Stars On The Brink, Lose To Canucks in Game 4, 2-1
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by user UNT66
Tuesday Night at the American Airlines Center, the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Dallas Stars 2-1. With the loss, the Stars drop another game in the series, falling behind 3-1 in the best of seven series with the Canucks and are on the brink of elimination, needed to win Game 5,6 and 7 in order to stay alive in the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After nearly 50 minutes of scoreless hockey, the Canucks marked the scoresheet first in Game 3, as Mattias Ohlund scored the first goal of the gam nearly halfway through the third period.
As a rebound was kicked out to the point, Ohlund slammed the puck into the Stars net, giving the visitors the first lead of the game.
Nearly three minutes later, the Stars tied the game up as Darryl Sydor fired a shot from the blueline that found the back of the Canucks net, tying the game at 1-1. Sydor simply fired a slapper that founded a hole through the screen of Brenden Morrow and went past Roberto Luongo.
Two minutes later, Vancouver reclaimed the lead for good, as captain Trevor Linden scored of a rebound, reclaiming the lead for the visitors 2-1. Of a shot that produced a rebound in front of the goal crease, Linden skated past two Stars defensemen and knocked the puck past Stars goaltender Marty Turco.
From there, Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo made the 2-1 lead stand up as he made 26 saves and got some help from former Star and current Canuck defenseman Willie Mitchell as he cleared a last second attempt from the goal line from Stars forward Mike Ribeiro.
Thus, Vancouver can end the series at GM Place on Thursday Night, advance to the Western Conference Semifinals and send the Stars looking for tee times this weekend with a win in Game 5.
Notes:
Turco Update:
On the two goals that Vancouver scored, both were clean shots due to being out of position (Ohlund's Goal) or rebounds (Ohlund and Linden's Goals).
Thus, he will be made a scapegoat.
It a shame because he has improved his play, but has yet to beat another goaltender on home ice in the last 6 playoff games at the AAC. That fact alone could spur the demand for a trade in the offseason, inspite of Marty Turco's no-trade clause.
Offensive Goal Production:
Another Stars playoff game, another 1 goal game from the offense....
And this time, the Stars goal scorer was not Modano or Lehtinen or any of the players mentioned in my previous blog entry. Thus, some lengthy goal streaks will continue into Thursday's game at GM Place.
Last Game at the AAC for a while?
If the Stars lose Game 5 and end their postseason on Thursday Night, they will have done something that's shocking, stop their playoff run before the Mavericks start theirs this weekend.....
Hopefully, the Stars rectify any warts in their game and bring the series back to Dallas for Game 6, but that is not looking to promising right now....
Goal Scorless Streak I Mentioned Earlier:
I had put this entry on my blog and not on ArmchairGM's site. Here are the numbers, updated through Game 4:
Mike Modano: Hasn't scored a goal In 7 straight playoff games, last playoff goal was April 24th, 2006 vs. Colorado
Jere Lehtinen: Hasn't scored a goal in 5 straight playoff games, last playoff goal was April 28th, 2006 at Colorado
Mike Ribeiro: Hasn't scored a goal in 17 straight playoff games, last playoff goal was April 13, 2004 vs. Boston
Sergei Zubov: Hasn't scored a goal in 6 straight playoff games, last playoff goal was April 26, 2006 at Colorado
Philippe Boucher: Hasn't scored a goal in 11 straight playoff games, last playoff goal was April 12, 2004 vs. Colorado
Jussi Jokinen: Hasn't scored a goal in 4 straight playoff games, last playoff goal was April 30, 2006 vs. Colorado
Niklas Hagman: Hasn't scored a goal in 5 straight playoff games, last playoff goal was April 28th, 2006 at Colorado
Mattias Norstrom: Hasn't scored a playoff goal in his NHL Career
Stephane Robidas: Hasn't scored a playoff goal in his NHL Career
Stars Power Play Needs A Jump....
In the 2007 Playoffs, The Dallas Stars have gone 2 for 25 in the Power Play, operating at a 8% clip.
The biggest problem with the Stars Power Play is that they have failed to score when needed to give their team a lead.
Take Game 4:
-The Stars had a 1:55, 2-Man Advantage in the first period, which they failed to score and failed to generate quality scoring chances. If the Stars scored at least one goal during the 1:55, they could have established enough momentum to hold off the Canucks.....
-Overall, the Stars went for 0-6 on the power play.
If the Stars have any desires to bring their 1st round series back to Dallas for Game 6, they must convert on their power plays in Game 5.
JG
