7 replies to this topic

[Dark Knight]

Please post your thoughts, pictures and comments on tonight's games in this thread.

Dallas at Detroit

[DropThePuck]

TSN's Ice Chips:

Stu Barnes (concussion-like symptoms) and Philippe Boucher (hip strain) skated Wednesday morning, but both are being listed as doubtful for Game 1 by Tippett. - Dallas Morning News

Forward Valtteri Filppula (leg) practiced for the first time this week but remains questionable for Game 1. "Fil skated real well today," Wings coach Mike Babcock said on Wednesday. "We're going to find out tomorrow." If Filppula can't play, Kirk Maltby will make his first appearance of the playoffs. - Star-Telegram

Wings general manager Ken Holland expects to hear in a week to 10 days whether coveted unrestricted free agent Fabian Brunnstrom will choose Detroit. Brunnstrom's North American agent, J.P. Barry, told Holland in a message Monday that Brunnstrom had returned to his native Sweden, and will need a few days to think about his decision. - Detroit Free Press

Defenseman Chris Chelios (leg) said he's fine and ready to play. - Detroit Free Press

Wednesday at practice, Babcock split his top defensive pairing and had Nicklas Lidstrom skating with Brad Stuart, while Brian Rafalski joined Niklas Kronwall. - Detroit News

With 5 days between the last series and the conference finals, the Flyers have found themselves with some extra time off. Instead of practicing yesterday, John Stevens gave his squad a day to recover in the hopes of bringing in a more rested and ready team, one with less bumps and bruises. "It's a long week and we actually looked at the possibility of taking 2 days off," Stevens said. "[I'm] not a big fan of 2 consecutive days off right now. We are a little banged up. We didn't get any time to rest between [the first two] series and we figure we would give them Sunday off because of the travel [after clinching their last series at Montreal] and everything." - Philadelphia Daily News

With tough guy Georges Laraque running around and supplying "energy" for the Penguins, Flyers coach John Stevens was asked if he might go back to his own enforcer, Riley Cote, as a countermeasure. "Certainly 'Riles' is a consideration," Stevens said. "Steve Downie is a consideration. We feel we have depth at every position, and we're going to sort it out. All these guys might play at some point." - PhillyBurbs.com

Forward Max Talbot did not participate in a full practice Wednesday at Mellon Arena - the Penguins' first since wrapping a second-round series Sunday against the New York Rangers. Talbot missed the final two games of that series with a broken right foot. He briefly tried skating yesterday prior to practice but was visibly frustrated before leaving the ice after only a few minutes. - Tribune Review

[UltraDavid]

I called Dallas to upset Detroit. Come onnn, Dallas, I hate you less than the Red Wings!

[Excoriar]

So Brunnstrom decides to go to the Stars. Wings up 4-1 end of the 2nd.

[mrmathews]

I am glad the wings won. As much as I don't like the wings, I can't freaking stand Turco, Ribero, or Morrow.

[DropThePuck]

1 - Morrow, B. (18:53 in 2nd)
4 - Rafalski, B. (PPG, 04:28 in 1st), Franzen, J. (PPG, 15:34 in 1st), Holmstrom, T. (PPG, 06:40 in 2nd), Filppula, V. (15:37 in 2nd)

The Red Wings were so dominant in the first two periods it looked as though they had a man advantage in even-strength situations. They also created scoring chances while killing penalties.

"It looked like we lacked a little emotion or jump we had in the other series," Turco said.
...
Franzen and Holmstrom both scored by standing in front and redirecting shots past Turco, who was serenaded with jeers of "Turrr-co! Turrr-co!" by fans early and often.

<NHL.com recap>



Joe Louis Arena building operations manager Al Sobotka twirls an octopus thrown onto the ice before the start of Game 1 of the Western Conference hockey finals between the Dallas Stars and the Detroit Red Wings in Detroit, Thursday, May 8, 2008.
(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)


Pavel Datsyuk #13 of the Detroit Red Wings shoots the puck on goaltender Marty Turco #35 of the Dallas Stars as Brenden Morrow #10 and Nicklas Grossman #2 defend during game one of the Western Conference Finals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena on May 8, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan.
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)


Goaltender Marty Turco #35 of the Dallas Stars reacts after allowing a first period power play goal to Brian Rafalski #28 of the Detroit Red Wings during game one of the Western Conference Finals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena on May 8, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan.
(Photo by Dave Sandford/Getty Images)


Niklas Kronwall #55 of the Detroit Red Wings and Steve Ott #29 of the Dallas Stars battle for the puck during game one of the Western Conference Finals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena on May 8, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan.
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

[hillbillywingsfan]

I called Dallas to upset Detroit. Come onnn, Dallas, I hate you less than the Red Wings!

its not to late to come to the dark side my friend=)

[lvsprt]

Now that the Stars put the Sharks away, I'm fine with whatever fate the Wings deal the Stars. At this point the winner of the Cup is a non issue to me, bring on next year and the changes/chemistry that can bring the Ducks back as real contenders.