Hockey done right
Ed. note: As you guys may or may not have noticed, I know very little about hockey. But that hasn’t stopped me from being a longtime Stars fan. Now, I try to keep this blog as much about sports as possible without all the talking heads content mostly because ESPN has like 50 channels now. But there’s one exception to this rule and that’s hockey. ESPN has nothing on me or better yet B-Kizzle. The man knows his shit.
So I asked Senor Kizzle to provide us with some analysis on our Dallas Stars’ matchup against the Detroit Red Wings (what the hell are Red Wings anyways? Sure hope it’s not the urbandictionary definition…) and here’s what transpired.
Not since 2000 have I been watching the NHL playoffs so intently in May. And even better, I know that the assholes in Anaheim are bored right now because of the team I follow, and the same for San Jose (just kidding, Shark Tank, you guys stay classy).
(But still AHAHAHAHAHA YESSSSS BRENDEN MORROW)
So far in the first two rounds there are a few things that are obvious. One – Washington should be pretty happy with where the Capitals are after a mid-season coaching change. They’re ahead of the rebuilding schedule and there’s no reason to think that Ovechkin, Green and Backstrom are going to lead them anywhere but to the top of the southeast division (okay…backhanded compliment).
Two, there are a lot of early exits from some of the best players of the generation that will more than likely be their last. I don’t see Roenick or Shanahan coming back next season; it would seem that the Dominator is no longer the man in Detroit and will either be retiring for good or taking a cheap, one-year contract elsewhere; and Jagr still doesn’t know whether he wants to play in the new Russian hockey league that hopes to topple the NHL or return for one more season in this one, though one thing is for sure – Jagr probably won’t be a Ranger.
But onto the final four, and more importantly, the Western Conference Finals, where some perennial powers face off. Both Dallas and Detroit have fallen far from the deep playoff runs of the late 90s, but this season no other teams have seemed as driven, and for one of the first times in a long time the two best teams in the conference will meet in the latest round possible.
Now, as far as goaltending is concerned, you’ve got a former playoff choker who still hasn’t convinced everyone on one team and one guy who is probably best described as the Fred McGriff of hockey. Marty Turco has shown that he has no problem defying the wisdom of experts by ousting the best playoff goalie of the last five years and the best goaltender of the regular season in two straight series. It wasn’t just that Turco beat Giguere and Nabokov – when it came down to it, he outplayed them and always had one more save than his counterpart when needed (evidenced by his 3-1 record in overtime this playoff season). That he can play the puck so well behind his own net, coupled with his goddamn infuriating fearlessness despite how much I yell at him, has effectively given the Stars little to worry about when on the kill.
Meanwhile, Chris Osgood has become the regular starter in Detroit, after Hasek had issues dealing with the always plucky Predators. Since filling in for the Dominator, the Wizard of Oz (Ed. Really? What a sweet nickname) has gone 6-0. Despite being a four-time All-Star, two-time Jennings recipient, Vezina runner-up and 15th on the all-time wins list, Osgood is hardly having the same jaw-dropping postseason that Turco is, even if Osgood’s games have never called for much in terms of brilliance. If this becomes a duel between tenders, Turco can outshine Osgood every time, but he’ll need to get over the 0-7-2 record he brings to Detroit. Edge: Dallas
The forwards for both teams are at the forefront, as the Mule, Johan Franzen, has an absurd 11 goals in 10 games, while the Legend of Brenden Morrow continues to grow in Dallas, even yielding comparisons to Mark Messier’s leadership of the Rangers during the 1994 playoffs. The Wings are paced by the ridiculous triumvirate of Selke finalists Datsyuk and Zetterberg along with Franzen, who have combined to go plus-26 and have 23 of Detroit’s 38 goals.
Meanwhile, the best line in Dallas has Ribeiro centering Lehtinen and Morrow, which has proven one of the best forechecking lines so far this postseason. Dallas has surprising speed in the corners but most of this is due to the tenacity in players like Hagman, Morrow and Ott. Detroit has a way of making a lot of space for its skilled players and seems able to distribute the goals around if necessary – so far, all of the clutch goals from Dallas have come from one line. Edge: Detroit
Defense is something that you’d expect to be strong in the Western Finals. Detroit has a solid corps in Lidstrom, Chelios, Kronwall, and Stuart. Dallas, meanwhile, has a refreshed Sergei Zubov and three competent rookies, with Mark Fistric and Niklas Grossman playing exceptionally well, and Stephane Robidas was easily the first round MVP with Mattias Norstrom having a monster second round.
Dallas is also short one Philippe Boucher, who has been a big part of the blueline offense since his arrival. Detroit has an experienced, smart blueline here while Dallas is sending out four under 25 years old. I think defensively Detroit has the edge, but given that it’s a push between Zubov and Lidstrom offensively, the fleet-footed Dallas blueline has the edge in the other zone. Edge: Push
Finally, special teams…is not even close. Dallas comes in second and fourth in PP and PK, while Detroit is the worst team on the job remaining. However, given Dallas’ penchant in the second round for taking many penalties early in games, it would be extremely easy for Detroit to jump on an early chance or, at the very least, wear down some of the Stars’ role players.
Dallas’ powerplay is also very streaky, but finds a way to score when needed – Dallas had three goals that tied or put them ahead on the powerplay versus the Sharks, and there was never more than one lead change in any game of the series. Marty Turco is a big part of the kill and powerplay. Edge: Dallas
Overall, I’m calling Dallas in seven. But only if Turco finds a way to end that putrid drought in Detroit. Dallas needs to steal an early game to have a chance, and with the way Detroit can be awestruck early in a series, this isn’t out of the question.
As for a quick and dirty Eastern Conference Final, you’ve got a team that’s 8-1 in the playoffs playing one of the few teams to best it in the regular season. I’ll just call it Penguins in six, but I’m not ruling out the Flyers stealing one of those games and turning it into what we all really want – another chance for Dallas and Philadelphia to hate each other.
-B Kizzle
