Round 3, Game 4, Stars vs. Red Wings 05/14/08

Dallas 3, Detroit 1

Those are my boys, right there. I love those guys.

What a great game. They came out with the same kind of intensity they had early in Game 3, but they kept it up the whole game. They attacked, and they defended. And they didn’t give up.

Modano and Morrow both got goals from the dead slot. Modano must have gotten half his goals this season from that very spot. And with Zubov down in the corner instead of up on the blue line where the defenseman is supposed to be, it’s a perfect setup.

Zubov had a great game. He made some long, slicing passes that turned into some good chances and he assisted on two of the goals. He was doing some of his old dipsy-doodle moves and this time they were working. He seems to be back. And his playoff beard is beautiful.

Dave Tippett did a really good job of mixing things up, using what they’ve learned so far about Detroit. Putting Toby Petersen out there with Joel Lundqvist and Loui Eriksson worked out great. Petersen was all over the place. His line was out there against Zetterberg and Datsyuk most of the time and they did a fine job of defending them and they got a goal out of it. Loui seemed destined to get a goal, the way he was flying.

Everybody had a great game. Brad Richards had a lot of chances. Robidas was great.  Nick Grossman made several really smart defensive plays that made me say, Wow. He’s really going to be a great defenseman for a long time for us. If he’s this smart and poised and unflappable at this age, as a rookie no less, there’s nowhere to go but up.

In the last minute, when we were down 6-on-3 with Osgood on the bench for an extra attacker, Matty Norstrom blocked probably four shots in a row right at the net. He probably saved a goal there in that frantic scrum. Turco made some beautiful saves, too.

The Stars showed that they’re not just going to lie down and let the Red Wings step over them.  The Wings may still get past them, but it won’t be a walk.  I think it’s been very refreshing not to hear the players and the coach start talking about how they’re going to be the team that makes history.  The Sharks made that claim in the last round, and the Rangers made the same claim.  I’m sure the Flyers are saying the same thing right now over in the East.  Team after team over the last 33 years have said the same thing and they’ve all been wrong.

I prefer the “let’s win this game” attitude.   They can’t worry about bridges they haven’t come to yet.  They need to cross the one that’s in front of them first.

The crossed the Don’t Get Swept bridge.  Now they can start planning how to cross the Win One in Detroit bridge.