Game 2: Most Important Game of Star's Season

I believe this upcoming game (game 2 of the Detroit series) is the most important game the Stars will play this year. Win it and have a chance at a cup, lose it, and while they may win one or two games in this series, they will not have a chance to put down the Red Wings.

I dont think the Stars were horrible in game one, but they certainly didn't appear ready to match Detroit's high level of play. Dallas, as they have been known to do, did exert some energy, and at times matched Detriot's play while 5 on 5, but did not put together a game that combined skill, energy,  and coordination between players in the way that the Wings have been doing in succesive games throughout the playoffs.

It is a pity that Richard's linemates aren't yet ready to step up and be peers, in the beggining of the playoffs I thought they were. He is a very good player and creator who needs at least one other good player and offensive talent on his line. He will, I believe, go on to great things as a Star and is every bit as good or better than Ribiero, given some help.  

The defense needs to play with more confidence in our zone, they look as if they are intimidated and it seems only a matter of time before someone panics and turns the puck over, leaving Turco massively exposed. Aside from Nordstrom, I dont think there is enough size on defense to accomplish two key things: 1) Battle the Wing's Big forwards in front of Turco, and 2) win the lions share of puck battles in the corners in the defensive end.

Face-offs are also a huge problem as has been pointed out. The Stars seem to lose all the ones that matter. defensive zone loses resulted in Wing opportunities, and offensve zone losses meant one less potential scoring chanc

The Stars need to start really hitting the Detroit skill players. they need to start putting some second thoughts into Datsuk and Zetterberg's heads. I saw Detroit players atke some runs at our skill players, so as far as I am concerned, the gloves are off. I love the energy and physicalness Ott brought to the last game and feel we need to do alot more of that.  

I don't know if Tippet can do enough juggling and get things together enough to pull out a win tonight, but I do get the feeling that if these two teams played for an extended period of time, the Stars would improve more than the Wings, who appear to be playing at pretty much the top of their game. All of the little things add up and Dallas needs to improve in at least 80% of the areas they struggled and find improvement and smarter, faster play from at least 50% of their players.

 I don't even care if the Stars went on to win the cup, but a win over Detroit in "this" series, for me, should they pull it off, might be the most satisfying thing I've ever seen the Stars team accomplish and I believe would go a very long way in turning the corner as a hockey franchise.

Edge, that was a very well thought out post, and I'm sure parts of it were painful to write. But I can't say I agree with you on game 2 being do or die for the Stars. Granted, no one wants to go down 0-2 in a series but it isn't a completely insurmountable obstacle either. Being a Red Wings fan I am never comfortable with any lead (for more info on that check out a blog by a member Chargers&Wings called "Being a Red Wings fan" it'll explain everything). The Stars got off to a bad start in game one, I do agree. But I certainly don't think that was any indication of how this series will go. Now that the Stars have gotten a chance to feel out the Red Wings I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot of the changes you mentioned in your post. In addition to that I can certainly see the Stars coming out with a lot more confidence and discipline in game two, if we don't see THAT, then I would start to worry.

Basically don't get down on one game, there are (potentially) six more to go.

I hear you, wing. I have to say though, coming back from 0-2 and another demoralizing loss, while not the end of the series for certain, will make the task gargantuan. It is not impossible that the Stars may win having gown down 0-2, but the the time to take the monentum is definitely now. What the Stars DO undoubetly have to do is compete on a par that  the Red Wings have set. If there isnt sginificant progress in that tonight, this is a forgone conclusion.

Incidentally, you're the most rational Wings fan I have read to date : )

Thats crazy.  Its professional sports and this is the conference finals and you would be happy with 1 win in the series. Its anybodies game.

That being said youre goin down. Go wings

Yeah, why can't Matry Turco hold the Wings??

Its not Marty's fault.....he played well......only giving up 2 goals is a good game...plus he made some nice saves. The problem is the lack of shots on goals by the Stars....its tough to win that way.  Morrow is awesome i wish we had him....but your team is just not as deep as ours.

I agree the loss was not Turco's fault. Although, one goal could have been prevented had be not allowed himself to be distracted by the Detroit defenseman in front of the net.

Of course, Detroit players in front of the net was an issue I think I mentioned earlier in the initial post. Aside form Nordstrom, it looks like the Stars defensemen lack the size or strnegth to keep players from getting position on them. I realize the league is not allowing alot of the pushing and contact for players without the puck these days, but somewhow Detroit has managed ot camp out in front of Turco pretty reguarly.

The defensemen did a better job controlling and moving the puck out of the Dallas end. Although there were a few scary moments. Turco also played better with the puck, even though he missed swiping one in front of the net that coudl have cost a goal.

The Stars had alot of lost offensive chances. I think I counted four or five quality chances in the first period alone. Missing chances like that is symptomatic of something and I think that something was a lack of confidence in their ability to actually beat the Wings, resulting in what I can only think to describe as frantic play, even when it wasnt necessary to be frantic. Of course, if often seemed Detroit players were in their pockets whenever they had possesion of the puck, so soon they acted like they were, even when they werent. 

Osgood clearly made an attempt to get his stick into Ribiero's chest when he was passing the net at high-speed, as subtle as the move was, I hope the league takes it into account when deciding Ribiero's fate.

I think it's pretty clear Dallas' problem with the Wings isnt a lack of talent to compete, but a lack of ability to believe themselves capable of real