Faceoff Factor

Sharks Vs. Stars Game 3 Preview

Michael Farkas | National Hockey League

Apr 29, 02:14 PM | Hype this story!

______________________________________________________

Sharks (2) vs. Stars (5) Game 3
______________________________________________________

Series Score: Sharks 0 – Stars 2
Game Time: 7:30 EST
Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas)
Television: TSN, CSN Bay Area, My27

______________________________________________________

Preview
______________________________________________________

Four unanswered goals in the 3rd period by Dallas will leave a lot of questions for the San Jose Sharks coming into a crucial game 3. Deadline acquisition Brad Richards racked up 4 points in the final frame of the contest that saw the Stars take both games in San Jose.

Once again, Marty Turco was great in net as he has been throughout this entire playoffs. He earned the third star of the game with a 29 save outing.

“We needed a strong [third] period to win the game, and our guys came up with one,” said Stars coach Dave Tippett.

Long-time Star (both North and Dallas) Mike Modano was delighted to take both games in San Jose. “It’s huge to be up 2-0; it [was] a very big trip for us.”

As the hard-working Stars know, the Sharks will be an increasingly desperate hockey team back in Dallas. And while the 87% figure (victory rate of teams up 2-0) may be going against them, the Sharks have some numbers to build off of.

The Sharks were the best road team during the regular season going 27-10-4 and that included taking three out of four in Dallas. Furthermore, trailing in a playoff series isn’t at all new to them this year.

Sharks coach Ron Wilson is not alarmed, “We’ve played very well in Dallas all season. We’re down 2-0, we can…just push the pace. It’s as simple as that – play as a desperate hockey team.”

San Jose captain Patrick Marleau, of course, keeping the positives flowing, “When push comes to shove, this team rises to the occasion. We are going to have to prove that again.”

Dallas captain Brendan Morrow, meanwhile, kept it conservative and brought up game 3 of their first round series versus Anaheim, “We don’t want to think we’re in the driver’s seat. If they get back to 2-1, they’re right back in the series. It’s a big concern for us but, hopefully, we learned our lesson when Anaheim came in and pushed us around.”

The Stars have been questionable on home ice in recent playoff matches. They have dropped 8 of their last 10 home matches coming into this year’s playoffs and 9 of 13 if you include their first round series against the Ducks.

Sergei Zubov returned for Dallas in game 2 after he recovered from a sports hernia. Meanwhile, Sharks defenseman Brian Campbell returned to form on Sunday against Dallas.

“[Sunday] night was, by far, his best game, and he’ll only get better,” said Sharks coach Ron Wilson about Campbell.

“I wasn’t playing on the edge,” explains Campbell about his rather lackluster playoffs so far. “I play my game on an edge and that’s when I’m successful, and I think I was trying to be a little too cautious and it can affect me. I like where I’m at right now.”

The Sharks will look for a big contribution from prize deadline grab Brian Campbell as they try to get back into their semifinal series against Dallas.

The Stars and Sharks will meet for game 3 at the American Airlines Center tonight at 7:30 eastern.

For a complete list of team leaders and statistics, click here.

______________________________________________________

Injuries
______________________________________________________

Sharks: K.McLaren, day-to-day (lower body)
Stars: P.Boucher, Out (lower body)