DAL Stars at DET Redwings (May 08, 2008)
2008-05-08 03:19:00
SPORTSTICKER NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
=
#No. 1 Detroit vs. No. 5 Dallas#
--------------------------------
By Scott Erskine
PA SportsTicker Hockey Editor
The Detroit Red Wings have used home ice to their advantage
early in their first two playoff series. The Dallas Stars have
seized it from their opponents.
Something's got to give in the Western Conference finals.
The Presidents' Trophy-winning Red Wings have held serve in both
the conference quarterfinals and semifinals, winning Games One
and Two at home against the Nashville Predators and Colorado
Avalanche, respectively.
Meanwhile, the fifth-seeded Stars took the first two games of
their quarterfinal series against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda
Center before duplicating the feat in the semifinals vs. the
San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion.
But capturing the first two contests at Joe Louis Arena probably
is too much to ask of Dallas, which lost both of its
regular-season visits to "Hockeytown" in 2007-08. In fact, much
like the Avalanche, the Stars had trouble just scoring goals
against the Red Wings, who held a 12-5 advantage in goals in
winning three of the four meetings.
Colorado tallied just twice in four regular-season losses to
Detroit before being swept in the conference semifinals.
Dallas' only victory over the Red Wings was a tight 1-0
decision.
The key for the Stars in the conference finals will be
goaltender Marty Turco. After exorcising his playoff demons
with a fantastic performance in a losing effort against the
Vancouver Canucks in the 2007 quarterfinals, Turco has been
superb this postseason, posting the league's second-best
goals-against average at 1.73 and placing fourth in save
percentage after two rounds with a .929 mark.
However, Turco and Dallas' defense will need to figure out a way
to stop Johan Franzen. "The Mule" scored nine of his
league-high 11 goals against Colorado in the conference
semifinals, matching the entire output by the Avalanche.
Franzen, who has recorded two hat tricks already this
postseason, also leads the league with four game-winning goals
and is second with 14 points.
The Swede, who has scored 26 goals in his last 26 games dating
to March 2, is just another offensive weapon in the Red Wings'
arsenal. Selke Trophy finalists Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel
Datsyuk each have 13 points, Jiri Hudler has notched nine and
Tomas Holmstrom has yet to heat up.
Detroit's defense has allowed 30 or more shots just twice thus
far in 10 playoff games, but both instances came in its last two
contests. That did not faze Chris Osgood, though, as the
All-Star has gone 6-0 with a league-best 1.52 GAA and a .937
save percentage since taking over the starting job from Dominik
Hasek.
The Stars have their share of offensive threats, however. Mike
Ribeiro is tied with Franzen - and three others - for second
with 14 points, while captain Brenden Morrow is tied for fourth
with Zetterberg in goals with seven, including two game-winners
- both of which have come in overtime.
DETROIT RED WINGS
-----------------
WHAT'S RIGHT: Franzen is the front-runner for the Conn Smythe
Trophy after two rounds, already setting a franchise record for
most goals in one postseason. Scoring the game-winning goal in
three of the four victories over Colorado in the conference
semifinals was no fluke, however, as he netted six in March -
breaking another franchise mark for most game-winners in one
month. Franzen's 26 goals in 26 games is even more impressive
when you consider he netted 22 in 149 career games entering the
2007-08 season. ... Osgood led the NHL during the regular season
with a 2.09 GAA and has been even better since taking over for
Hasek in the playoffs. He has yet to suffer a loss and has not
allowed more than three goals in any of his six starts, holding
the opposition under three on four occasions. With 44
postseason wins as a Red Wing, Osgood is three shy of matching
Hall of Famer Terry Sawchuk for first place on the franchise
list. ... Injuries have not been a factor thus far, as only
46-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios missed a game against
Colorado with an ailment. Kirk Maltby is ready to return from a
hamstring injury, but coach Mike Babcock has yet to insert him
in the lineup for fear of spoiling team chemistry. If the Red
Wings remain healthy, the sky is the limit.
WHAT'S WRONG: Franzen and Zetterberg combined to score 14 of
Detroit's 21 goals against Colorado. Datsyuk and Mikael
Samuelsson added two apiece, meaning only three others netted
tallies. The Red Wings will need to spread out the goals,
especially if the Stars are able to contain the top scorers. ...
Osgood is due for a loss, and when it comes, will he be able to
bounce back? Granted, he is a veteran and has backstopped
Detroit to a Stanley Cup championship in the past. But after
having so much success to this point this postseason, one tough
setback could swing the pendulum and turn into several.
WHAT'S BEEN SAID: "We haven't played them in a while in the
playoffs. It's going to be fun for us to play another club. ...
But for sure, it's going to be tough, and there's going to be
some bad blood before this is over." - LW Henrik Zetterberg
INJURIES: D Chris Chelios (lower body), C Valtteri Filppula
(leg), RW Tomas Kopecky (knee), LW Kirk Maltby (hamstring)
DALLAS STARS
------------
WHAT'S RIGHT: The Stars have a 4-2 record both at home and on
the road this postseason, proving they are comfortable no matter
where they play. ... Morrow quickly is becoming Mr. Clutch for
Dallas. He scored in overtime in Game Three to give the Stars a
commanding three-games-to-none lead over the Sharks in the
conference semifinals and tallied midway through the fourth
extra session in Game Six to prevent San Jose from evening the
series and taking it home for the decisive seventh game. ...
While he understandably was a bit rusty after not having played
since January due to hernia surgery, defenseman Sergei Zubov
returned to the lineup against the Sharks and recorded a goal
and three assists in five games. The veteran is Dallas' best
offensive weapon on the blue line, and he needed to be vs. San
Jose as Stephane Robidas cooled down after his six-point effort
against Anaheim in the conference quarterfinals.
WHAT'S WRONG: Dallas needs to be aware of Detroit's ability to
score while down a skater. After netting just five shorthanded
goals during the regular season, the Red Wings have three thus
far in the playoffs. And the Stars yielded two in their
semifinal series against the Sharks. ... Seven of the 20 skaters
who appeared in the series vs. San Jose finished the series
with a minus rating. Five of those were forwards, including
Mike Modano, who was a team-worst minus-4. Modano also tied
Robidas with a club-high eight penalty minutes. ... While Turco
has been stellar this postseason, he has not yet faced an
offense as potent as Detroit's. The Red Wings are averaging a
league-high 3.80 goals per game, and the Stars will need to
maintain their 2.00 goals-against average in order to succeed.
... Joe Louis Arena has been a house of horrors for Turco, who
is 0-7-2 in his last 10 starts there.
WHAT'S BEEN SAID: "Our plan is to attack, get pucks in areas
where we can force turnovers, get some pressure on them. It's
everyone. It's finishing checks on (Henrik) Zetterberg, trying
to get in people's way, slow 'em down a little bit. That's
going to be our focus against this team." - LW Brenden Morrow
INJURIES: C Stu Barnes (head), D Philippe Boucher (hip)
HEAD-TO-HEAD PLAYOFF HISTORY
----------------------------
1992 Norris Division semifinals* - Detroit, 4-3
1995 Western Conference quarterfinals - Detroit, 4-1
1998 Western Conference finals - Detroit, 4-2
* - Stars still located in Minnesota
|
|
|
|
|
