Posted by admin on 14th, 2008
After 3 disappointing first round playoff exits, the Stars have finally found their game.
For the first time in two years, the Dallas Stars won a game in which Marty Turco did not shut out the opposition. In doing so they served notice to the league that they are indisputable contenders, not pretenders.
- Bleacher Report
Contenders, not pretenders. That’s exactly the message the Dallas Stars are sending to the rest of the league right now.
The Stars are leading the Anaheim Ducks 2-0 in their first round series. 2 straight wins against the Ducks is impressive, no doubt. What makes this extra special is the Stars did it on the road, without their top playmaking defenseman Sergei Zubov, who is out due to Hernia surgery.
The key to Dallas success so far has been team-play. The entire team has played well, and the chemistry issues that plagued the team going down the last stretch toward the playoffs appears to be a thing of the past. Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow are dominating plays. Mike Modano is showing he still has what it takes to be a top player in this league and newcomer Brad Richards is shining whenever his skates touch. Richards appears to have gelled with young winger Loui Eriksson, who has a goal in each of the 2 games played in this series. Jere Lehtinen and Steve Ott have also played a role in the scoring.
The Ducks travel to the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX this Tuesday for game 3.
Image source: Yahoo Images
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Posted by admin on 12th, 2008
Todays article by Ross McKeon of Yahoo! Sports is all about the Brad Richards trade to the Dallas Stars, and talks about how Richards shines during the post season. Richards fit into the Dallas system didn’t come easy however. After a career best 5pt game in his first appearance for the Stars, the star forward went the next 11 games with only a handful of points.
“It was a lot tougher than I ever imagined,” Richards said in preparation for Saturday’s Game 2 of a best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series the Stars lead over the Anaheim Ducks. “The last couple of weeks I wasn’t doing anything wrong but I wasn’t doing anything right either. I had clogged my head with too many things. It’s tough when you get traded and your new team loses. It’s a new experience for me.”
- Yahoo! Sports
And then there was 2 days ago in Anaheim, in the Dallas Stars post season opener against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Ducks. A game that saw the Stars, with Richards assistance win by a convincing 4-0 shutout.
…Tippett said it was Richards’ best game as a member of the team, and that includes the Feb. 28 score-a-thon against the Chicago Blackhawks.
“It’s like when a traded player finishes up and comes back the next season. Everything comes easier, and that’s what we’re looking for right now,” Tippett said. “And (Game 1) was a byproduct of that transition from one phase to another.”
- Yahoo! Sports
Anaheim Ducks players and coaches alike had nothing but praise for Richards after his impact on Game 1 of the series.
“You’re talking about an MVP of the playoffs, we’re not talking about a player who doesn’t know how to get around the rink,” Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said.
“He’s one of those guys who can cause everyone a lot of headaches when they’re on the ice because it’s up to everybody to play smart and be in position to protect breakout passes and stuff like that,” Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer added.
- Yahoo! Sports
Game 2 between the 2 clubs starts this evening, and the Stars can be sure to see a much more physical and determined Ducks team than they did in game 1.
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Posted by admin on 10th, 2008
The 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs are here. In just a few hours the pucks will drop on a series of Round 1 games, marking the start of 2 months of grueling battles to find an eventual victor.
This is a good time then to take a look at the battles for Round 1.
In the east
Montreal Canadiens (1) Vs Boston Bruins (8)
The Bruins struggled this year. First they lost Patrice Bergeron to a season ending concussion, then later in the year Marc Savard goes down with an injury. Yet, somehow they scraped through to the playoffs, and they go into them equal to all other teams. Montreal however are a hot team who have the leagues best Powerplay. Boston, in order to keep in this series will need to stay out of the box.
Pittsburgh Penguins (2) Vs Ottawa Senators (7)
Ignoring the fact that Brian Murray accused the Penguins of throwing their last game, am I the only one who hopes to see the Penguins kick some serious ass this series? Last year the fresh faced Penguins were routed from the playoffs in just 5 games by a stronger, more powerful Senators team. This year the teams are evenly matched and both offensive powerhouses.
Washington Capitals (3) Vs Philadelphia flyers (6)
The classic Cinderella story. Alexander Ovechkin is in the playoffs for the first time, and with him is a solid determined Capitals team. The management of that team deserve awards for the progress and improvements they made with the team. The Flyers have been inconsistent, and will need to be 110% on their game to beat the Caps.
New Jersey Devils (4) Vs New York Rangers
The battle of the creek, as it was referred to earlier on today. These 2 teams have plenty of reasons to hate each other, and you can guarantee a very passionate series. Unfortunately neither team can guarantee an offensive display, so expect physical defensive style hockey.
In the west
Detroit Red Wings (1) Vs Nashville Predators (8)
There is nothing bad you can say about the Red Wings this year. Top of their division, top of their conference and top in the league on points. The best goalie duo (by stats) in the league. Nashville don’t have a Crosby or Ovechkin. They don’t have a Hasek. They do however have a very potent young goalie in Dan Ellis, and a very effective Pack Mentality style play. At the end of the day however, the Predators may find themselves a little behind the eight-ball.
San Jose Sharks (2) Vs Calgary Flames (7)
If there was going to be an upset, this might be it. Going into the last day of the regular season, there was a chance that the Sharks may face the Avalanche in the first round. In fact, most Sharks fans wanted them instead of the Flames. Look for Iginla to lead the Flames to a long series against the Sharks, possibly even 7 games.
Minnesota Wild (3) Vs Colorado Avalanche (6)
Veteran leadership Vs Young blood. That’s how this series may end up being. The Avalanche have been reuniting old team mates, the question now is whether the likes of Sakic and Forsberg are able to content with the young speedsters like Marian Gaborik.
Anaheim Ducks (4) Vs Dallas Stars (5)
Defending champions the Anaheim Ducks have had a strange type of season. If not for the controversial return of both Selanne and Niedermayer earlier in the season they would not be in the playoffs. Their leading scorer, Corey Perry is out and Chris Pronger is likely going to do something to get himself a suspension. Unlike last year the Ducks don’t have a powerful attack this time round. They do however have the best Blue Line in the league with Pronger, Niedermayer, Schneider and Beauchemin. Dallas will have to battle with their own demons however. Getting past the first round is the goal of this team, and you can expect goalie Marty Turco to be on his game. The inclusion of proven playoff performer Brad Richards in the lineup may have the desired impact. The Stars, unlike the Ducks, can score this year, so expect a very hard hitting, physical game.
Predictions?
I know people like predictions, so here are my wildly unpredictable, highly unlikely, but what they hey predictions…
East:
Montreal Canadiens in 5 games
Pittsburgh Penguins in 5 games
Washington Capitals in 6 games
New Jersey Devils in 7 games
West:
Detroit Red Wings in a 4 game sweep.
Calgary Flames in 7 games
Colorado Avalanche in 6 games
Dallas Stars in 6 games
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