Game 6: Detroit 4, Dallas 1 (Detroit Wins, 4-2)

“I can honestly look at those guys that we have – starting with Brenden Morrow – and say they left everything on the ice. Everything.” – Dave Tippett, after Game 6.

The darned thing about these fairy tales is that sometimes you might not care much for the ending. And so it goes as the 2008 Dallas Stars season ends at Game #100.

A 4-1 loss to the Stanley-Cup-Finals-Bound Detroit Red Wings killed the collective buzz of the 18,532 – but when the dust settles, the journey will be seen for what it was – a fabulous 40 day ride that will stay with those of us who love this sport and this team for a long time.

The truth is that this team squeezed everything out of its ability. There really was not much of a case to be made that the Stars deserved this series. Detroit, sadly, is better. And at times, it seemed obvious that they were quite a bit better.

But, what is that saying? That there is one team in the Western Conference that is better than the Dallas Stars? We’ve come a long way, baby.

In the life span of the Dave Tippett/Marty Turco era, the Dallas Stars have made the playoffs every year. But, as we all know, when they got there they were not quite sure what to do about it. From 2003-2007, the Stars accumulated 11 playoff wins. This spring, they gave us 10. They truly gave us something to Believe.

Let’s wrap this run up with some notes and thoughts from Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals:

• You could tell the Stars just weren’t themselves last night. Give Detroit all of their due. Tough questions were asked of them, and they answered all with such overwhelming power that they had grabbed momentum by the throat within 5 minutes of faceoff last night. Having said that, as a Stars fan that starting feeling greedy about potential accomplishments this spring, allow me to point out that the errors from our boys were tough to take. Datsyuk took the puck from between Grossman’s legs on his goal, Morrow set up Zetterberg with a very poor turnover, and the other two goals were scored when Marty couldn’t find the puck and for some reason an unmolested Red Wing was allowed to stand right next to him and poke home a near-freebie. Detroit crashed the net with great urgency last night, but we have seen the Stars stand up that barrage with far more effectiveness in recent games.

• When I started calling Brenden Morrow our very own William Wallace a while back, I would have the occasional e-mailer respond to me that I obviously didn’t remember that Wallace died in the end while fighting bravely and valiantly for Scotland. Nope. I remember my favorite movie quite well. The sad reality is that 29 teams end in a figurative “death” every-year. But do they surrender? Some do. Not William Wallace. He fights to the death. And Morrow, with injuries everywhere, fought like a Captain should. To the End.

• One truth that is told every spring is that hockey is the ultimate team game. 20 guys are required to each do their part. We saw it in every round, and in this series, who could ignore the great battle between Stephane Robidas and Dallas Drake? With players making $7 or $8 million a season on the same ice, both of those veteran warriors will take bruises forward at a much lower salary, and for Robidas, he forever will hold a special place in Dallas’ heart for his heroic efforts all year long. He properly demonstrates the guts of a professional hockey player. I have to think he might need a few weeks to heal up. Well deserved.

• I cannot stress how proud I was of the Dallas hockey fan last night. I am not sure I heard a “Boo” all night directed at the home team (no matter how bad they played at times). Personally, I think they earned a “boo-less” night given the fact that it was only due to their sheer will that there was even a game last night to begin with. Then, to top it off, the final minute of the game gave me chills. The full house was waving their white towels and showing proper appreciation for the 40 nights of playoff enjoyment. You paid a proper tribute. And when Morrow and Mike Ribeiro skated off and saluted the crowd, it was a wonderful portrait to remember as we wait for October.

• Not to reference Brett Favre or Roger Clemens here, but there comes a time in every athlete’s career when you wonder if you just saw their last performance. I am almost positive that Mike Modano will be back, but the thought did cross my mind as I saw him leave the ice. Next month, Mike will celebrate his 38th birthday.

• Another few thoughts on the Red Wings. Chris Osgood was very solid when he needed to be this series. It may be easier to be the goalie for a team like that, but the truth is that there will come a time when you must make a save to bail out your team, and he was seemingly always up to the challenge. Last night in the 3rd period, he was the best he had been the whole series.

• The Detroit Penalty Kill has given the Stars fits all year. They are so aggressive that the Stars never find a comfortable posture when setting up the man-advantage. It helps when you have the talent, but even more so, that team seems to be the smartest team in hockey. Very few mistakes, and when you see a botched line-change like you did in Game 5, you are almost amazed that Detroit was capable of a mental gaffe. Smart players make smart plays, and it is obvious that Ken Holland and Scotty Bowman know a little about finding players with a fine Hockey IQ.

• I think I would install Detroit as a slight favorite in what should be a fine Finals matchup for our sport. If you love hockey, you must find some pleasure in an attractive match-up for the nation to take note of in the next few weeks. I wanted Dallas there badly, but short of that, Pittsburgh and Detroit is good for the
game.

• In 1997, the Stars lost a painful game 7 in Round 1. In 1998, they lost in the Western Conference Finals to Detroit in 6 games. In 1999, they won the Stanley Cup. Hmmm. In 2007, the Stars lost a painful Game 7 in Round 1. In 2008, the Stars lost in the Western Conference Finals to Detroit in 6 games. In 2009…..

• Michael Scott, Branch Manager of Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton Office sent me his thoughts on Game 6’s loss and the end of the magical Stars run: “it feels like somebody took my heart and dropped it into a bucket of boiling tears... and at the same time, somebody else is hitting my soul in the crotch with a frozen sledgehammer... and then a third guy walks in and starts punching me in the grief bone... and I'm crying, and nobody can hear me, because I'm terribly, terribly... terribly alone.”

• Cheer up. This thing is headed in the right direction. The next wave, with Morrow, Ribeiro, Richards, Turco, and the gang, is ready to march forward with all of this new confidence and experience. They have learned what they are capable of. I refuse to believe they came up short. I believe they exceeded everyone’s expectations. Moving forward, those expectations will raise, and then it will be time to figure out how a Stanley Cup can be grabbed again. But, for now, enjoy the progress. Enjoy the memories. And, enjoy a few months without hockey. Because 2008-09 is on its way. And I suspect our boys will have some unfinished business to attend to and complete.

Game 5: Dallas 2, Detroit 1 (Det, 3-2)

Game 4 was about Pride. Game 5 was about crossing another task off the list. You know, that Joe Louis Arena “curse”. There is no curse. There is a game that requires will, precision, and belief. And on Saturday, this team had belief in what it does and who it is.

This is getting good, because Game 6 is about getting even with those Red Wings. Amazingly, the Stars are still breathing. And almost more amazingly, their pulse is getting stronger.

So feel free to make the mistake I did at your own peril. You see, 5 days ago, I was writing a column to the 18,532 that sounded like I was prepared for a funeral. A happy funeral for sure – like the one for someone who lived a really long, successful, respected life - but, still a funeral. Down 3-0, I was convinced that the heroic Dallas Stars 2008 Playoff run had smiled its last smile.

I didn’t see any way out of this mess. Sadly, despite being told all spring to “Believe”, I obviously did not. I was very proud of my boys taking down the Ducks and the Sharks, but the dream was over. Nice try, boys.

Well, I have never been so pleased to be wrong. And, I might have been wrong about something else, too. Maybe Skill doesn’t always beat Will. That isn’t to say the Stars don’t have plenty of skill, nor is it saying the Red Wings don’t have will.

But, since the theme of this series early on has been that Detroit is just too talented, then I think Games 4 and 5 indicate that maybe the Stars have too much will to go quietly into the night. Or too much will to go at all.

I don’t know quite what we are looking at right now. I still must remind all of us that the odds remain greatly stacked against Dallas. But if you don’t believe that this thing is back on in a huge fashion, then you haven’t been watching. The Stars didn’t need a plane to fly back to Texas. They felt great to earn a reprieve. And now, they realize that the mountain is being climbed. They are 60 minutes away from tying this series. 60 minutes of home hockey that could force a magical Game 7.

Game 6’s have been filled with memories in this franchise’s history. Brett Hull in Buffalo years ago, or Brenden Morrow at 1:24 am a few weeks ago come quickly to mind as two of the best. But, when you recall the two Game 6 wars in this city this spring – Game 6 versus the Ducks and the Quadruple Overtime to beat the Sharks, both were being fought with ferocity from the Boys in Black to avoid a Game 7 in California. Now, there is nothing in the world that the Stars would want to do more, than fly to Detroit for a Game 7 in Michigan Wednesday Night. Their house of horrors is now their dream destination. A lot can change on a Saturday afternoon, eh?

Notes and Observations from a glorious spring day in Detroit:

• Congratulations to Marty Turco. In his 12th try at the Joe, Turco gets a win. Nobody ever mentioned that his first 11 trips to Detroit included only 15 Dallas goals. It was all laid at his feet. Well, he seemed fine with that. Need some big saves? Holmstrom, Cleary, Zetterberg, and about 36 more come to mind. Need some offense? Turco set up both goals with passes, and also set up a 3rd great chance for Nik Hagman that Chris Osgood stopped. He is locked in again, and I wonder if he feels he can remain in the zone through Wednesday? Guess what, he will need to.

• After Game 2 , I wrote about punching the Red Wings in the face with adversity. I am telling you, they are not comfortable at times like these. They do not want to be on an airplane back to Texas. They thought that this weekend was a celebration of their triumphant return to the Stanley Cup Finals. This coach, this captain, these superstars, and most of this team have not done it in the playoffs. When adversity strikes Detroit, they have struck out since the days of Yzerman, Federov, Shanahan and that awesome group that won 3 Cups in 6 seasons. This group is awesome, too, but do they have the resolve and the heart? Test time. Doubt is a heavy backpack.

• My vote for the craziest stat I have ever seen: Take a guess (without cheating) of which Dallas player played the most ice time when the game was at equal strength. If you get this, you are a genius. Modano? Zubov? Ribeiro? Morrow? Robidas? Richards? Norstrom? Still guessing? Toby Peterson. Or as Zetterberg and Datsyuk must be saying now, Toby-Freaking-Peterson, who had a team-leading 19:25 when the game was at 5-on-5. I don’t believe it.

• Joel Lundqvist sure didn’t look like he wanted to take that shot that he scored on. He looked set to pass the entire way in on the 2 on 1 after a botched line change from Chris Chelios. But, he finally ripped it high corner past Osgood, and scored the game winner. What a game for that entire line with Toby, Lundqvist, and Loui Eriksson. Lundqvist even ran over Tomas Holmstrom seconds before a frustrated Holmstrom punched someone on the Stars bench taking a minor for roughing at precisely the wrong moment for his team.

• Detroit still dominated in the face-off circle, and dominated the shots on goal. The difference in what the Stars have figured out appears to be subtle. They are simply trying to make Detroit possess the puck on the outer part of the rink. Protect the slot, and protect the goalmouth. This still sacrifices shots and possession, but the premium shots are minimized. It also makes the Red Wings skill players engage much of their shift fighting in puck battles in the corners with the likes of Peterson or Steve Ott. Puck battles are about grit and fight, not skill and talent. If you can engage 13 and 40 in a corner, you will have a much better chance than in open ice.

• Jiri Hudler scored Detroit’s only goal on a power play. It was a pretty nice rebound finish for Hudler, but I was sure wondering how Detroit was on that PP to begin with given that Darren McCarty had run over Turco in the sequence prior to that which did not get called.

• Good to see Trevor Daley score and finish a game high +2. In this playoff run, Daley has at times been the forgotten man in the back, but his speed should always be something that gets the opponent’s attention. He can step into a rush as a trailer, as he did yesterday on Richards’ drop pass, and provide a nice element.

• Detroit can never be counted out. When Morrow hit the crossbar, he had a golden chance to get the Stars a bit of breathing room. It didn’t work, so it was hang on again in the final minutes. The final icing call made the last minute even more agonizing, but the Stars were up to the task.

• Credit Kris Draper with an exceptional cross check on Brenden’s face. Nice technique, Kris. Not sure how that call was missed, but I am sure it was an accident. Between Osgood’s butt-end and Draper’s cross check, it would seem Detroit has quite a few accidents with their conduct.

• I always enjoy a movie reference to sum up my feelings. But, I can’t take credit for this one. Many of you have been sending me the Rocky IV clip where Rocky realizes that Ivan Drago bleeds. Once he bleeds, you realize he is human. Once you realize he is human, you realize that your punches can hurt. Then, you realize victory can be had. It all starts, though, with a drop of blood. The Wings were just cut. Let’s see how that affects the two teams.

• The beauty of playoff hockey is this: No matter what you pay these guys in salary, you cannot put a price on victory. It is priceless. Imagine the money that could be raised if you could put a price on a Game 6 victory. We would all scramble to the phones to pledge what we could. But, it can’t be bought. It must be earned. Don’t look now, but your Dallas Stars are ready. Let’s see if this improbable, and some might even say impossible dream can keep going.

• Game 6 is very necessary.

Game 4: Stars 3, Red Wings 1 (Det, 3-1)

“Not in Our House”. “Not on Our Watch”.

I can’t swear this was anything more than delaying the inevitable, but I was certainly happy to see the way-too-many Red Wings fans hang their head and wander out into the night. No offense, Detroit fans, because we all recognize you have a great team, but I would say many of us were happy to see you without that smug look on your face for once.

The performance the Stars put out last night reminded me plenty of many of the other wins on this wonderful playoff run – desperation, determination, and just enough at the end of the game to break through. Led by usual suspects Brenden Morrow, Mike Modano, and Marty Turco, the team gave us all we could ask for – one more night of smiles. Now, we shall repeat the request for Saturday.

Are the legs returning? Is the energy back up? Or did the Stars just relax and play last night like they had nothing to lose? I am sure we all have a number of explanations for a game that finally saw the Stars enjoy a lead for a few minutes. Whatever the combination of reasons might have been, the fact is that the team was able to make Chris Osgood scramble a little bit by unleashing their best forecheck of the series, which was followed by turnovers and scoring chances.

Detroit had plenty of chances pushing back, as Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk were just as dangerous as ever. But, the Stars hung on and live to fight another day.

Here is a notebook for a Game 4 that extended hockey season for at least 60 more minutes:

· Great to see Modano push through. He has been such a factor for this team during the run as when he plays well, the Stars do, too. Sent out to wing last night with Brad Richards, he looked extra determined, and you have to believe a guy with his resume perhaps realizes he might not get within 3 wins of the Stanley Cup Finals ever again. So, there is no use taking any energy and effort with you to the off-season. He looks like he has decided to leave it all on the ice.

· That Zetterberg is amazing as a penalty killer. Seriously. Watch him some time. He deflects so many passes. He seems to have that ability that they used to say about Pele, that he sees the game 3 or 4 passes ahead of everyone else. I know that sounds crazy, but how else does he know what you are doing before you know?

· Speaking of Henrik, who felt good about Dallas’ chances after he tied the game on the 1st shift of the 3rd period?

· Jeff K plays the music at the American Airlines Center. I am sure he puts plenty of thought into what songs he plays, but I thought it was extra relative last night. 10 minutes before the National Anthem played, he rolls out Pearl Jam’s “Alive”: Is something wrong, she said - Well of course there is - Youre still alive, she said - Oh, and do I deserve to be - Is that the question - And if so...if so...who answers...who answers...-I, oh, Im still alive - Hey i, oh, Im still alive - Hey i, but, Im still alive -Yeah i, ooh, Im still alive -Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah ...I thought of it as I left the arena after the win. I guess that is what they mean about music being the soundtrack of life.

· Marty really had to work last night. He no doubt is not feeling great about his performance in Game 3, and despite many close calls as the puck creeps past the goal line, he kept the Stars in the game. Detroit has a relentless attack, and many goalies are going to look bad against them. I thought this performance was really important to his psyche moving forward. Not just for Saturday, but for many battles in the future. Of course, to really break through the “curse”, he needs a stand-on-his-head performance at their place. Hey look, opportunity knocks on Saturday at 12:30!

· What can you say about Toby Peterson, Loui Eriksson, and Joel Lundqvist? I certainly had no idea what Dave Tippett was thinking matching those three up against the Detroit Super-Line, but I guess they did just fine. They matched them goal for goal, and somehow limited the damage. Toby Peterson is showing that he belongs, while Loui and Joel both add to the bright future of the Stars.

· “Proud” is defined at dictionary.com in many ways. I thought the one that summed up my feelings for the boys yesterday was this one: “Highly Gratifying to the Feelings or Self Esteem”. There was no way they deserved to go out like that, swept at the hands of their hated rivals. I don’t know where this series is going – as odds remain stacked – but if that wasn’t a night of pride for the 18,532, I don’t know what would be. They showed they weren’t going quietly. Well done.

· Detroit certainly got a raw deal on that disallowed goal. It was a blown call, no doubt. Blown calls happen quite a bit in these playoffs, but it is particularly painful that such an innocent party such as Tomas Holmstrom be blamed. I don’t know how any official could accuse him of being in the crease. I kid. Sort of.

· Brenden Morrow is William Wallace. I started saying it last year when he skated on one leg to the Vancouver bench ready to fight the whole team. I see it in nearly every game. I have no idea if he is the greatest captain in the league, but I contend no player inspires his team and his fan base more than #10. With him leading this team, I would say the future of the Dallas Stars is plenty promising.

· With Brenden and Modano in the box, the game was finished with a 6 on 3, with only Steve Ott, Stephane Robidas, and Mattias Norstrom trying to assist Turco in bringing the game home. It was the series in a nutshell – wave after wave of Red coming at you, and the Stars trying courageously to protect the fort. And while the attack was thwarted, it was only momentary. There are many more waves of attacks to withstand.

· The Stars have won their first do-or-die game. They must now do it again. Don’t consider the big picture. If you are the Stars, don’t worry about every 33 years. Worry about resting for a few days, and going into Detroit as a big underdog with nothing to lose. You must win again. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. They’re Still Alive.

Game 3: Detroit 5, Dallas 2 (Det, 3-0)

Skill Beats Will.

18,532 arrived Monday night with great plans and expectations. 18,532 knew that all they needed was one win to turn this series right back around. And, 18,532 left the American Airlines Center in quiet depression as they had just witnessed a hockey clinic they will not soon forget, that will likely end a spring of hockey they also will not soon forget.

The Dallas Stars appear to be a team that is out of answers, energy, and ideas. They have accomplished far more than most observers thought possible this season, and have much to be excited about moving forward. But, the present is not so kind. The Western Conference Finals have required a meeting with a team that has me wondering if we will all look back and marvel at how special this Detroit Red Wings team really is. I don’t want to admit it anymore than you do, but there are times
when you play a team that is just flat-out better.

Will history show us that the 2008 Red Wings are a star-studded cast that will rival the Penguins of the early 1990’s? Even Edmonton in the 1980’s? It seems silly to suggest, but I can’t remember seeing this quality since Mario, Jagr, and the gang rode through the NHL in 1991 and 1992. Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, and Henrik Zetterberg are such high-end talent playing so well, at times while driving you insane by destroying your team, you feel fortunate to be witnessing such greatness with your own eyes.

With far more questions than answers, let’s look back at a Game 3 that was tough to take:

• Would you like the entire series in a nutshell? Here it is. Mike Modano sends a wicked backhand pass to Nik Grossman, which is promptly spanked home to tie the game, 1-1. While Bill Oellermann attempted to announce the specifics of the goal, the Red Wings had sent their unstoppable gang-of-5 (28, 5, 12, 40, 96) to go re-take the lead. I hate to say that they were toying with the Stars, but when they can go score seemingly anytime they want, it makes you consider the premise. The Stars had the game tied for an entire 37 seconds before the energy was sucked out of the building when Datsyuk scored again to make it, 2-1. At least when Brad Richards scored to tie it at 2-2, the Red Wings had the mercy to wait 8 minutes before taking the lead again. So very frustrating.

• I felt the Stars were bringing all sorts of pressure at Detroit in the first two periods last night. They had more chances, but just not results. I think the most under-rated aspect of Detroit is that defensive zone coverage. When Brenden Morrow and Mike Ribeiro have put the pressure on in past series, they would always end up with golden scoring chances. But those Wings hardly ever lose their shape. Once in a while, a chance presents itself, but they are so much more secure in their own end than the Ducks or the Sharks. I don’t think it is even close.

• Is there anything that broadcasters say more than: “In the playoffs, it is all about Power Play and Goaltending”. But, a quick check of the 2008 playoff run will reveal that following: When the Stars had their Power Play clicking, and Marty bailing them out, they won. Sadly, right now, the Power Play is not very powerful, and Marty is not bailing them out. Last night, they needed Marty to foil Hudler’s breakaway, Zetterberg’s short hander, or one of Datsyuk’s sorties. Easy for me to say, but this time of year, either your goalie saves your bacon, or you lose.

• I can’t help look back at Game 4 of the San Jose Series. In the 2nd intermission of that game, it is tied, 1-1. If the Stars can control the 3rd period, like they had been routinely, the sweep of the Sharks is complete, and the rest and recuperation would have been substantial. But, while the Red Wings had their feet up, the Stars had to battle the Sharks into overtime in Game 5, and quadruple overtime in Game 6. I have to wonder if the strength expended to play those 11 extra periods have taken their toll. Look, I am not saying that this is the difference in this series, but it sure doesn’t help.

• My first Chris Chelios memory was when I was 9 years old, and he was playing his first season at Wisconsin in 1981. 5 years later, Matt Niskanen and Mark Fistric would be born. I will turn 36 years old next month, and Chris played in his 258th playoff game last night. I am not sure what this has to do with last night’s game but it just amazes me that this guy keeps playing. And contributing. At 46.

• Brenden Morrow looks beat up. So does Mike Modano. And Brad Richards. And Sergei Zubov doesn’t look right. And Marty Turco looks exhausted. I wonder how many of these guys are injured and just trying to keep going. It is a war of attrition. And it appears that skill beats will.

• Have you ever heard of Wallace Hartley? He was the band leader on a little boat called the Titanic. According to legend (or at least the movie), the band played until the very end. The boat was sinking, people were screaming, and death was looming, yet the band played on. Even though their doom was completely assured, they continued playing. And according to the script , he turned to his band-mates and with water rolling up the deck toward them, he lowered his violin and said, “Gentlemen, it has been a privilege playing with you tonight”. Well, it would appear that water is rushing in right now on the good ship, “Believe”. I would like to echo Mr. Hartley’s words and direct them to our boys. “Gentlemen, it has been a privilege watching you play this spring.”

• Wednesday Night should be a celebration of what you have seen. Let’s hope they have at least one more courageous win in them. But, allow me to make a request, 18,532. Win or Lose, I sure hope you are ready to salute your team at the end of the game. Nobody thought there would be a Stars game on May 14th, and yet there is. It has been a wonderful run that is restoring a lot of faith in the organ-i-zation. It isn’t over yet, but when it is, make sure you remind yourself that 2008 has been very successful, and a major step forward. Don’t lose sight of that. Enjoy the journey.

Game 2: Detroit 2, Dallas 1 (Det 2-0)

Game 2 can be titled, “Better, but not enough”. The Dallas Stars brought more effort, energy, and executed about as well as they could, but in the end, they now fully realize what they are up against. A Detroit team that is awesome is playing at a very high level. And while we all know the suggestion that a “Best of 7 series doesn’t begin until the road team wins a game”, the fact is simply this: If the Stars don’t win Game 3 back in Dallas, not only will this series begin, but it will also end in the blink of an eye.

The thin line of win or lose in the playoffs often depends on a bounce here, or a turnover there. But, the Stars momentum, which was clearly helping them roll down the hill, is now in hiding. They have lost 4 of their last 5 playoff games, and have scored 2 goals in regulation only ONCE in the last 6 games.

They have reached a crisis point, where valuable soldiers are getting hurt, and those who are able are trying to march on.

Game 2 was very close, but I also had a distinct feeling that Detroit was never made uncomfortable. That isn’t to say that the Stars cannot compete with them, but in their business trip to Detroit, they returned empty-handed, and at no point did the Red Wings feel fear. The Wings held control for nearly all 120 minutes of hockey in this series so far, and while some would suggest they merely “held serve”, most neutral observers would likely say they have grabbed the series by the throat.

Do our boys have another gear? Many are suggesting that the first two rounds took too much of a toll, and that the opponent in the Conference Finals has too much.
I am not so sure. I want to allow the Stars every opportunity to measure up. I want to hang in there long enough to see the 20 in Black figure out a way out of this mess. But, make no mistake, time is running out. The math is starting to build up, and now, having lost the first two games, the Stars face the most daunting task of trying to beat Detroit in 4 of the next 5 games, or summer is here.

They can only win one game on Monday night, but the desperation and urgency on display in Game 3 will tell us if they have another heroic stand left in the tank, or if we have already seen the best they have to offer in the 2008 playoffs. And while it is better, it may not be nearly enough to derail Detroit.

Notes from game 2:

• When you get chances, boys, you must take better advantage. The final shot totals are slanted heavily in the Detroit favor, and they earn it. But, when you get golden chances in the first 5 minutes: Loui Eriksson in the slot with a chance that he shoots wide by two feet from two feet away, Toby Peterson with a gorgeous pass right in front that he whiffs, and a 4-1 that Steve Ott shoots 2 feet wide from 2 feet away, you must at least make the goaltender move. I know Detroit is great, but the only explanation for all these 3 squandered chances must be players squeezing their sticks too tight. The Detroit mystique was something Brett Hull admitted was a key as the series began. The Stars had to treat them as an opponent, not as the greatest team ever assembled. There is no doubt Detroit is off the highest quality, but don’t lose to them because you freaked yourself out. Those 3 gorgeous scoring chances have to at least require saves from Chris Osgood. Add in Sergei Zubov’s wonderful chance that went wide later in that 1st period, and Hagman’s semi-breakaway in the final minute that also missed the net, the Stars had as many or more chances as Detroit, and went to the room behind and frustrated.

• The Stars power play looks better, and the conversion by Stephane Robidas is a nice start. But, for this series to turn, the Stars are going to need to convert with regularity. But the chances are there, and the set-up is happening. This is the fine line that the coaches consider every day. Is the only basis for power play execution scoring? Or can you draw positives from steady improvement that may help you later in the series?

• Zetterberg or Datsyuk? I prefer the Swede, but to have them on the same line has to be against some league rule. Or maybe it just should be.

• Mike Ribeiro could have had a hat trick yesterday. Lots of good chances. Of course, that and $4.35 will get you a Venti White Chocolate Mocha. Chances must be converted or seasons end.

• I was happy to see Matt Niskanen account of himself well when he was put back into the lineup. The Stars are going to be forever pleased with the experience the young defensemen have gained.

• How tough is it to play in the NHL? Let’s count the concussions. Johan Franzen. Stu Barnes. Now, Jere Lehtinen, it would appear (I realize that the injury has been suggested to be a leg injury, and it could be, but playing doctor on my couch, I detected the strong possibility of a concussion after that collision with Brenden). And who knows how many other concussions we haven’t heard about. If you think the Stars need to dig deeper and fight a bit harder, then you are going to need Barnes and Lehtinen, two of the most likely to dig deeper and fight harder for every inch. Speedy recoveries are needed badly. Trouble is, nothing lingers like a concussion.

• Darren Helm’s goal after the 4-1 chance for the Stars was particularly deflating. I believe Turco would have liked to have taken a better angle. There haven’t been many errors in Turco’s postseason, but I have to think he didn’t mean to give up that much daylight on the post.

• Faceoffs in Game 2 were 39-16, and 35-21 in Game 1 in favor of the Wings. Fillpula, Draper, and Zetterberg are destroying Modano, Ribeiro, and Richards to the tune of 74-37. When I was just a lad, I was told that the faceoff turns into possession. Possession turns into chances. Chances turn into goals. And goals turn into wins. So, it may just be a faceoff, but to those that play the game, it is obvious that dominating in the circle leads to dominating in the game. I heard proud grandfather Guy Charbonneau is in town to witness the birth of the Morrow twins. Any chance he can take some face-offs while he is here?

• Well, let’s get to Ribeiro v Osgood. Honestly, this is the type of thing we all remember years later. Who will forget Belfour v. LaPointe? In this case, as so many before it, both acted at a level below choir-boy, and at first blush it sure looked like Ribeiro acted as a maniac and should have been locked up. After further review, you see that St Osgood not only slid a butt-end into Ribeiro’s chin with the game over, but then the finest impression of Greg Louganis I had seen in some time. Honestly, the fault depends on whose ox is being gored, and I suspect those in Detroit think Ribeiro should have a life-time ban, and those in Dallas think it was boys being boys and let’s play on Monday. In an unrelated note, I am writing this column today from Dallas, Texas. I expect to see #63 in Black on Monday.

• Mike Tyson once said that everyone has a plan until you hit them in the face. Detroit is really good, but, let’s not forget that they have had many issues of their own in the playoffs over the recent years. See, in my estimation, they are so good, that they rarely find themselves in tough spots. Often, they win by merely being themselves and overwhelming the opponent. But, if you can put them in jams, they sometimes are not quite sure how to get out, and that is how they have been bounced in several playoffs in a row. It is easier said than done, but the Stars need to execute the “punch in the face” technique, and in these two home games, figure out how to place some adversity in Detroit’s dressing room. If you can, the series turns. If you don’t, the series is over in a few days.

Game 1: Detroit 4, Dallas 1 (Det 1-0)

One month has been completed in the Dallas Stars 2008 Playoff campaign, and they finally had “one of those nights”. From that standpoint, the boys would be wise to shake it off, and begin preparations for entering a game for the very first time in these playoffs facing a game deficit.

Let’s start there. Can you believe that in the first two rounds the Stars were neither tied nor behind in games? They took a 2-0 lead in both series, and never were caught in either.

Well, Round 3 will not be so simple. These are the Detroit Red Wings. And if you don’t plan on playing a clean game, with few penalties and making all your chances count, you may not find your way into the win column. Game 1 was one of those nights where the mind was willing, but the flesh appeared to be weakened from the playoff wars that have already been endured.

When you take penalties, you must kill them off. The Stars did not come close to killing penalties last night, and they must start with clearing the crease of Huge Swedes Tomas Holmstrom and Johan Franzen. If you are going to allow those players to use their bodies as screens, you are going to get really tired of those guys scoring goals on deflections where Marty Turco doesn’t even see the puck. The trouble is that if you spend too much time trying to move them while killing a penalty, then that will leave 3 players to account for the other 4 Wings who happen to be some of the best hockey players in the world.

You didn’t expect this to be easy, now, did you?

Notes and Observations from a forgettable night in Detroit:

• 4-1 was a tough score. But, it could have been worse. Marty Turco will get the blame in many newspaper spaces this morning for his “Detroit Jinx”, but I can find almost no fault in his night and frankly without his performance being as good as it was, couldn’t it have been 6-1 or 7-1? His save of Hanrik Zetterberg’s wraparound was very nice, and the stat of the night to give Dallas fans pause is this: Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk combined for 14 shots (7 each) and neither scored a goal. No other Red Wing had more than 3 shots. Mark my words, if you give 40 and 13 14 shots in another game, one of those two snipers is going to light the lamp…minimum.

• Bill McCreary’s decision to put the Stars down 2 men was horrendous. Sorry, but to put a team down 2 men should happen when absolutely warranted, but not on a post whistle scrum. Further, the guy who did deserve the minor was Steve Ott for his ill-advised face wash of Holmstrom. Mark Fistric? What did he get a minor for, “2 minutes for being the rookie”? That is a devastating decision because in this round, if you put either team up 2 men, it is a more-likely-than-not goal for the opposition. It better be worth it. And, I don’t buy that call at that point of the game. There was no run-up of nonsense to lead to that occasion. It was McCreary setting the tone for how he wanted the game to be played. Trouble is, in doing so, he gave Detroit a 5-3 for 1:26. They only needed 9 seconds to score.

• The key is the 1st goal. If you don’t get it, then you have to chase the game, and against Detroit, that is not an easy task. I realize we all scoffed at the 1st goal principle in the San Jose Series. Trust me, it matters. Saturday night, the Stars really need to strike 1st.

• Another issue about playing these guys is this reality: They want their top line of Zetterberg, Datsyuk, and Holmstrom to match up against Ribeiro, Morrow, and Lehtinen. Ribeiro’s line has made all opponents beg for mercy, but the thing about Detroit’s top combo is that they are not only the best scorers Detroit has, it should also be noted that Zetterberg and Datsyuk are 2 of the 3 finalists for the Selke Award. That is right. They are noted defensive forwards. And it isn’t just Hockeytown Hype. If Ribeiro’s line gets its results here, there is officially no stopping them.

• You read all of the stories about “puck control” against Detroit. Dave Tippett and all sorts of other coaches talk about trying to control the puck against Detroit. Not saying it is impossible, but it sounds a lot like trying to keep Peyton Manning from completing a pass. They are so good that they are going to do what they are going to do. In the Colorado series, there is one sequence where they were on the Power Play, and they had the puck exchanged 32 times without Colorado controlling the puck once. Think about it, passes to eachother or shots where the rebound was collected and reset for 32 consecutive times. It is almost impossible. How do you stop it? You try to frustrate them offensively by stacking the blueline and making them dump. It is sometimes risky, and if anyone falls asleep for even a moment, you have a moment like last night when Valtteri Filppula split Fistric and Norstrom and scored. Beating Detroit is not an easy task. And beating them at their place is still something the Stars have to figure out. Soon.

• I think the Stars will need big things from Brad Richards, Loui Eriksson, and Joel Lundqvist in this round. They are a “puck control” line, and they looked quite comfortable last night. They may be perfect for playing Detroit. Let’s see.

• Love the energy of the 4th line with Toby Peterson, Brad Winchester, and Steve Ott. Just don’t take penalties, boys. It is a fine line you have to walk.

• Not all was bad yesterday. Reports are that Fabian Brunnstrom has been signed. That is not only good news for Dallas because he is a top 6 forward next year, but also because he is not a Top 6 for Detroit. Trust me, they don’t need any more skilled Swedes. Check out his skills here , and congrats to Les Jackson and Brett Hull on getting this one done.

• One game. Use your mulligan. The definition of a successful trip to Detroit is to get a win. You no longer have wiggle room, but Saturday looms with the potential for a smiling airplane back to Dallas with a big result. I suspect we will see a much better effort from our boys on Saturday. In fact, I have grown to expect it.

Game 6: Stars 2, Sharks 1 (4 OT) (Dal, 4-2)

YES!

Brenden Morrow and Marty Turco. It is only fitting, isn’t it? The two guys who have been the hopes of the “Next Generation” Dallas Stars for years, at times taking the heat for not getting it done, were the men who led the way when the Stars needed them most.

You see, in sports, it often isn’t like that. In the biggest moments, sometimes it
is an anonymous name or face that makes the play to get the team through, with the faces you know often serving as only decoys or supporting roles.

But, not in the most memorable game ever played in the American Airlines Center. In Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinal, the game was won by 20 guys in Black. But, make no mistake, they were carried by Morrow and Turco.

Marty Turco made 61 saves. Many of them moments where you just knew the red light was going to be activated. How he kept his composure and found the puck for 7 periods is amazing. At times, he was hung out to dry by his mates. A horrible turnover would end up right on the stick of the wrong guy, only to have Turco save the day. Marty has been asked to out-last the guy at the other end of the rink, and in this unforgettable 2008 playoff run, he has shown the quality that made Ed Belfour a legend in these parts. He has shown that he has no interest in giving in this year.

And then there is the captain. O Captain, Our Captain. What in the heck could you say about Brenden Morrow? Somehow, he was credited with 19 hits. Somehow, he never looked tired. And somehow, Morrow put the game out of its misery at 1:24am. And for the second consecutive Game 6, the pure joy on the battered face of the Stars’ captain shows that the paychecks are nice – but you can’t buy the feeling of winning in the playoffs. Razor was comparing his performance in these playoffs to Mark Messier’s legendary runs. I will defer to Razor since they were mates back in the day, but allow me to say I have never seen anyone will his team to a new level like Brenden is right now.

We don’t know when this journey will end, but if they don’t win another game in these playoffs, the legends of Morrow and Turco have already given us memories that shall last for a very long time.

Notes and Stuff from a blurry eyed note book as I have a coffee IV drip to try to get me going this morning:

• Let’s start with you, Stars’ fans. Bravo. 18,532 screaming voices. Standing through the overtimes almost continuously. When the team took the ice for the 4th overtime, the towels were still swinging. And every chance was still accompanied by wild enthusiasm from the crowd. I have no idea how many of you hung in there at the arena, but it was plenty. What a crowd. What a night. I challenge any sport to match the drama, exhilaration, exhaustion, and delirium of NHL Playoff Hockey. Not to trivialize many wonderful moments in my life, but I wonder if 1:24am on Cinco De Mayo 2008 cracks the rankings.

• What more could the Sharks have done? Honestly, I wonder how they will be treated in their home town in the next few days. It is the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat. Since 2004, no NHL team has won more games in the playoffs than the San Jose Sharks. And, since 2004, no NHL team has lost more games in the playoffs than the San Jose Sharks. If I am them, I am totally lost as to improvements I should make. The Sharks are good enough. They just needed one more play. One more inch. But, it didn’t happen. When you are on the right side of that one inch, you don’t ask “why?” you just take your win and advance. But, when all that stopped you was the thinnest of margins, you are sick to your stomach. Fire your coach? Trade your key players? We have asked those questions around here. And boy, Dallas is so happy they didn’t fire or trade any of the heroes from last night in summers of frustration past.

• Evgeni Nabokov’s theft of Brad Richards may be the greatest save I have ever seen. Brad Richards had Nabokov beat and fired a shot as hard as he could into the open mouth. And there, is Nabokov’s glove hand to save the game. Did it cross the line? Maybe 90% of the puck did. If the Sharks had gone on to win, this save would have haunted the Stars’ organization for years. But, they figured out a way to overcome it. Nabokov did, however, allow us all to watch another 3 periods of overtime, thanks to this save.

• Morrow’s hit on Milan Michalek was so thunderous that the arena exploded. But, when Michalek stayed down on the ice, it got quiet really fast. I have been unable to find any reports on his health this morning, but we sure hope he is fine. The impact of that hit was felt the rest of the night. From the Shark’s standpoint, they lost one of their best players. And from the Stars’ side, it seemed like the captain making a statement that the Stars were not going to be denied.

• Wasn’t the greatest part of the evening that while both goalies were putting on a show, the opposition was getting chances from their very best players. Mike Ribeiro had them, Richards had them, Zubov had them. Joe Thornton, Jeremy Roenick, Patrick Marleau had them in the other direction. So many golden scoring opportunities, and so many saves. Glorious, glorious hockey.

• Speaking of Roenick, the moment in the handshake shared by JR and Mike Modano was a picture worth 1,000 words. As a hardcore fan of U.S. Hockey, I am a huge fan of both of those men, and proud that at this advanced age, they are both phenomenal examples of what it is all about. If that was Roenick’s last game, he has nothing to be ashamed of.

• Marty, Marty, Marty! How about the save on Thornton in the 2nd period with the left arm along the ice? Wow.

• Do you think there is a fine line between winning and losing? Consider Stephane Robidas; He falls and almost is the goat as Turco bails him out on Thornton’s chance, and then has the masterful dish to Morrow to win the game. It is a game of inches.

• Toby Peterson was another name at the bottom of the Stars roster until last night. Last night, he was a guy who belonged in the line-up. Great job, Toby. I wouldn’t be shocked if someone buys a #17 sweater this week based on your 16 shifts of excitement in Game 6.

• Despite the fact it is Cinco De Mayo, I have to think hockey fans may require a siesta more than a celebration today.

• Finally, the team that scored 1st won a game. Although it is a goofy stat given that the teams were tied for about 4 hours.

• The longest game the Dallas Stars have ever won is in the books. So, is the rest of the Pacific Division. Only 4 teams are left. Detroit is next. The Wings will be large favorites. Fine with me. As long as Morrow, Turco, and the boys have something to say about this, I suspect the Stars will show themselves very well.

• Rest up. 8 down. 8 to go?

Game 5: Sharks 3, Stars 2 (OT) (Dal, 3-2)

Ah. Adversity. I thought it was odd that we hadn’t heard from such a familiar force in a while. Where had adversity been? Adversity is what the playoffs are all about. Handle it well, and you emerge on the other side a better team. Don’t handle it well, and it becomes folk lore in your franchise’s history as the year “that should have been”.

The simple fact is this: We all know the Stars were dealt a weak hand last night. I am not sure anyone would dispute that they likely deserved a better fate. But, it did not go down like that – with plenty of blame to fall on the shoulders of the Stars, so what are they going to do about it?

Game 6 is the biggest hockey game that has been played in this city in a very long time. If possible, I would like the game scheduled for right this second, as waiting for Sunday night, 8pm, will be a difficult process for many of us. But, know this, if this team is made of a different fabric of those that preceded it in this decade…and I strongly believe that it is, then they need to unleash all of their fury, determination, and anger on that game. They need to find a level that San Jose can search for, but will not find. I expect the Stars to be playing as if their playoff lives depend on it, because you know something? They might.

Game 5 will be remembered for many things; let’s detail some of the moments from the night that I will best remember for that assumed replay official in the windbreaker who had an ear to ear grin after the 1st Brenden Morrow goal was disallowed.

· Seriously, this is my NHL and all, but I could only cringe last night as the wait for that review went on and on. I was thinking about all the people who have heard about the Stars run here in the playoffs, and decided to check out what the buzz was all about. So, they tune in last night and see that the league still cannot properly review a goal. If the rule states that there must be a distinct kicking motion to be disallowed, and then see that Morrow never looks to his feet but rather looks to the crossbar that is about to hurt, then it would seem obvious to deduce that he was attempting to stop and that the puck hit his skate and deflected in as a matter of chance not intent. Of course, my NHL has always puzzled us with incredibly odd rulings (some to the Stars benefit, by the way) and while I will take to my grave the idea that this league is above reproach when it comes to intentionally biased behavior, I can understand while those who only watch hockey on rare occasions would question the “WWF” nature of that routine last night. And then, after the goal is waved off, the cameras catch “windbreaker man” grinning, and Dallas felt a little shortchanged. All we needed was the guy running in with the steel chair while the ref wasn’t looking.

· Now, here is where I may anger my constituency. I hate to say it, but the referees didn’t lose that game last night. The Stars had every chance to close out the Sharks and the series with a multi-goal lead in the final period. With 15 minutes left on the clock, the Stars are ahead 2-0, and despite any outside forces that may have affected the game to that point, the fact remains that this team only had to kill the game off, and were unable to do it. It may hurt this morning, but hand any team a chance to win a series with a 2 goal lead and 15 minutes to play and every team in the league would love their chances. The Stars, who have been nothing short of money this post-season, have lost the last two 3rd periods. I dare say that they deserved their fates in both Games 4 and 5 because of that. Just like a fighter cites rounds 10-12 as the “Championship Rounds”, the 3rd period is where teams either do or die. The Stars must win another 3rd period in this series to advance.

· I know it is easy to 2nd guess coaching after a loss, and in this space we are huge believers in Dave Tippett’s decision making, however, I didn’t particularly care for the idea of playing Brad Richards only 15 minutes last night. Nor, did I like breaking up the lines – I understand that Stu Barnes being hurt affects many aspects of the team, but when 21-91-39 have been so solid in these playoffs, I would have hung in with them. Meanwhile, I assumed that 15-9-29 was a solid way to replace Barnes, but Tippett disagreed. The lines last night were radically different than they have been, and they tried to get plenty of work from the 4th line. I think in Game 6, Tippett should consider returning to riding his horses. That means that one of the rotation of 63, 91, and 9 needs to be on the ice at all times in equal strength. Richards needs 20+ minutes to put his stamp on the game, and with all due respect from the support staff on the 4th line, I want to rely on my strength in the biggest game of the year.

· Close calls would have made the night different in each direction. Both teams had crossbars hit, odd man rushes were not converted, and major saves from both of the goaltenders. This series has been competitive and close, and one team is really going be disgusted about losing this thing.

· While we question officiating, is there a rule that allows Christian Ehrhoff to cross check Morrow in the back because he decided to cut to the net in the final minute of regulation? I swear that is a minor penalty, but it appeared that the officials were unaware of the cross-checking rule.

· Have I mentioned that Morrow is the perfect captain? Just making sure I have pounded that point home. As you read this, know that somewhere he is plotting his Sunday evening.

· I certainly appreciate Versus for what they do in televising more hockey than ESPN ever dreamed of. However, a few complaints (man, I am complaining a lot in this column – sorry, it just feels right this morning): Please try to learn how to say Jere Lehtinen’s name – he is not a rookie. Also, Please do something about the exclusive broadcasts so that more people may enjoy the spectacle of Game 5. Oh, and as a Directv customer, I know that our system did not have the game in HD last night. Let’s not let that happen again, please. And, next time you have a Dallas game, maybe just pipe in the Ralph and Razor feed. Cool?

· I would not have scratched Mark Fistric last night. I know you have to scratch someone, but he has been too solid for me to sit.

· 18,532? Don’t fail us now. Leave no voice in your throat. The boys need a little help.

· In a series like this, the only “must win” games are when your team has already lost 3. So, by that definition, Sunday is not a “must win” game. Fine. However, I would like to classify it as “for Pete’s Sake, please save us all a lot of stress and discomfort by winning this game” Game. Game 7’s are great and all, but let’s do this in six.

Game 4: Sharks 2, Stars 1 (3-1, Dallas)

Please stow your brooms back in your closet.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we still have a series.

There are days when “Believing” isn’t enough. There are days where they other team “believes”, too. Those are the times where you must also execute. Score one for the Sharks, who have been turned on by most of the hockey crowd in Northern California. For the first time since April 18th, the Stars tasted defeat, and now must hop that plane to San Jose and attempt to close this thing out before the Sharks start rolling downhill.

Best-of-Seven Series promise us a roller coaster ride of emotions. Highs so high, and lows so low. Days where you first instinct is to find some cardboard and tin foil and begin fashioning your own hand-made Stanley Cup, and days where you look on the internet to see who will be free agents to sign this summer after your demise is completed.

The reason we enjoy this time of year so much is for these highs and lows. Somehow, the Stars have been playing so well that they haven’t endured stress in a while.

They grabbed this series by the throat and held what most consider an insurmountable lead. They still have control, and they still should be fine.

But, this morning, the Sharks wake up and they are still breathing in the 2008 playoffs. Credit that team for the way they responded after the 2nd intermission. You get the sense that the Sharks stood in their dressing room last night after 40 minutes and promised each other that they would make one more valiant stand to overwhelm the Stars to start the 3rd period. If they failed, at least they could suggest they gave it a run. But that determined effort early in the 3rd was something the Stars couldn’t match. Marty Turco made big save after big save in the first 3 minutes (I counted 5), but eventually the Sharks broke through when Joe Thornton hit Milan Michalek who banged the winning goal home.

Then for the final chunk of the 3rd period, the Sharks finally were able to grind home a lead like they are most comfortable. The Stars buzzed the zone with great prospects, but could never break through, and so the series must go on at least one more game, Friday in San Jose.

Notes and observations from Game 4:

• This game will no doubt be remembered as a game of untimely mistakes from the Stars. Clearly, Sergei Zubov needs to stop with the gift-giving on the power play, as for the 2nd straight night Patrick Marleau made the night possible for the Sharks. Think about it, in 2 games in Dallas, the Sharks beat Marty 3 times, with 2 of the 3 goals short-handers from Marleau off gaffes from the normally solid Zubov. Like a QB who just threw two costly interceptions, he has to get back on the horse and do what he does best…just no more shorthanders!

• Stu Barnes missed last night’s game because of the violent collision he endured from the Jonathan Cheechoo hit in Game 3. Barnes is very valuable to the Stars, and whether it is penalty killing, his spot on Modano’s line, or winning a crucial face off in his own zone, the Stars would love him back sooner rather than later. Toby Peterson and Nik Hagman did well last night, but the effect of Barnes’ absence was felt.

• Too many penalties, boys. Stop with the power play festival for the Sharks in the 1st period every night. The Sharks enjoyed twice the power plays of the Stars. That told quite a story, and the Modano delay of game is the one that proved most costly. Can’t put Jumbo Joe, Brian Campbell, Cheechoo, and Marleau out there for 12 minutes and get away with it.

• These playoff games are about two perspectives. The winners feel great about everything, and the losers mourn missed chances. Modano’s shorthanded strip of Christian Ehrhoff put him in all alone against Evgeni Nabokov. But Nabokov held his ground and made the save. Even bigger, was the Brad Richards big chance when the Stars were all ready ahead 1-0, as he hit the elbow after beating Nabokov to the far side. That is a shot he will see in his sleep, and it just proves that in both directions in this series, the team that lost only lost by a narrow margin. Yes, it is true, the Sharks could be up 3-1 in this series if the puck took a different bounce a time or two. Such is the tight rope that is walked in the playoffs.

• The game last night was not as amped up as Game 3. I wonder why the league insists on back to back games. I realize there are NBA considerations made when the schedule is formulated, but the quality of the hockey really drops when these guys play at this level for 3 games in 4 nights. The 3 in 4 stretch happens in the regular season all the time, but not at this level of intensity. These games are being played with every shift at 110%, and even the world class athletes are going to slow down eventually. Both teams have to play like that, so there should be no competitive advantage, but the quality of play in Game 3 far exceeded that of Game 4

. Now just imagine what one of these games would look like if we mix in a triple-overtime.

• I thought Mike Grier and Curtis Brown were very effective last night trying to shut down the Stars final flurries. As someone who has always admired Brown’s play from afar, I wonder how this was only his first game of the series. I am quite sure it will not be his last.

• Turco is so locked in right now. I have never felt better about the Stars goaltender.

• This is certainly no time to panic. The Stars have plenty of time on their side. But now, the Sharks heartbeat continues. On home ice, they are surely hoping to ambush Dallas. If they do, the momentum of this series will swing in the wrong direction. Luckily, the Stars so enjoy the home away from home ice in San Jose usually, and will not have a confidence issue in Game 5. I am reminded of the Colorado series in 2006. Where Dallas had home ice advantage, losing games 1 and 2 at home, and then Game 3 in Colorado. Down 3-0, they inexplicably rose up and won Game 4 in Denver, only to return home in Game 5 and lose again and suffer elimination. It is very difficult to a team capable of losing 3 straight to turn around and play flawless hockey for 4 straight. But, this thing is only over when one team has 4 wins. The Shark hunt continues…

Game 3: Stars 2, Sharks 1 (OT) (3-0)

Tonight’s hero is: Mattias Norstrom? Absolutely right, Mattias Norstrom. Did you have Mattias in your pool for scoring the overtime winner?

In a post-season run that has included 7 glorious victories so far, this one added a brilliant chapter to the story, as Norstrom scored 4:37 into overtime, and the Stars now stand one win from the Western Conference Finals.

The wonderful run continues.

Things have gone wrong for many years around here in the playoffs. Bad goals would be scored against, as a puck bounces off a skate or a body, and no goals would be scored for – as the Stars would not score no matter how great the chance would be. It wasn’t one player or one moment; it was many. Many years to forge an identity that was not wanted…playoff busts.

So, when things start going right, rather than ponder why that it is, it is perhaps better to keep your head down and keep skating hard. For now, the Stars are on the right side of the bounces this year for some reason. Maybe they are making their bounces and luck by playing better, or maybe the hockey gods are having mercy on a group of guys who have worked their tails off and deserved a better fate. Or maybe, both.

Whatever and however it is happening, this team is winning. Winning the little battles for the puck, winning the periods that matter, and ultimately winning the games. This team is taking years of losing in the spring and making up for it in major strides in these playoffs. And, boy, is this ride fun.

7 Wins into the 2008 playoffs, I give you some of my notes:

• This certainly had to qualify as the hardest hitting game of the San Jose series. The bodies were flying with a combined 85 hits recorded by the statisticians. The Sharks had Jeremy Roenick running around throwing the body in a way that reminded me of JR in Chicago Stadium, while the Stars featured an absurd 11 hits from Brenden Morrow. I would say that qualifies as the captain leading the way. We will not soon forget the massive hits from Morrow on Brian Campbell and Craig Rivet (same hit) nor the Jonathan Cheechoo shoulder that knocked Stu Barnes to the ice for an extended period of time. This was not a game for those who carry their purses with them on the ice. This was a man’s battle.

• Sergei Zubov led the team in ice time in Game 3. He was very good, save for the no-look pass that he wants back that went directly to Patrick Marleau. Marleau skated the rest of the way to the Dallas goal, and beat Turco to Marty’s left. This shorthanded goal certainly hurt the sound level in the arena for a while, but it was the only time Marty was beaten all night long. Having a new player added to your team in the playoffs who one game later leads your team in ice time is not a very common occurrence. The Stars add Zubov, and now look poised to put his services to work for quite a while longer.

• Norstrom is the hero tonight, but let’s not forget the role he played in the overtime winner in Game 1, too. Heck, let’s not forget the role he has played in this entire run as the veteran in the back who is steadying the young troops. He has been superb, and I am to blame for not bringing it up sooner.

• Christian Ehrhoff is not enjoying his time in this series. He was -2 in game 1 , -2 in game 2, and -1 in game 3. -5 in 3 games? And, he hauled down Niklas Hagman for the penalty shot, too. He has been asked by Ron Wilson to deal with Morrow most shifts, and I would be willing to say he is not doing very well. And then, to cap off a difficult night, he was guilty of the overtime icing that let to the Stars goal. He missed games early in the Calgary series due to a lower body injury, and I think it is safe to wonder if he is fully healthy.

• Does this series make you wonder about the motto of “finishing the season on a roll”? The Stars finished the regular season cold as ice. The Sharks won nearly every time they played after the trade deadline, and while the Stars have won 7 out of 9 in the playoffs, the Sharks have won just 4 of 10. Weird, eh?

• Brad Richards is a magician with the puck. Only now, with Richards, Zubov, Modano, and Mike Ribeiro all on the ice at the same time do we finally see all the skill this team has. And on a 5-3 situation, it approaches being classified as “unfair”.

• How did you like Jere Lehtinen’s effort on the penalty kill? He loses his stick, so he blocks the shot with his body. Ol’ Reliable.

• That action in Game 3 was some of the best hockey I have witnessed in a long time. What an absolute pleasure to watch the two teams skating up and down the ice and making the puck sing. At 14:15 of the 2nd period, the clock stopped working, and as the clock was turned off, the play continued at a very high rate of speed for what would be over 6 minutes of brilliant NHL hockey. Up and Down, Back and Forth. If they could bottle that hockey, you could show the world why we love this game.

• Steve Ott signed a 2 year extension, and then celebrated with a text book reversal during the game.

• The way the Stars continue to take over the game in the 3rd period is really amazing. They now hold a 19-5 scoring advantage in the playoffs after the 2nd period. They just keep pouring more and more energy on the ice and eventually wearing down the opponent. Are they fresher than the Sharks? I have no idea, but now that the Stars have won 3 games in the last 4 they have played by coming from behind in the final period. Think about that! 3 times in 4 games. On the other hand, for the Sharks to require Evgeni Nabokov to bail them out continuously in the 3rd period of a must-win game, with hardly a push back in the other direction is mind boggling. Desperation was supposed to be a given for San Jose, and while they brought it early, they clearly finished 2nd in a 2 team race in the final period and overtime. Something tells me that Jumbo Joe will be hearing it from the scribes of Northern California unless this takes a dramatic turn.

• Mike Ribeiro leads the NHL in playoff scoring. Seriously.

• San Jose brought all kinds of desperation, but for the 3rd straight game, the Stars weathered the storm. Then, as the game went on, they finished stronger. Can they finish the Sharks in 4 straight? Do you think the Stars want to get on another plane to San Jose for a Game 5? I would think not. Expect two teams to show different brands of desperation and urgency in Game 4. And perhaps stop at a hardware store, and buy a broom.

Game 2: Stars 5, Sharks 2 (2-0)

Greedy has never felt so good, has it? Sunday night, down after two periods, the Stars unleashed their 3rd period attack and overwhelmed the San Jose Sharks in a Game 2 performance that mirrors their Game 2 in Anaheim in so many ways.

Both wins in the Game 2’s were by a 5-2 margin in which the Stars needed a dramatic 3rd period to emerge victorious. Both games required fabulous goal tending from Marty Turco where he could keep them in the game while they weather the storm we all knew was coming. See, that is what makes Game 2 victories more important than Game 1
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In Game 2, the home team has played with as much desperation as they can muster, knowing that they cannot afford to lose both games at home to start a series. And yet, the Stars absorb attack after attack, sometimes with gritty skill, and sometimes with just a tad bit of luck – and then they hit back with some opportunistic scoring and, for Dallas, the best players are the best players.

And by the way, Sergei Zubov is back. And he is still really good.

With curiosity as to how everything is going so well right now, here are some notes and observations from a Game 2 win in San Jose that again puts the Stars in the driver’s seat:

• In this playoff run, the Stars have outscored their opponent in the 1st period, 6-5. In the 2nd period, the Stars are actually outscored, 7-5. So, after 2 periods, it is close, 12-11 to the opponents. And then, the 3rd period begins. After the 2nd intermission of the 2008 Dallas Stars playoff run, the Stars have an absurd 17-5 advantage. How are they scoring 17 goals in 8 games after the 2nd intermission? I have no idea. But somehow, it is becoming routine. In Game 6 against Anaheim and Game 2 against San Jose, the Stars trailed after 40 minutes, and yet took the lead after 44 minutes. They are ambushing the opponent early in the 3rd, and as long as that trend continues, the Stars are going to be impossible to defeat. The other part of that stat is 5 goals against in 8 playoff games. Marty has been a brick wall for much of the playoffs, and has to be considered the team MVP to this point.

• How did you like the Mike Ribeiro “Gretzky goal”? We were once told tales of Pierre Turgeon controlling a game from behind the goal line in what was Gretzky’s office, but by the time Turgeon got to Dallas that wasn’t happening. But Ribeiro has performed magic from behind the goal time and time again, and his bank shot off the back of Nabokov was brilliant. And it came at a time where there wasn’t too much offense from the Stars, so imagine the demoralization of the Sharks after he tied the game in the 1st.

• Stu Barnes saved another goal last night. It is a game of inches. If that Jeremy Roenick to Torrey Mitchell chance goes in, it could have been a whole different story. But, Stu denied the Sharks, and then the stage was set.

• I never thought the Stars were going to be given a Power Play last night. But, once it happened, it took the Stars exactly 17 seconds to score the eventual game-winner. Mike Modano passed on a shot opportunity moments before Zubov whirled an amazing, blind pass back to Modano who buried the shot and gave the Stars a lead they would never give back. No other Stars defenseman would ever dream of that pass, let alone execute it. Welcome back, Sergei.

• Do you think that Joe Pavelski lived a roller coaster ride last night? The former Wisconsin great (being a Wisconsin guy, I had to work that in) scored a wonderful deflection goal in the 1st to send the HP Pavilion into delirium, and then inexplicably lost an edge and the puck right to the wrong guy in the 3rd. Brad Richards took the puck, snapped it past Evgeni Nabokov, and erased the deficit in one horrific moment for Pavelski and Sharks fans. Meanwhile, for Stars fans, how great is it to have another guy who knows what to do with a gift? Richards has such a talent-filled arsenal, that if you give him a chance, he will make you pay. For a guy who demonstrated what he could do in his first game in Dallas when he scored 5 points against Chicago, Richards continued to grow his playoff hero legend as he set a Stars record with 4 points in a playoff period. That will work.

• Turco’s stops from in tight have been wonderful in San Jose. Those scrambles require a composed goaltender and a half-serving of luck. Marty has had both composure, and has finally been smiled upon by the hockey gods, too. It is about time he is rewarded for his hard work.

• Jumbo Joe Thornton is amazing. He was all over it last night, and gave the Stars quite a few “hold your breath” moments. I am not sure there is any way to stop him.

• Stars Power Play on the Road in the playoffs? 28.6%. That might explain why they have won 4 of the 5 games on the road.

• Who isn’t happy for Niklas Hagman’s night? After a season where he scored 27 goals, he has taken a dramatically reduced role in the playoffs. Knowing he is a free agent this summer, he could be bitter than his value falls as his ice time drops, but he made the most of his chance last night with Richards and then was given the bonus empty netter. I might disagree with the arena decision to make him the #1 star, but with 2 goals, he has to be smiling this morning.

• After hearing the Sharks were going to raise the physicality, I guess I was expecting more from them. I attribute this to the fact that Anaheim was the most physical team in hockey, and after defeating them, the Stars are ready for anything the Sharks might try with the body. For San Jose to frighten Dallas will have to come from their impressive passing and skating, not some body check.

• Let’s hear it for 29, 9, 14, 26, 10, 2, 3, 6, and 28 for the stellar penalty killing. Without that, the Sharks are up huge in the 2nd intermission. Oh, and #35 is the best penalty killer of them all.

• You know the drill from last series. Let’s all focus on an amazing Tuesday night at the AAC, and remember the Sharks wonderful track record of winning on the road. Also, we should not forget the Ducks 4-0 lead early in Game 3 in Dallas. The Stars could try to put a sword in the Sharks on Tuesday night, or, the very talented Sharks could steamroll right back in with a win. I greatly anticipate where this series is going, but I also am having a hard time believing the Stars swept both games in San Jose. This team is playing really well. Let’s keep it going in Game 3.

Game 1: Stars 3, Sharks 2 (1-0)

It all happened in the blink of an eye. Stephane Robidas, who now somehow routinely makes huge plays in the offensive end, wraps behind the net and the puck finds Mattias Norstrom. Norstrom takes no time to send the puck back across the ice to the captain, who already has his stick high and ready. In one moment that makes watching every shift of every game all season worthwhile, Brenden uncorks a shot past Evgeni Nabokov, and all the hockey lovers of North Texas erupt on their various couches – most likely waking up their sleeping kids.

I forgot how much I loved moments like these.

The Stars opened the 2nd round of the playoffs, by carefully dipping their toes into the dangerous waters of San Jose, but by the end of the night, had stolen the upper hand in a series that will no doubt provide plenty of playoff drama. This one was unlike the wins in Anaheim. This was circle-the-wagons and hang-on-for-dear-life, as waves of Shark Attacks (sorry) kept heading in the direction of Marty Turco.

But, Turco and his mates continued to stand tall and make tough saves surviving an onslaught, and making the absolute most of the scoring chances the other way. Game 1was far from easy, but it was an awfully effective way to start a heavyweight fight.
As you have come to expect, here are notes and observations from my notepad, that is happy to see a 2nd round of playoff hockey for a change:

• One element of Marty Turco’s repertoire that is perhaps taken for granted by the hockey community of Dallas Stars fandom is the way he foils the dump and chase strategy of the opponent. By leaving his crease and cutting off all pucks that are wrapped around the end boards, he continuously frustrates the opposition. This limits scoring chances and gets in the head of the enemy. You saw last night the Sharks trying to employ the “soft dump” which requires a shuffleboard-like touch as they attempt to ease it into the “goalies, do not enter” area in the corner. This also allows more time for the defense of the Stars to deploy, and makes everyone look better. Watch other goalies that are certainly not fond of playing the puck and you will appreciate this under-rated element of his game that should be considered when evaluating his true worth.

• I was not a supporter of the strategy that appeared content on trying to milk home the final 20-25 minutes of the game last night. I think there has to be a happy medium between recklessly allowing odd-man rushes and going into a complete shell. Especially in the 3rd period, it seemed like Dallas was agreeable to surrender half the ice, and just pick up the Sharks attack at center ice. This 5-on-5 defense that could have passed for an even strength penalty kill is playing with fire. When Jonathan Cheechoo’s rugby scrum goal crossed the line to tie the game, I can’t imagine anyone was terribly surprised. It almost seemed like a matter of time. Against the Ducks in round 1, the Stars continued to hunt for that next goal, and although the Sharks appear to be more dangerous than the Ducks, I was reminded by the famous slogan that “Safe is Death”. However, it is nice to learn a lesson in a win, right?

• There are bad penalties in hockey. There are also penalties that are actually good. See Stephane Robidas 2 minutes for hauling Joe Thornton off of a prime scoring chance at end of the 2nd period. That is a very worthwhile penalty. I would imagine the coaches actually congratulated him for that one.

• Mike Ribeiro trails only Daniel Briere in playoff scoring with 10 points. Briere has 11 for Philadelphia, and Ribby is also tied with Sidney Crosby and Jaromir Jagr. After hearing a radio conversation on Hockey Night in Canada Radio last week, it is quite obvious to me that too many people are holding Ribeiro’s Montreal past against him to this day. I have news for you, Canada. You may think you know Mike Ribeiro, but his last 2 years here in Dallas have been such quality that you might just want to forget what you thought you knew about him. Perhaps he only needed a change of location to push himself to a whole new level of performance, but trust me, he is a star player. Ask Anaheim. Ask San Jose. He scares his opponent and plays relentless attacking hockey on a routine basis. He factored into all 3 goals last night, and while finishing with assists on only the first 2 goals, you could make the case the overtime winner only happens because of all the attention he demanded with the puck on the half board.

• Matt Niskanen is better than he is playing right now. He knows it. He just needs a dose of composure to settle his nerves. This run will help him in the long run, but this is what you call a “learning experience” for the talented young man.

• Milan Michalek is one of those talents that scares you at all times. He is catching flack in San Jose during these playoffs for not shooting more, but this young lad shall be heard from for many years on Joe Thornton’s wing. And then, with Cheechoo generally on the other wing, you can understand why the Stars are anxious to get Zubov back in the lineup.

• Speaking of Zubov, I was asked which defenseman I thought might sit to open up a spot for #56 when he returns in either game 2 or shortly thereafter. Well, I would anticipate that nobody will sit for him. If I am Dave Tippett, and I am not, I would have to dress 7 defensemen for the first few games to insure I can count on Zubov playing big minutes. That means a 4th line center would not dress, but I think with Mike Modano, Brad Richards, and Ribeiro, you can surely double shift one of those boys and get away with 11 up front.

• Jeremy Roenick and Devin Setoguchi are on their 3rd line? Yep. They appear to have some quality scoring depth to contend with.

• Why exactly did Patrick Marleau jump over Mike Modano’s point shot that beat Nabokov? As an emailer said, “If Craig Ludwig were dead, he would have rolled over in his grave”. I am happy to report that Ludwig is quite well, but that shot block effort was amazingly weak.

• Marty Turco was my #1 Star last night. But, in the arena, he was totally passed for all three. No worries. Those honors really are inconsequential.

• Many are very disappointed with the Versus exclusive coverage of Game 1 and Game 5 in this series, that had some Stars fans glued to the radio last night. All I can say is this, the deal with Versus is not ideal, but it is the best broadcast option the NHL has had in sometime. They are on a network that wants them, and is willing to show a doubleheader every night of the playoffs. If, part of that deal is that Versus gets a few games of exclusivity, it seems a small price to pay to get your games beamed nationwide to 74 million homes throughout the playoffs. By the way, all of their games they produce are in High Definition, and they own exclusive rights to the Conference Finals broadcasts (save for a game or two on NBC). The point is, if you are a hockey fan, you need Versus, so I might call my cable or satellite operator and let them know.

• Just like in Round 1, and just like Morrow said last night, “It is time to get greedy”. Being complacent is not the way to survive in the playoffs. You may have gone on this trip to get a split, but once you get one win, you might as well get greedy and get them both. Sunday is another pivotal game in these playoffs, so I wish the boys a lovely Saturday in San Jose, and plan on a battle of paramount proportions on Sunday evening.


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Mavs Game 3 notes to come later in the day...I think....

Game 6: Stars 4, Ducks 1 (Stars win Series, 4-2)

18,532 Proud Parents looked down on the rink Sunday Night in Dallas and roared their approval as the Stars sent the Ducks to April Tee Times. Those who were lucky enough to be in the building or watching on television were able to witness something special from the Stars franchise. They put out the most determined effort that this city has seen since Reunion Arena rocked many years ago. Those teams had a fighting quality that would not be denied, and this one showed the defending Stanley Cup Champions that despite an insane number of direct hits, the Stars would get up, skate away, and often, hit back.

The story of this series will be written many different ways, but just consider a few things here:

• In the 4 wins for Dallas, the Stars outscored the Ducks, 16-4. There was no need for a lucky goal or a bad call. In their 4 wins, they averaged a 4-1 win. The final score of Game 6, was 4-1.

• In the 3rd period of the series, the Stars outscored the Ducks, 12-4.

• In the series, the Stars outshot the Ducks, 188-138. Or, 31-23 per game.

• In the series, the Ducks racked up 38 more penalty minutes, giving the Stars 14 more cracks on the power play. Where Dallas outscored the Ducks, 10-5 over the six games.

So, without having to play 1 second of overtime, nor ever facing a point in the series where they were tied or behind in games, the Stars survived wave after wave of Ducks attacks and in the end, were on the proper side of a playoff handshake in Dallas for the first time since Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals in 2000.
And how sweet it is. Before you consider what lies ahead in Round 2, spend the day enjoying what happened. Be happy for the guys who have taken plenty of blame for the last several years, starting with Dave Tippett and Marty Turco. They will tell you that they have always given that effort, but for reasons I bet even they would struggle to explain, they found a new level of performance this time. They were not going to be sent home “1 and done” this year. They would not be denied.

Notes and Observations from an unforgettable night to end Duck Season:

• What can you say about the 3rd period? In the building, the nerves in that 2nd intermission were nearly unbearable. I was hoping to fast forward through the intermission and get back to the game, but I realized I wasn’t Tivoing the game. Instead, conversations were being held all over the building about the odds of winning a Game 7 on the road. And then what? Who gets fired? Who gets traded? How could they have let this series slip? But, They didn’t let it happen. Led by fan favorite – but journeyman, Stephane Robidas and veteran grinder Stu Barnes, the Stars went from frustrated to freight train in :52 unforgettable seconds.

• If you have the game recorded (don’t you?), you must go back and watch Brenden Morrow’s celebration on the bench during Modano’s empty net goal. If a picture is worth a thousand words, I don’t know how many words it would take to describe Morrow’s jubilation and joy as he sees his buddy score and his team overcomes their demons. And how perfectly symmetrical was it to see Modano end the series? He has been through plenty, too.

• How was that tension as you began counting down the 3rd period at about the 16 minutes to go mark? I swear, blood pressure in the building had to be dangerously high.

• The “could have fooled me” stat of the night? How about noting that Anaheim went 23:58 without registering a shot on goal in the 2nd and 3rd period. I was certainly aware of the shot total not growing because it is posted in the arena, but if you want to talk about stats that are misleading, that would seem to be one. When watching the game, the Ducks were in the Stars zone for a huge chunk of the 3rd period, but the tenacious D of the Stars kept the Ducks from actually getting pucks to Marty. What a full-team effort. Amazing.

• Despite writing this blog after every game, I see I have yet to mention how Turco’s ability to handle the puck just about totally neutralizes the dump and chase strategy of the Ducks. It just frustrates the opposition when Marty is on his game, and he can swing the puck harmlessly away to his defenseman in the corner. I think it is tough to appreciate unless you have ever played against him. He saves so many opportunities against him without ever making actual saves.

• Brad Richards, Joel Lundqvist, and Loui Eriksson. Who would have thought that combination would work like it is? Amazing. I thought Tippett was really reaching putting these 3 together, and leaving Nik Hagman for other uses, but it has been a factor in every game of that series. Lundqvist has shown great physicality, Richards sets the table for everyone, and Eriksson seems to have plenty of finish, despite being Swedish. Brilliant job.

• That Ducks Penalty Kill was great for quite a while. They finally figured out that without Sergei Zubov, the Stars have a hard time entering the zone, so make it even more difficult with aggressive PK for 200 feet. They got away with it for almost 3 games, but if #56 is back there, they would not have been so bold. It would sure be nice to get him back in the mix soon.

• I am not going to miss the throbbing head ache that hits every time Teemu Selanne and Ryan Getzlaf cross the blue-line. If Selanne wants to retire, I am fine with it, but it sure seems he has 5 more years of quality left if he so chooses.

• This is the first time that Jean Sebastian Giguere and this generation of Ducks have been dismissed before the Western Conference Finals. Think about that! 2 Stanley Cup Finals and a Western Finals to this point. They were due for “1 and done”.

• If you want to get a good laugh, check out my series preview for this first round . To say that I thought the odds were against our boys might be considered an understatement. I swear to you, losing your 2 All-Star defensemen, and playing 3 rookie defensemen in key roles in a playoff series against a very formidable opponent is not the recipe for success. But, then again, this is a fine example of why gambling is not a very good idea. You don’t play hockey on paper or on a message board. You cannot predict this stuff.

• That decibel level was amazing last night. The emotion of a moment of sports brilliance is rare, and the sound of last night proved that the 18,532 understood what they were looking at. We all got spoiled years ago, and I recall being unimpressed with a 1st round victory back in the day. Well, starved for success, nobody is unimpressed this morning. Dallas finally has a team that has advanced in the playoffs. It is ok to fall in love with hockey all over again, North Texas.

• Who is next? For now, it doesn’t matter. We have learned not to hope for one team over another from past mistakes. know this: Another battle awaits. But, also know this: Your boys appear up for it. This is a fabulous day for this Organization. Now, playing with casino money, perhaps they are feeling a little greedy. Rest up, this isn’t over.

Game 5: Ducks 5, Stars 2 (Stars, 3-2)

The first round of this Best-of-Seven War is going to take at least six games to decide, as the Stars allowed the Ducks a stay of execution Friday night in Anaheim. Whether it turns out to be the beginning of a full-fledged pardon will largely rest on how the Stars respond to adversity back in Big D.

Game 5 boiled down to creating chances and converting said chances. You could make the case that for every Selanne, Getzlaf, or other Duck chance in front of Marty Turco, there was a Richards, Ribeiro, or other Star chance in front of Jean Sebastian Giguere. The Ducks cashed in, the Stars did not often enough.

And such is the margin between victory and defeat in this series. The winner gets the spoils, and the loser contemplates how they lost a game in which they played pretty well. I would imagine the Ducks had similar feelings after Game 2 and Game 4.

So what do you do? Re-rack and get ready for Sunday.

Here is what I is on my mind after a stirring NHL Playoff game that did not go the Stars way from Friday night:

• The most glaring stat from last night had to be the power play times. The Dallas Stars spent 13:01 on the power play. They had some shots, but not the overwhelming power play of their last trip to the O.C. 0-7 was the result on the man-advantage. Meanwhile, with 3:57 of power play time, the Ducks cashed in twice. You simply cannot spend almost 10 more minutes on the power play than your opponent and be a -2 on the special teams. That is a killer. Now, I would suggest that in a 7 game series things even out, and maybe the law of averages is taking its toll on the Stars PP after 8 goals in 3 games, but they need this thing to rise to the occasion on Sunday. When you get 7 Power Play opportunities, you also have a hard time complaining about a call, but allow me this one thought:

• Trevor Daley’s penalty that put the Stars down two men was a clear penalty most nights. But last night, when the refs decided to allow the clutch and grab fest all night, to then turn around and put the Stars down 5-3 for 1:27 for what had been allowed the entire game was a bit harsh. Further, it set up a “matter of time” Teemu Selanne goal on that power play that looked to put the game on ice for the Ducks at 3-1 early in the 3rd period. Again, I don’t deny that Daley held his man, but it sure looked like holding was ok last night until that call that proved lethal.

• Welcome to the world of raised expectations, Loui Eriksson. A few months ago, nobody would expect him to convert those chances in the 2nd period. But, now that he has demonstrated what he can do with the puck on his stick, I was disappointed that he was unable to beat Giguere from in tight twice within just a few minutes of each other with the score tied 1-1. If he gets one goal, the Stars take the lead, and you wonder if the Ducks back begins to break. But, if “ifs and buts were candy and nuts we’d all have a Merry Christmas”. He did not convert, and we have a hockey game Sunday night.

• Anyone else wonder if Todd Marchant’s slap shot off Stephane Robidas face was an accident? Professional hockey players can pick the top corner when they shoot at goal, so it would seem that they could also avoid a head when clearing the puck if they so desire. I am such a cynic.

• Defensive hockey is a 6 person job. A few times last night, you could see poor technique from 1 guy break down a play. Matt Niskanen could have certainly done better on Ryan Getzlaf’s amazing seeing-eye and something tells me that Antii Miettinen was supposed to have Sean O’Donnell on that huge 4th goal. If one person doesn’t fulfill the assignment, the red light goes on.

• Nice save, Marty, on Selanne’s wraparound. I believe that puck was 95% over the line.

• Niskanen may be taking his lumps, but man, to see those 3 rookies on the blueline play so much in crucial situations can only get someone excited about the arrival of a real nice nucleus for Dallas. In the salary cap era, to have young quality at a reasonable price will really help.

• Speaking of quality youth, the Ducks have so many big, young forwards who are leaning on the Stars. It is hard to imagine that these guys had the huge Dustin Penner, too, until the Oilers stole him away. In the 2003 draft, the Ducks had 2 first round picks: Ryan Getzlaf (6’3/221) and Corey Perry (6’3/209. In 2003, they signed “little” Chris Kunitz (5’11/195) as a free agent, and in 2004 Dustin Penner (6’4/245) was signed as a free agent both out of college. Talk about building your team up front in 12 months, with high quality impact forwards. And over two weeks, with help from Todd Bertuzzi and Chris Pronger, you can understand the wear and tear they are putting on the boys.

• We haven’t talked enough about Brad Richards’ impact on this series. I think he has done quite a job of stepping up his game in the playoffs (as he has always done) and that 91/21/39 line looks threatening every time on the ice. They will need to keep cashing in, but I really like what I see from a weakness on this team that has become an improving strength – secondary scoring. And how can you not like the future of the Stars up the middle now?

• Was it just me, or did the players look gassed last night? This series is wearing both teams down quite a bit. 3 games in 4 nights is goofy.

• Marty Turco and Jean Sebastian Giguere have taken turns stealing chances and saving games for their teams. Marty was decent on Friday, but would surely like the Perry goal back. I expect Marty to be ready to roll again in Game 6. Let’s all understand that this is not the same Marty Turco that we saw a few years ago. This one believes in himself at crunch time.

• I found this on the Ducks blog ; it is what was on the Ducks chalk board before Game 4: This is not easy, this effort, day after day, week after week, to keep pushing. But it is essential. If it was easy, everyone would win. There can only be one winner in this war. - General Patton. That gives you chills, doesn’t it? Of course, the Ducks lost Game 4, but it sounds like General Patton knows a little something about motivating his troops.

• This is not the time to panic. If I would have told you the Stars would have 3 cracks at 1 win at the start of this series, you would have recommended me for psychiatric counseling. Now, the fate of the Stars rest on their ability to win Game 6 at home, or to do it the hard way and win Game 7 in Anaheim. I am not sure I could subscribe to “Believe” a few weeks ago, but these first 5 games have brought me around to the Stars. They are worth Belief. 18,532 – do your part on Sunday, and let’s hope the 20 in Black do theirs.