The Final Period - Game 6

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NHL - Detroit Red Wings/Pittsburgh Penguins Box Score Wednesday June 4, 2008 - Yahoo! Sports

We’re down to the wire now.  Detroit lead the game 2-1 going into the second break, but the Penguins have momentum after Malkin scored on the powerplay. 

Brian Rafalski and Valtteri Filppula both scored for Detroit.

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Anaheim on the edge of elimination

A week ago who would have thought that the Anaheim Ducks would be on the edge of playoff elimination in game 5 against the Dallas Stars.  All but die-hard Dallas Fans appeared to have that much confidence in this Stars team, but they went out and they battled hard.

And today, in less than 12hrs time the Dallas Stars stand on the edge of 2 major milestones; elimination the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Anaheim Ducks from the playoffs, and more importantly making it past a first round.

Although the Stars share their victories and defeats equally, netminder Marty Turco needs this more than ever.  Turco has been the brunt of the public backlash over the last fews seasons, even last year when he posted 3 shutouts in a 7 game series against Vancouver, which the Stars eventually lost in.

“Tonight I felt really good,” said Turco, who made 28 saves. “I had an opportunity to see all the shots that came my way. There were some anxious, scrambly moments in the second period. But the guys were doing all they could to help me.”
- Yahoo! Sports

The Stars have momentum and a “knowledge” that they can win.  Now, they just have to go out there and take it.

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Red Wings Grab 1st Playoff Spot

Pavel Datsyuk and the red hot Detroit Red Wings clinched the first playoff spot today by defeating Marty Turco and the Dallas Stars at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The win gives the Red Wings 100 points on the season, and gives them the win in their Division, and a guaranteed playoff spot.

The Dallas Stars looked good early on, pushing the lead out to 3-1 at one stage with goals from Jere Lehtinen and Brenden Morrow.  Datsyuk scored with just under 4 minutes left in the 2nd period taking the Red Wings to the 2nd intermission only 1 goal down and boosted with confidence.

Datsyuk took just 34 seconds into the third period to score again bringing the score to 3-3.  Mikael Samuelsson deflated the Stars hopes just 25 seconds later when he also found the back of the net.  The Stars never recovered, and in the closing minutes Valtteri Filppula scored an empty netter to seal the victory.

“The first goal was a bad goal and the second, we didn’t check very well,” Stars coach Dave Tippett said. “Once you give up two quick goals to start a period, it’s hard to get the momentum back.”
- Yahoo! Sports

The challenge for the Detroit Red Wings now will be to maintain momentum through the final10 or so games of the season.

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Ducks Perry to miss 6 weeks

Anaheim Ducks have lost their top scorer for up to 6 weeks.  Corey Perry, who has 29 Goals & 25 Assists this season is out due to a lacerated tendon in his left knee.

The injury occured during the third period of the Ducks 0-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.

“Corey is doing very well this morning, thanks to both clubs’ medical staffs,” Ducks general manager Brian Burke said Friday. “His injury is not career-threatening and we expect him back 100 percent in approximately six weeks.”
-Yahoo! Sports

The Anaheim Ducks, who have begun to gain momentum with the return of Selanne and Neidermayer will no doubt miss Perry’s scoring prowess, and will need to work hard to maintain the pace they have been on.

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