Detroit capitalized on a takeaway moving the puck
where Darren Helm beat Marty Turco at 5:56 giving the
Red Wings a one goal lead.
Midway into the first during the first power-play opportunity
of the game, the Stars obtained a much needed score on
a Stephane Robidas shot at 9:19 that saw Red Wings goalie
Chris Osgood leaving a wide-open net as he lost sight
of the puck. The one-all tie didn’t last long as Detroit
answered back with an unassisted power-play goal by Henrik
Zetterberg 24 seconds later.
The second period saw huge stops by Osgood and Turco and
solid penalty killing from both rosters where eight minors,
five from the Red Wings were assessed in the scoreless
second.
As with the second, the third period remained scoreless
even with Dallas pulling Turco with 1:15 remaining for
the sixth attacker. Frustration was obvious on Dallas’
end as Ott received a two-minute roughing and a ten-minute
misconduct with his unsuspecting right hand swing that
connected on Detroit’s Kris Draper at 19:55. Following
Ott’s lack of self-control, Mike Ribeiro received a match
penalty for his over the cross bar stick hack on Osgood’s
chest at the 20:00 mark.
The 2-1 Detroit victory has now put the Stars in a two-game
hole as well as a must win situation when the series returns
to Dallas for Games Three and Four on Monday and Wednesday.
Bits to Consider
In the regular season, when scoring first, Detroit had
the highest winning percentage but when trailing first,
Dallas had the highest winning percentage.
Detroit sniper Johan Franzen, the NHL's post-season point
leader, was out of lineup due to concussion-like symptoms.
Franzen has scored 27 goals in his last 27 games and has
already set the Red Wings record for goals in a playoff
tournament with 12.
There is a possibility both teams are looking at suspensions
after the fracas at the end of the game. Dallas coach
Dave Tippett said Ribeiro reacted to a butt-end from Osgood
and reacted. The NHL will automatically look at Ribeiro
due to the fact he was assessed a match penalty for his
actions. Osgood was not penalized on the play.
Contact the author at: brian.mclean@prohockeynews.com
|
|
| Game
3 |
Detroit
5 - Dallas 2 |
|
by
Brian McLean - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Detroit
Leads Series 3-0 |
Dallas,
TX
- Normally in the post-season, a third game doesn’t necessarily
put a team into a must-win situation. But with the Dallas
Stars being down by two games in the series against the
dominating Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference
Finals, Game 3 on Monday night in Dallas was just that.
With their first power-play coming early, Dallas created
several scoring chances testing Detroit goalie Chris Osgood
but were unable to connect. Moments after the Dallas power-play
ended, Detroit went on the man-advantage only to have
it negated 20-seconds later. Four-on-four hockey was underway
when Pavel Datsyuk put the Red Wings on the board first
with a backhander at 9:27.
Grinding in the corner, Dallas evened the contest at 15:13
on Nicklas Grossman’s first career post-season goal on
a hard backhand through the slot from Mike Modano. The
relief didn’t last long as Detroit grabbed the puck, moving
it quickly retaking the lead 37-seconds later on Datsyuk’s
second goal of the night.
Due to an interference call against Detroit at the conclusion
of the first period, Dallas started the second period
on the power-play but it wasn’t until 3:47 that Brad Richards
knotted the game at 2-2.
The game moved on to past the midway point of the contest
when at 11:54 Detroit’s Niklas Kronvall connected a long
pass to a streaking a Jiri Hudler who went one-on-one
with Marty Turco beating him on the glove side upping
the Red Wings by one.
As sluggish-skating Dallas attempted to utilize their
fifth man-advantage early in the third period, it was
Detroit that put another mark on the board for a 4-2 lead
with short-handed attempt from Henrik Zetterberg at 1:38.
Immediately following the conclusion of the power-play,
Dallas was once again on the man-advantage and with a
Detroit takeaway Zetterberg yet again challenged Turco
but was denied in what was looking to be back-to-back
short handed goals.
Detroit’s Datsyuk completed the hat-trick at 17:19 of
the third period where he worked the puck around the net.
The score gave the Red Wings a commanding three goal lead
and a three game series lead as well as burying Dallas
one game closer to the six feet under mark.
The Stars who have now dropped three straight games to
a Detroit juggernaut will be staring straight down the
elimination barrel in Game 4. For Dallas to proceed and
salvage their post-season dreams, the Stars will need
to fire off four straight wins against Detroit starting
on Wednesday night.
Juggernaut on the Jugular
Detroit has rattled off nine straight victories in the
post-season including the Game 3 win.
Detroit’s dominant color may be red but it’s the Dallas
Stars who have been playing catch-up as the Red Wings
have not relinquished the lead at any point thus far during
the series.
The Detroit short-handed goal marks the third short handed
effort Dallas has given up during the post-season and
all have come on Dallas ice.
Contact the author at: brian.mclean@prohockeynews.com |
|
| Game
4 |
Detroit
1 - Dallas 3 |
|
by
Brian McLean - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Detroit
Leads Series 3-1 |
Dallas,
TX
- The Dallas Stars’ two-goal third period against the
series dominating Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday night
in Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals was the difference
maker thus keeping Dallas’ post-season hopes alive.
The game started slowly for the Stars and even though
they had all three man-advantages in the first period,
Dallas was unable to convert. Scoring chances were present
for both teams during the period, but the action remained
scoreless.
As with the first period, there were three power-plays
in the second but this time, it was Detroit’s turn on
the man-advantage. Detroit hammered Stars goalie Marty
Turco on each attempt, but were unable to get on the board.
Dallas gained a favorable call when Detroit’s Tomas Holmstrom
was tapped for goalie interference with 1:09 left in the
first man-advantage negating the power-play goal. With
23 ticks remaining in the period Loui Eriksson took a
big rebound off Detroit’s Chris Osgood giving Dallas their
first lead of the series with an even-strength goal to
close out the period.
The one goal lead didn’t last long as Detroit’s Henrik
Zetterberg answered 47 seconds into the third putting
the game at 1-1. The two teams battled through the period
and overtime was a possibility but with Dallas on the
power play, Mike Modano netted the puck giving the Stars
their second one goal lead at 5:35. Big saves continued
on each end keeping the contest close until Brenden Morrow
beat Osgood on the glove side giving Dallas a two goal
lead at 14:34.
The Dallas penalty killing unit was stout denying Detroit
on each attempt which was the difference maker along with
the Stars earning the first goal. The Dallas victory broke
Detroit’s and Osgood’s nine-game, post-season winning
streak forcing a Game 5 on Saturday in Detroit.
Contact the author at: brian.mclean@prohockeynews.com |
|
| Game
5 |
Detroit
1 - Dallas 2 |
| by Tom Schettino -
PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Detroit
Leads Series 3-2 |
Detroit,
MI
- As much as Dallas netminder Marty Turco tried to say this game was not about him, it truly was as he turned aside 38 shots and helped set up both Dallas scores. Turco, 0-9-2 at Joe Louis Arena coming into this game, helped his club stay alive as he made timely save after timely save.
“There's been a lot documented about his struggles up here,” said Dallas coach Dave Tippett. “I don't look at it as his struggles. I look at it as our team struggles up here. For us to be successful, he has to be very good. That's what you saw from him tonight. I thought there was so much battle in him. Our team, one of our themes all year is; find a way to win and have the will to win. I think Marty exemplified that tonight. He wasn't going to be denied in this game. He made enough saves in this game for us to get us the win.”
The netminder was also active on the scoresheet as he picked up the sole assist on Joel Lundqvist’s game-winning goal and started the play up ice for Dallas’ first score. Early in the second period Turco picked up the puck and fired it up ice where it deflected off Darren McCarty’s stick. With the Wings in some turmoil during a line change after the deflection, Lundqvist corralled the loose puck and found himself on a two-on-one with Toby Petersen. Using Petersen as a decoy, Lundqvist distracted Detroit netminder Chris Osgood enough to open up a shooting lane to take advantage of and he beat the goaltender for his second score of the postseason.
Detroit did their best to put the Stars away, outshooting them by a 38-21 margin but they were unable to finish and missed the net on numerous occasions. Their inability to convert in Game 5 has left the Red Wings in position to go into Dallas for a Game 6 on Monday night for another attempt. The loss left Detroit Coach Mike Babcock reflecting on what might have been.
“Well, I thought obviously the one line change thing where the puck was shot by Turco, it hit McCarty, Chelios thought it was going in front of him and he came to the bench,” said Babcock. “That gave them their second goal, which is unfortunate. Their other goal was we just over back-checked on a two-versus-two situation. I thought tonight, one of the keys for us when we had our quality chances, we missed the net. We missed the net 19 times tonight. We had ample opportunity, weren't able to get it done. When they were in lockdown mode, we didn't get enough people and pucks to the net for second chances.”
Actually the blueprint of taking a large series lead and letting the other club back into the series has been used before this year by both of these clubs. Detroit built a 2-0 advantage over the Nashville Predators before letting that club tie them up and now they have allowed the Stars to stay alive twice when a single win would have finished the Stars off. Dallas has been equally as guilty as they allowed the San Jose Sharks to roar back from three games down to force a Game 6 which the Stars eventually won in quadruple overtime.
Dallas took the lead midway through the first period when Trevor Daley put away a wrist shot behind Osgood. Turco started the play by banking a pass to Niklas Hagman. Hagman took the puck up ice and fed it to Brad Richards who dropped it to Daley. Daley took his time and skated all alone in the slot before firing off his labeled shot.
The Red Wings answered with a Jiri Hudler power play goal at the 15:30 mark of the period. Turco stopped a Niklas Kronvall shot from the point, but the rebound deflected to Hudler who side-stepped the fallen Turco and deposited the puck into a wide-open cage.
Even though the scoring was finished after Lundqvist scored early in the second period, the scoring shutdown was attributed to the goaltenders rather than the lack of chances. Each netminder was pressed at some point during the contest, but each did their best to give their team a chance to win. In the case of Turco his efforts were finally enough to give him his first win after 12 decisions as a professional at the Joe. For his part Turco is not ready to stop at just one win in Detroit.
“It feels good,” said Turco about the win. “(It) Feels more good about the situation we were in, the environment we're in, the ability we had to overcome it. It's a huge challenge that only fractionally got better tonight the way we're looking at it. But if we were able to do this (come back from a 3-0 deficit), we thought we needed at least one here, now we're going to need at least two. For me it has been a long time. But it's something I never thought that wouldn't happen in my career. You know, we're excited to go back home and continue to push this thing along.”
Game Notes
Down to what was possibly their last game and playing without Jere Lehtinen, Tippett shortened his bench to three lines and five defenders. Petersen was the prime beneficiary of increased responsibility as he logged over 22 minutes on the ice, more than every other Stars player except Brenden Morrow and Sergei Zubov. Peterson, a former ninth round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Penguins, battled through several minor pro seasons before earning his chance with the Stars.
“He's (Petersen) playing very valuable minutes, playing against top players, and he's getting the job done for us,” said Tippett. “He probably typifies, when you talk about players that play the game fast or play with pace, he's one of those guys that is right there. He's not a big guy, but is willing to get in the trenches, plays fast. That's what made him a good player in this series.
Detroit continues to play without Johan Franzen, their leading goal scorer in the playoffs. Franzen, who is listed as day-to-day is now appearing that he might be out week-to-week and the Red Wings, if they expect him back soon are not tipping their hand. Franzen has missed the entire five games of this series to date.
|
|
| Game
6 |
Detroit
4 - Dallas 1 |
| by Tom Schettino -
PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Detroit
Wins Series 4-2 |
Dallas,
TX
- A key to Dallas’ now-aborted comeback from a three games to none disadvantage by the Stars had been their fast starts. Detroit understood this to be an issue and quickly rectified it by scoring three times in the first period in a walk over the Stars in the closing effort.
Detroit sucked the life out of the Stars and limited Dallas to just 13 shots after the first two periods of play. An early third period score by Stephane Robidas keyed a strong period from Dallas, in which they out-shot Detroit by a 16-7 margin, but it was far too little and too late to expand their season.
Dallas never had a chance to win Game 6 and force the series back to Michigan for Game 7 as the Red Wings crashed the net with impunity. Detroit’s first three goals came from perhaps a combined 10 feet away from beleaguered Dallas netminder Marty Turco who was a helpless bystander in a game where he was at times abandoned by his defenders.
“We thought we were going to be good,” said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. “We didn't play bad last game. But our start got us behind the eight ball. We were nervous early. We've got a professional team, a good team. We just talked about doing what we do, just getting started on time, doing it harder, doing it for longer. We thought we'd have success. I thought we drove the net hard early and were rewarded.”
Kris Draper literally used his head to put Detroit on the scoreboard just a little over three minutes into the contest. Dallas Drake tossed the puck across the goalmouth where it struck Draper in his chin. The puck deflected into Turco and before the netminder could cover the puck up a wounded Draper smashed it into the net.
For all intents and purposes Pavel Datsyuk finished off the Stars when he collected a rebound of a Nicklas Lidstrom shot. The puck bounded to the star winger and he coolly lifted the puck past Turco for his ninth goal of the postseason. The scoring in the first ended when Drake took two swipes at a puck that was loose around Turco’s feet. Drake crashed the net and outfought Turco for a puck Brett Lebda had directed towards the Stars cage.
Henrik Zetterberg completed Detroit’s scoring when he picked off a Brenden Morrow pass while shorthanded and broke in alone on Turco. Zetterberg faked going backhand and wristed a shot past Turco for an unassisted goal.
Meanwhile Detroit goaltender Chris Osgood was stopping everything the Stars could throw on him and kept his opponent’s at bay until Robidas slapped one by him early in the first period. Despite the crush of a desperate Dallas club the Red Wings and Osgood kept Dallas at bay. Perhaps one of the most underrated clutch goaltenders in NHL history, Osgood will be going for his second Stanley Cup as a starting goaltender after staying sharp in a game where he saw ebbs and flows in the action.
“I've never been a guy that needs 40 shots to feel good,” said Osgood. “I think I can play well in any situation, whether it's 15 shots or 30 or whatever. I don't think about stuff like that. I just play the games as they come, try to win them regardless what the score is. That's the way I've always approached things, is just to win the game, try to win as many as I can.”
For Dallas the lose was tough to take, especially after knocking off favored clubs such as Anaheim and San Jose earlier in the playoffs and fighting back from the three game deficit. After the contest the club was applauded by their home fans for a deserving attempt which fell short and their coach showed his disappointment in the result.
“Winning in the playoffs, there’s nothing like it,” Dallas coach Dave Tippett said. “The commitment from our whole group was phenomenal. It’s frustrating losing, it’s disappointing losing. But they left everything they had on the ice. Everything.”
The win allows Detroit to move on to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals. Detroit became the first President’s Trophy-winning team to move on to the Finals since they turned the trick in 2002. Due to the fact they held the best record in the NHL this season the Red Wings will hold home ice advantage in the series which will start on Saturday. The mind games have already begun for the Finals as the coach with the best record in the NHL tried to set his club up as the underdogs.
“You start out with 30 (teams),” said Babcock “I believe in our League now, everybody's good. For two to be remaining, they must be very good. Their transition is fantastic. They have a bunch of kids that can really skate. It's going to be a huge challenge for us. But we're excited about the opportunity. To me that's the big thing. The other thing is, it will be good, the media will be talking about them and we'll be just going right through...I mean, they're 12-2 in the playoffs. I think we're 12-4, aren't we? So, I mean, they've been better than us.”
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
POWER
PLAY |
4TH
- 20.7 |
PENALTY
KILL |
8TH
- 84.0 |
FORWARDS |
PAVEL
DATSYUK |
31-66-97
(+41) |
HENRIK
ZETTERBERG |
43-49-92
(+30) |
DANIEL
CLEARY |
20-22-42
(+21) |
DEFENSEMEN |
NICKLAS
LIDSTROM |
10-60-70
(+40) |
BRIAN
RAFALSKI |
13-42-55
(+27) |
NIKLAS
KRONVALL |
7-28-35
(+25) |
GOALTENDERS |
DOMINIK
HASEK |
27-10-3
(5 SO)
2.14 GA
.902 PCT |
|
CHRIS
OSGOOD |
27-9-4
(4 SO)
2.09 GA
.914 PCT |
|
|
|
