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| Modano scores game winner | Wednesday 5/14, 9:54 PM CT |
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Veteran center Mike Modano is not the prolific scorer he once was, but he still gets the job done when the job gets tough. Tonight he scored the Stars' game-winning goal to put Dallas back in the hunt for survival, winning 3-1 in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals over Detroit.
Our View: With that said, the series is now at 3-1 in favor of Detroit, and Modano's goal may prove to be one of few highlights for Dallas in this series. |
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| Zetterberg nets goal (again) | Wednesday 5/14, 9:51 PM CT |
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The Detroit Red Wings may have suffered their first loss of the Western Conference finals, but winger Henrik Zetterberg did what he could to reverse their fortunes. Zetterberg scored the Red Wings' lone goal of the evening, giving him 10 total postseason goals this season.
Our View: In 14 playoff games for the Red Wings this year, Zetterberg has failed to score a point in just two. He's a men among boys and playing as well as his team needs to keep moving forward. |
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| Turco brings Dallas first win over Detroit | Wednesday 5/14, 9:46 PM CT |
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The Dallas Stars needed the win to stay alive in their Western Conference finals series against Detroit, and they got the job done, leaving with a 3-1 win to pick up their first win of the series. All three goals were scored and assisted by different players, but goalie Marty Turco was the man of the hour, stopping 33 of 34 shots on goal to hold the Red Wings to one goal and a loss.
Our View: While Turco has allowed at least one goal in each and every playoff game the Stars have played this season, he has been the team's force of reckoning on more than one occasion. The Red Wings have been his toughest test to date, but tonight shows he has the game to pull wins. |
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| Flyers shaking up the lines | Wednesday 5/14, 6:13 PM CT |
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Philadelphia Flyers coach John Stevens has told reporters that he is leaning towards new line combinations for their Game 4 battle with Pittsburgh, hoping to avoid elimination, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
Our View: In practice today, Stevens sent center Mike Richards and winger Daniel Briere to the ice on a line together with winger Scott Hartnell. Briere was a force coming into this series but has just two shots on goal against Pittsburgh thus far (neither resulting in a goal). As a result, winger Vinny Prospal was moved to the R.J. Umberger line as the team hopes to find some way of lighting a fire under a roster that has failed to get the job done. |
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| Erat's deal initially rejected by NHL | Wednesday 5/14, 3:28 PM CT |
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Martin Erat's seven-year, $31.5 million deal with the Predators was rejected by the NHL because it didn't conform to the "100 percent rule," the Tennessean reports. The two sides worked out a new contract and have resubmitted the proposed deal. To comply with the complicated rule, the Predators shifted $250,000 of Erat's year seven salary to year six.
Our View: All that math from the Tennessean report made our head hurt. Erat is a so-so fantasy forward, but we don't believe the new money will spur him to any greater heights in 2008-09. |
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| Franzen cleared for light workouts | Wednesday 5/14, 2:33 PM CT |
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Johan Franzen has been cleared to resume light workouts, the Detroit News reports. The center is back in Detroit and still experiencing headaches. "He's been given the green light to start doing a few things," general manager Ken Holland explains. "Nothing major, just riding the bike a little bit. We'll continue to monitor the headaches and we'll see how he responds."
Our View: We imagine Franzen will be held out as long as possible, which means Game 7 of a series with the Stars or maybe Game 1 of a Stanley Cup series. |
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| Prospal says he isn't tired | Wednesday 5/14, 12:14 PM CT |
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Vaclav Prospal is wiping away suggestions that his legs are tired. The forward has just one point in the last four games and has been mostly invisible. "We're not producing," Prospal tells the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We haven't done anything in two games. It's frustrating for all of us. We have to get through it somehow. It has nothing to do with being tired. We have to create more."
Our View: Prospal may be the center of some heat because he was so productive against the Capitals earlier in the playoffs. He didn't take a shot on Tuesday night, which is pretty bad for one of the team's better play-makers. |
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| Team denies Roberts report | Wednesday 5/14, 12:07 PM CT |
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The Penguins have denied a report that Gary Roberts is suffering from pneumonia, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Our View: The club is just calling it an illness. We imagine Roberts will remain out while the Pens are in control of the series with the Flyers. |
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| Morrow expects to play | Wednesday 5/14, 12:05 PM CT |
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Brenden Morrow is expected to play in Game 4 despite a sore left shoulder. "I'm sure he's going to be fine. He's a warrior," teammate Mike Ribeiro tells the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "I'm sure he's going to be here."
Our View: The Stars are one loss away from heading home for the summer, so we imagine Morrow won't let a sore shoulder get in his way on Wednesday night. |
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| Modano good to go | Wednesday 5/14, 12:02 PM CT |
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Mike Modano will play in Game 4 after being shaken up in Game 3, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. The veteran didn't skate in practice on Tuesday. The Stars have not disclosed his issue.
Our View: Whatever it is, Modano's ailment is apparently minor. |
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| Kobasew contract details | Wednesday 5/14, 11:34 AM CT |
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The Boston Bruins have signed a three-year contract extension with forward Chuck Kobasew and the details of the agreement have been released, this according to TSN.ca.
Kobasew will earn $2 million next season, $2.5 million in 2009-10 and $2.5 million in 2010-11.
Our View: The 26-year old scored 22 goals and 39 points in 73 games for the Bruins last year. |
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| Zetterberg over-the-top good | Wednesday 5/14, 11:21 AM CT |
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Is there any reason to take Detroit center Henrik Zetterberg off the ice? In addition to leading the playoffs with 18 points (as of Tuesday), he also tops the charts with a blistering plus-13 rating.
Our View: Zetterberg scored a short-handed goal in Game 3, adding to his lead in both departments. |
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| Osgood perfect so far | Wednesday 5/14, 11:18 AM CT |
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Chris Osgood improved to 9-0 in the postseason since replacing Dominik Hasek.
Our View: Considering the Stars only placed 16 pucks in from of the net in a must win game, Osgood's job in Game 3, and for most of the series, has been easier than expected. |
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| Ott to play important role | Wednesday 5/14, 11:15 AM CT |
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Steve Ott will be forced to play an even more important role in Game 4. Defensive specialist Jere Lehtinen was scratched from Game 3 due to a leg injury, moving Ott onto the top line as a right- winger alongside Mike Ribeiro and Morrow.
Our View: Despite several scoring chances, The Stars' postseason penalty-minute leader went pointless in Game 3 in more than 11 minutes of ice time. With both Lehtinen and Stu Barnes either out, or ailing at best for Game 4, Ott will see top-six minutes, as well as time on the penalty kill. |
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