Is there really any reason not to think that the Detroit Red Wings will beat the Dallas Stars in Wednesday night's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals and reach the Stanley Cup finals? The odds makers favor a Detroit sweep as the Wings are -170 money line betting favorites (over/under: 5) on WagerWeb.com.
Sure, the Red Wings are trying not to take anything for granted, but they have won nine playoff games in a row, have outshot Dallas 86-57, and the Stars have yet to lead for even a second in any game this series.
The Stars are only 1-for-15 on the power play thus far in the series, after scoring 10 goals with the man advantage when they upset the Anaheim Ducks in the opening round.
According to Mike Modano, that is just one of many areas in the game where Dallas needs to be better.
"Desperation, backs against the wall - doing what we can to kind of survive to see another day," is how Modano described tonight's challenge. "We've responded in those situations before in the past, where we've come up with great efforts. And all around, everybody is contributing. So we need everybody throughout the whole team. Special teams needs to be just something that can be a big factor for us, if we get that going."
Dallas did win four games in a row five different times this season, but is just 1-5 in its last six.
"We're all honest," forward Brad Richards said. "We know it's a tough hole to climb out of, but we're doing some good things. A break or two, a little more concentration in a few areas and we have a win. We've got to look at it like that. Get a win and you don't know what kind of roll you can get on."Wings goaltender Chris Osgood has been in net for all nine of the wins in the winning streak, while Dallas goalie Marty Turco has seen his overall career record against the Red Wings sink to 2-13-5.
One of the Red Wings' biggest surprises thus far has been the play of their fourth line, which consists of Jiri Hudler, Darren Helm and Darren McCarty.
That trio has a point in every game against the Stars. Hudler's breakaway goal midway through the second period Monday night gives him 12 points in 13 playoff games this spring, fourth-best on the team.
McCarty, who assisted on Hudler's goal Monday, calls Hudler Detroit's "secret weapon."
Injury wise, Stars forward Jere Lehtinen (leg) is doubtful, and forward Stu Barnes (concussion-like symptoms) will not play tonight. Brenden Morrow (shoulder) and Modano did not skate Tuesday, but both are expected to play.
Red Wings forward Johan Franzen, who leads the playoffs in goals, will remain sidelined with headaches believed to be caused by a concussion.
Only two teams have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series in NHL history - Toronto in 1942 and the New York Islanders in 1975.
Betting trends: Red Wings are 7-0 in their last 7 playoff games as a favorite. ... Over is 6-0-2 in Red Wings last 8 playoff games as a favorite of -151 to -200. ... Red Wings are 12-3-3 in the last 18 meetings in Dallas.
No comments:
Post a Comment