~Dallas remains alive with impressive effort in Game 4~
-By Mike Moore-
Finally a battle. Finally some intrigue. Finally, after three games of dominance, playoff hockey arrived in these Western Conference finals.
The Dallas Stars made their official entrance to the series Wednesday night. The arrived with the type of effort many expected in Game 3. For most, if not all, of the first period, the Stars had the Red Wings on their collective heels. They stormed the net, forced three straight Wings penalties, even did the unthinkable, out shooting the Wings 9-5.
Aside from a few moments in the second period, the dominance continued most of the night. Simply, this was the Stars’ game to win. And, for now, they delayed what still seems like the inevitable with an inspiring 3-1 victory.
“The situation we were in speaks for itself,” said Stars goalie Marty Turco, who played his best game of the series, finishing with 33 saves. “It was an intense, desperate game for everyone from our side. We have to play like that to have a chance. It was a night of resiliency all the way around.”
Now take a second to remind yourself two things. First, the Wings still hold a 3-1 lead in the series, and, hey, clinching at home is always more fun. Second, the Dallas Stars are an excellent hockey team, capable of playing and competing with Detroit, despite how things looked in Games 1-3. In reality, this is the kind of game we expected all series long, wasn’t it?
“They were good early,” Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “I wasn’t surprised by their effort in any way. It’s what we expected.”
Things could have been much different, if only a few things had gone, well, differently. Detroit had a goal disallowed on a call (Tomas Holmstrom was ruled to be in the crease) even Dallas coach Dave Tippett couldn’t help but smile at in the post-game press conference.
Babcock also smiled about the call, you know, that smile seen on masks at Halloween time.“What do you want me to say,” Babcock quipped, when asked about the call. “The guy’s not in the paint. It’s a reputation call totally. It’s disappointing.”
The Wings certainly had their chances, though, chances that have found the back of the net in games prior to this. A post here and a just miss there kept Detroit with just one goal (Henrik Zetterberg) on 33 shots. Chris Osgood, who forgot how to lose in his nine postseason starts this year, was very strong again, keeping the game close. None of the three goals were soft, in any way.
The writing was on the wall, though. Dallas wasn’t going to slip into the offseason quietly. The Stars needed their best effort of the playoffs, and they got it. Now things shift back to Detroit for Game 5 Saturday afternoon. A raucous (and hopefully sold out) crowd should welcome the Wings home with a chance to clinch their first trip to the finals since 2002. But playing at home won’t guarantee said trip, and, if there’s anything Detroit doesn’t want to do, it’s head back to Dallas for a Game 6.
One thing is for certain, though, Dallas will be just as intense, just as desperate.
“When you’re in the situation we are where there’s no tomorrow, you might as well keep playing,” Tippet said, adding that stealing Game 5 would really get the ball rolling for his team.
The ball is rolling, slightly. Four games in, and there is a series now, a battle for both teams…Finally.
Send questions or comments to mjm12@albion.edu
