Will Red Wings Be 'Stars' Crossed?
By TED STARKEY,
AOL
Posted: 2008-05-08 12:47:24
Gregory Shamus, Getty Images
Breaking Down
Red Wings-Stars
Offense: Johan Franzen recorded two hat tricks in four games against Colorado, just the hottest part of the imposing offense torrent the Red Wings will be throwing at Marty Turco and the Stars.
Edge: Red Wings
Western Conference Finals
Dallas Stars vs. Detroit Red Wings
2007-08 Records:
Detroit: 54-21-7, 115 points, Central Division Champions
Dallas: 45-30-7, 97 points, Fifth Place, Western Conference
2007-08 Playoff Results:
Detroit: Defeated Nashville 4-2, Defeated Colorado 4-0
Dallas: Defeated Anaheim, 4-2, Defeated San Jose, 4-2
2007-08 Season Series:
Detroit Wins Series, 3-1
Last Playoff Meeting:
1997-98 Western Conference Finals - Detroit Wins Series, 4-2
DALLAS - JANUARY 05: Goaltender Dominik Hasek #39 of the Detroit Red Wings looks on during play with the Dallas Stars in the first period at the American Airlines Center on January 5, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS - JANUARY 05: Goaltender Mike Smith #41 of the Dallas Stars looks on during play with the Detroit Red Wings in the first period at the American Airlines Center on January 5, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS - JANUARY 05: Center Jeff Halpern #11 of the Dallas Stars moves the puck against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period at the American Airlines Center on January 5, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS - JANUARY 05: Goaltender Dominik Hasek #39 of the Detroit Red Wings walks to the ice between periods against the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center on January 5, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS - JANUARY 05: Goaltender Chris Osgood #30 of the Detroit Red Wings has bubble gum stuck to his hat as he watches a game with the Dallas Stars in the third period at the American Airlines Center on January 5, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS - JANUARY 05: Defensemen Chris Chelios #24 of the Detroit Red Wings moves the puck past Krys Barch #13 of the Dallas Stars in the third period at the American Airlines Center on January 5, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS - JANUARY 05: Defensemen Chris Chelios #24 of the Detroit Red Wings moves the puck past Krys Barch #13 of the Dallas Stars in the third period at the American Airlines Center on January 5, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS - JANUARY 05: Left wing Niklas Hagman #15 of the Dallas Stars moves the puck past Mikael Samuelsson #37 of the Detroit Red Wings in the third period at the American Airlines Center on January 5, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS - JANUARY 05: Goaltender Dominik Hasek #39 of the Detroit Red Wings makes a save in front of teammate Nicklas Lidstrom #5 and Loui Eriksson #21 of the Dallas Stars in the third period at the American Airlines Center on January 5, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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DALLAS - JANUARY 05: Center Mike Ribeiro #63 of the Dallas Stars moves the puck past Pavel Datsyuk #13 of the Detroit Red Wings in the second period at the American Airlines Center on January 5, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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At the end of the regular season, many people predicted the President's Trophy-winning Red Wings would reach the Western Conference final. Few picked Dallas, who seemed to be ready for a quick ousting.
The Red Wings, despite a brief swoon down the stretch, have been terrific since Chris Osgood took over for Dominik Hasek as the starter, posting a 6-0 mark and a 1.52 GAA and a .937 save percentage. Detroit looked vulnerable to an upset loss to the Predators until Osgood arrived, now the Wings appear to be in mid-season form with the change in net.
As for Dallas, the Stars looked awful after the trade deadline, going just 4-7-2 in March and April and seemingly poised for an early playoff exit.
However, Marty Turco delivered when the games got bigger, as he helped the fifth-seeded Stars engineer an upset over the defending champion Ducks in the first round, and then the league's hottest team, the San Jose Sharks.
Turco is second overall in goals-against behind Osgood with a 1.73 GAA, and a .929 save percentage, including a great performance in the series-clinching marathon.
Now, the Stars will look to keep their roll going against a Red Wings team that absolutely crushed Colorado in the second round.
Leading the charge for the Red Wings was Johan Franzen, who netted nine goals in the four-game sweep, including a pair of hat tricks, and currently leads all playoff goal-scorers with 11. Henrik Zetterberg has also been productive this postseason with seven tallies.
For Dallas, Brenden Morrow has made himself an early Conn Smythe candidate with his seven goals, including the one that sank the Sharks in Game 6's lengthy overtime session. Mike Ribeiro also is tied for second in the league with 14 points this postseason, and Brad Richards also has nine assists.
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin (71), of Russia, shoots past Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Randy Jones during the second period during Game 1 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals in Pittsburgh, Friday, May 9, 2008. Malkin scored two goals and an assist in the Penguins' 4-2 win, and is the leading scorer in the playoffs with 17 points. The Flyers will play the Penguins in Game 2 of the conference finals Sunday in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
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Philadelphia Flyers coach John Stevens conducts his team's practice in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 10, 2008. The Flyers will play the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals Sunday in Pittsburgh. The Penguins won the first game. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
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Philadelphia Flyers forward Scottie Upshall flips pucks during practice in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 10, 2008. The Flyers will play the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals Sunday in Pittsburgh. The Penguins won the first game. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
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Philadelphia Flyers defensemen Braydon Coburn, left, and Jaroslav Modry, of the Czech Republic, listen during practice in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 10, 2008. The Flyers will play the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals Sunday in Pittsburgh. The Penguins won the first game. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
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Philadelphia Flyers coach John Stevens, foreground, diagrams instructions to his team, including Danny Briere, left front, during practice in Pittsburgh, Saturday, May 10, 2008. The Flyers will play the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 2 of the NHL hockey Eastern Conference finals Sunday in Pittsburgh. The Penguins won the first game. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
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PITTSBURGH - MAY 10: Daniel Briere of the Philadelphia Flyers speaks with the media following practice during the off day skate of the NHL Eastern Conference Playoffs at the Mellon Arena May 10, 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH - MAY 10: Goaltender Martin Biron of the Philadelphia Flyers speaks to the media following practice during the off day skate of the NHL Eastern Conference Playoffs at the Mellon Arena May 10, 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH - MAY 10: Assistant Coach Mike Yeo of the Pittsburgh Penguins watches the Philadelphia Flyers practice during the off day skate of the NHL Eastern Conference Playoffs at the Mellon Arena May 10, 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH - MAY 10: The Philadelphia Flyers practice during the off day skate of the NHL Eastern Conference Playoffs at the Mellon Arena May 10, 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH - MAY 10: Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers practices during the off day skate of the NHL Eastern Conference Playoffs at the Mellon Arena May 10, 2008 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
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For the Stars to pull off the the third straight upset, it will be up to Turco, as his stellar play has been able to shut down the Ducks and Sharks, but the Red Wings are a much more formidable offensive force. They can roll several lines of offense, which will make it more difficult for the netminder.
Likewise, Osgood will need to be solid in net for Detroit, as expectations are high for the Red Wings to finally return to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 2002. Despite being one of the top teams in the regular season, Detroit has been dogged with playoff flameouts, so with the path seemingly set for a return, they will need to avoid a letdown at this stage.
However, it seems unlikely that the Red Wings won't finally break through to the final, as it would take a tremendous effort by Turco to prevent it.
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