Blues Spoil Stars Pacific Division Hopes, Defeats Dallas 4-2
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by user 192.195.66.44
At the start of Monday's game versus St. Louis, the Stars had a chance to run the table, win their remaining four games and win the Pacific Division.
Unfortunately, the Blues came in, dictated play all around the ice and gave the Stars a loss that probably regulates them to playing their 1st playoff game on the road.
With the loss, the Stars remain at 102 points with 3 games to play and now have to watch the scoreboard as their ability to control their own destiny in the division has gone past them. At 102 points, the Stars are still tied with the Sharks and could see San Jose overtake them in the standings and see their rivals win another Pacific Division, as they face off against Anaheim, the current division leaders on Thursday.
Essentially, Monday Night's game at American Airlines Center played out like a trap game and the Stars caught the trap hard. St. Louis scored the first goal of the game in the first period and then regained the lead when the Stars and forward Mike Ribeiro tied in the second period.
Yet, the trap fully came down on the hosts when Marty Turco allowed 2 goals in less then a minute and the Stars faced a two goal deficit that ended up becoming too much to overcome.
Brenden Morrow scored a power play goal late in the second period, but that would be the last goal of the night for the hosts.
In the third, the only highlight was an empty net goal by the Blues, leaving Dallas to ponder their playoff fates as they seemed to take the visitors way too lightly.
For a team that will make the playoffs in the Stars, the Blues looked like the superior team. If anything, Monday's contest should serve as a reminder that if they allow their opponent to dictate play all over the ice, their playoff chase will end in the same disappointing fashion as in previous seasons.
Notes:
Fire At the AAC....
The Versus Broadcast Truck caught on fire prior to the game, causing some panic for the TV Broadcast and the Replay Room. A mistake in the cabling hooking up the satellite truck caused the fire and a near electrocution.
If the broadcast looked bad or underproduced, it was because the situation demanded a basic show, with much of the elements added at the Versus Studios......
Ribeiro, Morrow are on fire...
Both Ribeiro and Morrow are playing brilliantly right now.
Ribeiro has recorded 10 points in his last 5 games (4-6-10).
Morrow has recorded 7 points in his last 5 games (3-4-7).
On a night where the Stars underperformed, both Ribeiro and Morrow offered the only two examples of players looking to help their teams playoff positioning. If anyone avoided the trap of the game on Monday, it was only Ribeiro and Morrow.
Turco lets in two:
Instead of helping his team to the victory, Marty Turco let in two goals in the second period which helped end the Stars chances for the Pacific Division.
The two goals in the second period not only changed momentum after the Game Tying Goal by Ribeiro, but offered another dim note on the Stars goaltending that has been suspect in the playoffs.....
Who got Fired?
Claude Julien of the NJ Devils was fired, relieved of his coaching duties on Monday. In most cities, this isn't a problem, but the Devils are 2nd in the East and looked like a challenger to Buffalo in the playoffs.
If anything, a possible conflict between Lou Lamoriello, the current coach and Julien, the former coach existed.
Yet, this firing was a weird because news of a rift failed to exist. If you have anything, let me know....
JG
