|
|
|
Dallas goalie Marty Turco dropped his career record against Detroit to 2-4-3 when netminding at home. |
Our View: He's and ugly 2-13-5 against the Red Wings overall.
|
|
|
|
| Chris Osgood stopped 16 shots to improve to 9-0 during this postseason. |
Our View: The Stars will not comeback from the 3-0 deficit and now the interesting matchup comes out of the East. Who will face the Wings in the Cup finals, Pittsburgh or Philadelphia.
|
|
|
|
| Pavel Datsyuk and the Detroit Red Wings scored six times on Monday night. Five went into the net and the sixth was revenge for Mike Ribeiro slash at goalie Chris Osgood in Game 2. The Red Wings beat the Stars 5-2 on Monday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.
|
Our View: Datsyuk scored twice in the first period then again with 2:41 left in the third.
|
|
|
|
| Mark Eaton, out due to reconstructive surgery on his knee, will have an MRI this week with the goal of being able to play before the end of the playoffs, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. "I think he's pushing the envelope a little bit right now anyway, in terms of a timetable," GM Ray Shero said. |
Our View: Eaton has no value on offense with only three points in 36 regular season games, and considering how much time he has missed due to the injured knee, it would be a shock to see the club reinsert him in the lineup at this point even if he were deemed healthy.
|
|
|
|
| Jere Lehtinen was held out of the Stars lineup for Game 4 due to a leg injury, according to the Associated Press. |
Our View: Lehton has formed a devastating line with Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow in the playoffs, so it will be interesting to see how the two healthy forwards do tonight without the defensive presence on the line.
|
|
|
|
| The San Jose Sharks, fresh off another second round failure in the playoffs, fired HC Ron Wilson on Monday, according to the team's Official Website. “Ron helped foster a new era in San Jose Sharks hockey with some record-setting regular season performances,” said Doug Wilson. “However, ultimately we have decided that it is time for a different voice and a different approach to lead this team." |
Our View: The Sharks won two Pacific Division titles during Wilson's tenure and he leaves as the franchise leader in victories in four plus seasons with 206. However, the team continues to have trouble in the post-season, and short of firing the team, this was what the Sharks decided to do as they try to figure out why they continue to fall short of expectations.
|
|
|
|
| Detroit dominated the faceoff dot in Game 2, winning 71 percent of the draws (39 for 55). The loss of Stu Barnes (concussion) in Game 3 will not help Dallas overcome this huge in-game issue. |
Our View: Barnes will miss his sixth straight playoff tilt.
|
|
|
|
| Steve Ott only has one assist this series, but more important than his offense is the fact that he rattles opponents. He was at his Steve Ott-best on Saturday, racking up 12 minutes in penalties and getting his share of chances. |
Our View: So strong was his line in Game 2 (linemates: Toby Petersen and Brad Winchester) that Ott saw nearly two minutes of power-play time. The Red Wings are having a difficult time getting a handle on this feisty line and the way this series is being played all a team seemingly needs is two goals to win. Tension is mounting between the two teams, and that's right up Ott's alley.
|
|
|
|
| Reports out of Detroit say that the Wings are hot about the recent Mike Ribeiro slashing of goalie Chris Osgood in the chest at the end of the Red Wings' Game 2 victory. But the Detroit coaches are doing their best to assist in "cooler heads" prevailing. After all, the Red Wings have a two-game cushion and being smart could make the difference between going into Game 4 with a chance to sweep, or survive. Luckily for the Stars Mike Ribeiro wasn't suspended for his Game 2 slash. |
Our View: The Stars, however, are in dire straits. Dallas is just 1-11 when having lost the first two games of a playoff series. The Wings are 21-6 when up by that margin. The Red Wings, for their part, have now won eight games in a row now and they certainly won't make it easy for the Stars.
|
|
|
|
| Nashville has signed Martin Erat to a seven-year, $31.5 million contract, according to the AP.
|
Our View: Erat ranks third on the team in career scoring (253). He has also played in 20 of the Wild's 22 playoff games. He contributed 23 goals and 34 assists over 76 games in the regular season, and ended the year with four points over six games in the playoffs.
|
|
|
|
| Chris Osgood was fined by the NHL for his actions late in Game 2's win over the Stars, the Ticker reports. The goalie jabbed center Mike Ribeiro in the face with his stick. "Whether I hit him or not, it was an accident," Osgood says. |
Our View: Osgood is on a roll right now, and the Red Wings are obviously happy that he avoided a suspension.
|
|
|
|
| Mike Ribeiro received a fine for his actions in Game 2 against the Red Wings, but he was not suspended, the Ticker confirms. The center slashed goalie Chris Osgood in the chest at the end of the Red Wings' victory. |
Our View: The Stars need their leading scorer to beat Osgood with the puck, not the stick, if they are going to climb out of their 0-2 hole.
|
|
|
|
| Johan Franzen will miss Game 3 against Dallas tonight, according to the AP. He is suffering from concussion-like symptoms. The Red Wings’ medical staff has recommended Franzen remain on the sidelines until undergoing further testing, which will take place Monday in Detroit.
|
Our View: Franzen leads the league with 12 playoff goals, and Dallas catches a break with his on the shelf.
|
|
|
|
| Jere Lehtinen suffered a leg injury during battle with Detroit in Game 2, and is listed as "day-to-day" for Game 3, according to the Dallas Morning News. He worked out on Sunday, but coach Dave Tippett said he will be a game-time decision and the team will see if he can skate on Monday. |
Our View: The Stars' winger scored two goals over five playoff games, and racked up 37 points over 48 games in the regular season. He will be missed if he cannot make it onto the ice for Game 3, as Dallas is currently down 2-0 in the series against Detroit.
|
|
|
|
| Stu Barnes will not play in Game 3 against the Red Wings, according to the Dallas Morning News. Barnes worked out hard Thursday and has been battling headaches since.
|
Our View: He will miss his sixth game of the playoffs due to concussion-like symptoms sustained back in Game 3 against the Sharks. Dallas trails in the series 2-0, and the team will make sure Barnes he is ready before putting him back on the ice.
|
|
|
|
| Patrick Roy wants to return to the NHL, this time as a coach, and reportedly has definite interest in rejoining the Avalanche, a team that he twice led to the Stanley Cup as a goalie, according to FanNation.com. |
Our View: The team recently fired Joel Quenneville after three years of service, and three-time NHL coach of the year Pat Burns is being speculated as his replacement. The team is yet to contact Roy.
|
|
|
|
| Braydon Coburn sustained a facial injury during battle with the Penguins on Sunday, and his eye and nose are reportedly a mess, but he is "possible" to play in Game 3, according to FanNation. Coburn required more than 50 stitches to close a gash around his left eye and near his nose after Evgeni Malkin deflected a shot from Sergei Gonchar under his face shield just one minute, 41 seconds into the opening period of Sunday's 4-2 loss for Philadelphia.
|
Our View: The enforcer chipped in six assists through the playoffs, and the team will need his toughness if they are going to come back from a 2-0 hole in the series.
|
|
|
|
| Olli Jokinen will not battle Team Canada on Monday due to a suspension, according to the Edmonton Journal. He was dealt the suspension after checking American defenseman Tim Gleason from behind in the first period on Sunday (in the IIHF World Hockey Championship).
|
Our View: He will be missed for Team Finland, as Jokinen is a top scorer and affects the power play.
|
|
|
|
| Marian Hossa collected his 12th point of the playoffs as he scored a goal in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Flyers in Game 2. He has six goals and six assists. |
Our View: Hossa racked up 66 points over 72 contests in the regular season, and should remain a solid source of production for the Penguins until they play their final game.
|
|
|
|
| Sergei Gonchar generated three assists in Sunday's 4-2 victory over Philadelphia in Game 2. He has four assists over the last two games, as Pittsburgh leads the series 2-0. |
Our View: The enforcer scored one goal and eight assists through the playoffs. He was just as productive in the regulat season as he racked up 65 points over 78 games.
|
|
|
|
| Sidney Crosby registered a goal and an assist in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Flyers in Game 2. He has scored a goal in both games against the Flyers, and helped lead Pittsburgh to a 2-0 lead in the series. |
Our View: He has four goals and 13 assists over 11 games in the playoffs, and led Pittsburgh one step closer to the NHL Finals on Sunday.
|
|
|
|
| Mike Richards blasted a goal in Sunday's 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh in Game 2. Richards has now scored a goal in three straight games, notching four over the span. |
Our View: He has seven goals and seven assists through the playoffs, and paced the Flyers in the regular season with 75 points.
|
|
|
|
| Jeff Carter contributed a goal in Sunday's 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh. |
Our View: That was his fifth goal of the playoffs, and his first point in the series against the Penguins. He now has 10 points over 14 playoff games.
|
|
