Maybe the bad blood that developed near the end of Game 2 and returning to home ice tonight for Game 3 will get the Dallas Stars back in their Western Conference final against the Red Wings - Detroit is a -120 money line betting favorite (over/under: 5 goals) on WagerWeb.com for Game 3.
In the closing seconds of Game 2, Wings goalie Chris Osgood used the handle of his stick to poke Dallas' Mike Ribeiro, who responded from behind the net with a two-handed stick slash across the goalie's chest.
Ribeiro, Osgood and Stars forward Steve Ott were fined by the league for their actions, but all three players will be on the ice Monday night.
Ribeiro, who has three goals and 12 assists in these playoffs, said he was only retaliating.
"If he doesn't do that, I don't think I react, I have no reason to do what I did," he said.
Osgood disagreed, saying, "By no means was I trying to hit him in the face with my stick."
Dallas coach Dave Tippett added that he didn't think the Stars were too interested in escalating physical play, particularly if the Red Wings power play continues to click at a rate of 10 man-advantage goals in the past five games.
"This is really no different from the first two series,' Tippett said. "We have to play hard, but we have to play smart. That's exactly what we did against Anaheim and San Jose, and it's what we try to do every game. We are going to push hard and skate hard and try to control the pace, but we have to stay disciplined and not put them on the power play. That's just smart hockey."The Stars need to find some offense, and fast: They have scored just nine goals in the past six games.
Dallas could only manage 18 shots on a Wings team that suffered a huge blow with the loss of Johan Franzen for Game 2 because of concussion-like symptoms. Franzen, who won't play tonight, is the top goal-scorer in the playoffs with 12 goals, but the Wings were relatively unfazed by his absence.
The Red Wings lead the NHL in fewest shots allowed on goal per game in the playoffs. Dallas ranks 12th in shots on goal at 28.5.
The Stars, meanwhile, might be without forward Jere Lehtinen, who left Saturday's game in the second period with a leg injury. Tippett described Lehtinen's injury as "just soft-tissue stuff" and said the team ould see how he feels at the Monday morning skate.
The Stars returned home with 2-0 series leads in each of the first two rounds of this year's playoffs, but ave now dropped four of their past five playoff games. Detroit has won eight in a row in these playoffs - a win tonight which would be the franchise record for consecutive wins in a single postseason. It would also be the longest in the NHL since Montreal won 11 in a row on way to winning the 1993 Stanley Cup.
"You're not going to rattle us," Detroit's Darren McCarty said. "We've got too much experience for that."
Betting trends: Red Wings are 7-0 in their last 7 playoff games as a favorite. ... Red Wings are 10-1 in heir last 11 when their opponent allows 2 goals or less in their previous game. ... Stars are 8-2 in their last 10 games playing on 1 day's rest. ... Over is 4-0-1 in Red Wings' last 5 road games. ... Under is 4-0-1 in Stars last 5 home games. ... Home team is 4-0 in past four meetings. ... Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Dallas.
No comments:
Post a Comment