Wings vs Stars Game 4 Preview

Andrew Chiappazzi | National Hockey League

May 14, 12:02 AM | Hype this story!
 

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Detroit Red Wings (1) vs. Dallas Stars (5) Game 4 Preview
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Series Score: Wings 3 – Stars 0
Game Time: 8:00 EST
Location: American Airlines Center, Dallas
Television: Versus, CBC, TSN

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Could this be the first of two nights of series clinchers in the NHL Playoffs? You’d be hard pressed not to make that argument considering how the first three games have transpired. Even without the top goal scorer in the playoffs in Johan Franzen, the Detroit Red Wings didn’t skip a beat as they whipped the Stars 5-2 in Game Three.

How? Some guy named Pavel Datysuk.

See, while all the focus in this series has been on the emergence of The Mule, everyone – including, apparently, the Stars – forgot that the Wings had several pretty dominant players in Datysuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Datysuk took over, although the most impressive goal might have been courtesy of “O Henrik!” when he scored a shorty early in the third period to snap the Stars’ spines over his knee, Gary Roberts-style.

Detroit took more penalties. Detroit had 27 less hits than the swinging Stars. Detroit was on the road against a desperate team. And yet, they forced 26 giveaways, won the faceoffs 31-23, and had a startling 5 goals on 21 shots. That is dominance. That is efficiency. And that is how you win Championships.

The key for the Stars is to wake up for Game 4 as if it is Game 7. Everything to lose, which is the truth, but without that deficit in your heads. Play with the mindset that you’re down 3-0 and you’re done before the puck even drops. The Stars should look at the first period from Game 3 of the Pens-Flyers series as an example of that. Philadelphia came out, despite being on home ice, like they were already beaten, and while they were able to get within one goal, they were always one step behind the Penguins despite having multiple advantages and chances.

Dallas has not played like the team that took out the defending champion Ducks and a very good San Jose team. Dallas has not played like the team that Marty Turco and Brendan Morrow led to solid playoff positioning in the regular season.

And it’s the absence of that style of play that could doom the Stars to tee times this weekend.
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Injuries
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Detroit: Tomas Kopecky (knee, IR); Johan Franzen (concussion, out)
Dallas: Stu Barnes, IR (Concussion); Phillipe Boucher, (Doubtful, hip); Jere Lehtinen (leg, doubtful)

Comments

  1. DaBich

    May 14, 07:57 AM

    Dallas is outclassed in this series. Just as Philly is outclassed.

  2. Andrew Chiappazzi

    May 14, 04:19 PM

    Dabich, it would certainly seem that way. Turco has been good but not great, just like Biron, and the Red Wings are just too fast and too possessive of the puck for the Stars to do anything.

    If each series holds – and remember, it ain’t over until you’re shakin’ hands – then a Wings/Penguins final would have to be a dream come true for the NHL.

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