10
DALLAS —
Mike Ribiero didn't think he'd get suspended. He was right. Dallas Stars coach Dave Tippett figured his leading scorer would be available for tonight's third game of the NHL's Western Conference final against the Detroit Red Wings. He was right too.
The Stars believe that a return to friendlier surroundings could get them back in a series in which they trail 2-0. They'll know later tonight if they're correct on that front as well.
In defeating two quality opponents in the opening rounds — the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks and the NHL's No. 2 regular-season finishers the San Jose Sharks — Dallas swept the first two games on the road, returning home with what ultimately turned out to be insurmountable leads.
This time, they're back home, down two, and grasping at straws. Dallas is 4-2 in six previous home games in these playoffs; their most recent appearance at the American Airlines Centre resulted in the eighth-longest playoff game in NHL history, a thrilling 2-1 victory over San Jose that eliminated the Sharks and put them in the Stanley Cup semi-finals. So the plan tonight is to channel whatever energy and enthusiasm led to that stirring victory in the hopes of snapping Detroit's eight-game playoff winning streak.
Related Articles
"It doesn't matter what you do in first rounds, it matters what you do now," said Ribiero, who was talking again, after skipping the interviews on Saturday night, when his slash to the chest of Red Wings' goalie Chris Osgood created a minor post-game furor. "The team didn't lose yet at home, and it's part of the playoffs. It's part of a series of seven games, and you don't expect to win all the games on the road. It's time now to come home and win the next game."
Ribiero lamented the Stars missed scoring chances in Game 2 against the Red Wings, when their inability to shoot straight made life comparatively easy for Osgood. Thus far, the Red Wings goalie — a perfect 8-0 in these playoffs since coming on in relief of Dominik Hasek in the opening round — has faced only 39 shots in two games.
"I mean, we had a lot of chances to score one or two goals on those chances," said Ribiero. "I think first period we have six, seven chances, no shot on net. So details and if you keep working, I think we can work a little harder and then when you have a chance to shoot on net, shoot on net."
For his part, Turco will be spared the questions about his inability to win at Joe Louis Arena, where he is 0-9-2 in his career. In some ways, Turco would welcome the chance to answer those questions again; it'll mean the Stars would have extended the series to at least five games. At home, Turco believes a number of factors — crowd noise, getting sticks down second in the face-off circle — might tip the balance in a close series. Statistics don't tell you everything, but Detroit's edge in the face-off circle was a staggering 74-37 in the first two games.
"Yeah, home ice, it's there for a reason," said Turco. "Face-offs, we haven't been great. I'm sure that will help. But at the end of the day we just need to help ourselves. The way we can, we need to play with some vigor and intensity from start to finish."
Turco thought there was a momentum-shift in the second half of the second game, suggesting: "We've been growing in this series against these guys. We know it's been a lot closer than anybody gives us credit for. That's a good feeling to have in the locker room, regardless of what others say or do, and it's going to be pretty interesting game come (Monday) night."
Coach Dave Tippett was prepared to concede that some of the intensity returned in the second game, after what the Stars wrote off as an opening night loss caused by lingering fatigue from the Sharks series.
"I thought we had much better jump," said Tippett. "Our legs looked like they were back to normal a little bit. Now we need some more execution. And we had some good opportunities. We didn't capitalize on them. We talked about this is a fine line we're walking here.
"For us to win, we've got to have a lot of things go right for us, and some of those opportunities that we get we got to find a way to capitalize on."
The Red Wings will be without Johan Franzen, their leading playoff goal-scorer, for the second consecutive game. Franzen remained behind in Detroit to undergo tests for what the team is describing as concussion-like symptoms. Darren McCarty will replace him in the line-up again.
According to fellow Swede Nicklas Lidstrom, Franzen's loss was "tough" on the Red Wings, but …
"We have a lot of depth on our team," said Lidstrom. "It helps to have the depth in the playoffs when guys are out, because you're going to have some injuries."
The Stars may also be without Jere Lehtinen, Ribiero's regular winger, who suffered a leg injury in Saturday's loss. Dallas doesn't have quite as much depth as Detroit; if Lehtinen can't go, and with Stu Barnes already rule out, they may turn to rookie B.J. Crombeen again.
Coach Mike Babcock said the Red Wings would not be caught unaware, despite being in a commanding position in the series.
"I mean, we've been through it a couple times, just even in the last couple of years. We went to Calgary up 2-0. Came home tied. Went to Nashville 2-0. Came home tied. The bottom line is what we've done is kind of held serve. They're going to come into their building, they'll be excited. First 10 minutes is going to be really important. But the overall game and our plan and how we play - our big thing is just to maintain the level of play, not to let it fall off. If we can do that, we're going to have a good under opportunity here."
As for Tippett, he knows the magnitude of the challenge facing his club. Detroit can afford to lose a game tonight; Dallas simply can't.
"We're in the winning business; when you don't win, it's frustrating," said Tippett. "But we think we took a step forward in the series last game. Just our competitive levels were a lot higher than Game 1. We think that's a positive. And coming home, the emotion of our fans, we're looking at Game 3, we've got to go out and win a hockey game and get ourselves back in the series."
In Pictures:
