Skip navigation

 Login or Register | Member Centre

A rare meeting for NHL powers

ERIC DUHATSCHEK

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 8:40 PM EDT 08/05/08

Dallas and Detroit, two of the most successful and stable NHL franchises of the past decade, are set to battle, writes Eric Duhatschek in his gameday update ...Read the full article

This conversation is closed

  1. Alain Chicoine from Halifax, Canada writes: Why such a long delay between second and third rounds? The Stanley Cup is supposed to be the most difficult trophy to win, but not when you get a vacation in the middle of your Cup run.

    Another example of poor product presentation by the NHL big-wigs. This long break takes a lot of momentum out of the sails of the fans who were very much into the second round.
  2. Matt O from Canada writes: Talk about sugar-coating this series, Mr. Duhatschek. The fact is that Dallas has, over the past dozen years or so, been a cancer to the league, one of the most pro-active participants in the trapping, locking, defensive style that has been choking the life out of the sport.

    Detroit in its late-90s, heydey, while loaded with offensive talent, wasn't much better. The Detroit-Dallas series should be remembered as epic clashes between two of the premier clubs of the day, but instead they largely put us to sleep. The most that most hockey fans can remember of those games was that centre-ice shot that Osgood let in in an overtime game.

    Even without Yzerman, the brand of hockey the Wings play today is much more appealing than what they were doing in those days. What this series is really about is a fast-skating and even at times free-wheeling club against one of the league's premier dinosaurs. The fact that Dallas' most exciting player is the classes Mike Ribiero tells you all you need to know about them.

    Anyway, here's hoping that the Wings sink the Stars sooner rather than later, and that they face the Pens, an even more exciting club to watch, in the finals.
  3. Mark H from Columbus, IN, United States writes: I had some comments to make, but Alain and Matt beat me to them. Bottom line:

    1) The break was about 3 days too long.
    2) Can't wait for a Wings-Pens Cup final.

    Wings in 5.
  4. Mark H from Columbus, IN, United States writes: I had some comments to make, but Alain and Matt beat me to them. Bottom line:

    1) The break was about 3 days too long.
    2) Can't wait for a Wings-Pens Cup final.

    Wings in 5.
  5. Bill Weston from Grand Rapids, MI, United States writes: Alain Chicoine from Halifax.. I suspect the long time off is because a) it took Dallas until Sunday night (Monday morning?) to finish off the Sharks; and b) because NBC wants them on Saturday tv.
  6. Sean O'Reilly from Canada writes: Here is hoping the wings put an end to the Stars starting the series on the road with wins.

    It will be interesting to see what if any affect the time off has on the wings. I don't appreciate the style the Stars play, but they win, and this is a big challenge for the wings because only the Devils are better than grinding out a game.

    Bring on game 1!

    Go wings!
  7. Patrick P-A from Canada writes: I'm still bitter about the Rangers' loss to the Pens but I have to admit watching Hossa and Malking was pretty impressive.

    If my friend heard me say this, she would never let me live this down!
  8. Matt O from Canada writes: Mark H, sorry to partly steal your thunder. I have to also admit to checking out Google Maps to make sure that Columbus, Indiana was in fact a real place :).

    Bill Weston, I think b) is the right answer to your question, though it still doesn't explain why they couldn't have started the Pens-Flyers series yesterday, as both teams were well-rested. I suspect TV is the answer again, as this improves the odds that both series will spill over two weekends.

    The thing is, the NBA starts its second round before the first even beings, and Bettman is an NBA guy, so I don't know what he's thinking (perhaps this is why they didn't put up a fight to keep him). I find it funny that the NBA playoffs start a week to 10 days after the NHL post-season, yet they both end up finishing up around the same time. Geniuses, those NHL people.
  9. Sissy Schuss from Canada writes: Without Zetterberg and Datsyuk Dallas would have the decided edge - but their addition will make this an exciting series and gives Detroit the win tonight.
  10. W R from Stratford, pE, Canada writes: Alain Chicoine from Halifax, Canada writes: Why such a long delay between second and third rounds?

    Waht delay? In actual fact the second round series were slated to end on either Tuesday or Wednesday if they had gone 7 games. So in fact the "gap" was caused by all the series ending early. I suspect that TV commitments/scheduling also has a bearing on when the games are played.
  11. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: There were game 7's scheduled for Tuesday night for a number of series. The fact that no series went 7 doesn't change that. Round 3 was scheduled to begin on May 8th.

    Remember .... arenas have to be booked well in advance as they are multi function facilties.

    If Dallas plays the same type of hockey against the wings as they played against SJ they are doomed. Puck enters Dallas zone... Dallas chips the puck back out to the neutral zone.. on and on and on.

    This type of game is like feeding the puck posession wings candy. They will take the puck back gladly.... circle around and attack again.

    Wings in 6.... then they school Philly in the final.

    Cheers
  12. Matt O from Canada writes: Scot, about the scheduling, I remember in '92 when the Pens and Blackhawks both swept the conference finals, they were able to move up the finals by several days. Also, the NBA doesn't seem to have a problem shifting its game dates around, as their second round series start as soon as the clubs involved are ready to go.

    Arenas can always move around their booked events...I suspect, though, that the NHL has declined in importance so much that it doesn't have the clout to get things changed their way, even in Canada. Never mind the NBA, they can't even get Dora the Explorer shows moved.
  13. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Matt O; You are correct. Had the Dallas series ended earlier as well they would have moved the schedule forward. But to make it fair... all series must end earlier.... and remember the teams scheduled for game 7 may not have home ice the following series... that can mess things up too.

    More likely to happen next round as there are only going to be 2 winners.....

    Cheers
  14. Matt O from Canada writes: Scot; true, all the series probably would have had to end early. Also, I'm sure Dallas appreciates the break after playing 6.5 periods of hockey the other night.

    I still think we're going to have to endure a long wait in between the conf. finals and the finals, though, as the NHL loves to drag out the time between the two final rounds. It all depends what their masters, NBC television, decide is best for them. You know, why show a good hockey game when there's a horse euthanizing exhibition they can put on?

    Cheers.
  15. No Comment from United States writes:
    Whatever the reasons for not moving up the game scheduling when series end early, it certainly is a momentum killer. All the excitement of playoff hockey, every night for a couple of weeks and then a hiatus. I like the NBA's approach to playoff scheduling.

    Good to see two teams in the semis that have been strong performers for many years. Parity sucks!
  16. A C from Canada writes: Wings in 5
    Philly in 6

    Wings in 6

    If Pittsburgh, the Fairy Tale Story of the Year, wins the cup the year after Mickey Mouse's team, Tampa Bay and Carolina, I swear I'm never watching hockey ever again.
  17. Alain Chicoine from Halifax, Canada writes: Dallas in 6

    Philly in 7

    Dallas in 5
  18. Ed Long from white Rock, Canada writes: Let's be contrarian:

    Two seven game series:

    Detroit and Pittsburgh

    Notice how the commonality of these four teams is sound management .... hello Vancouver.

    Mike Gillis will need years to build this type of franchise without a trigger happy owner.

    Good luck.

    Can't help myself. Cheered for the Wings in the original six ... Delvecchio, Howe, Ullman, Pronovost, Gadsby, Sawchuk.

    Damn ... starting to cry.
  19. foo bar from Canada writes: Wings in 4. Yes, four. Dallas is a good team, but Detroit's playing keep-away with that puck so well.
  20. Hap Stokes from Canada writes: Predictions:

    Sharks win Cup in 2008, 07, 06--All WRONG.

    And my great knowledge this year.
    Detroit loses 2nd Round --WRONG
    Dallas out in 1st Round --WRONG
    Montreal win the East --WRONG
    Rangers lose in Final to Mtl --WRONG
    Philly out in 1st Round --WRONG

    No more predictions except going to be watching with cold beer.
    (Unless Bob Cole is calling the games)
    Go Leafs Go
  21. D W from Switzerland writes: finally, an honest prognosticator !!
  22. Vincent Clement from Windsor, Canada writes: "Remember .... arenas have to be booked well in advance as they are multi function facilties."

    Hogwash. Arena operators know when the playoffs happen and book (and warn) non-hockey events accordingly. If there is a conflict, then I can understand a one-day delay - but four? Rebook the non-hockey events. Happens all the time. It takes under 24 hours to get an arena in shape for a hockey game after a non-hockey event.
  23. Matt O from Canada writes: Hap Stokes, your honesty and modesty are a welcome antidote to the loutish behaviour that infects these threads from time to time (though this is a good one so far).

    Back in '94 I predicted a Rangers-Canucks final (Rangers was an easy pick, Canucks not so much). In '95 I predicted a Devils win, though I believe I thought the Blues would take the West. Those are the two highpoints in my otherwise dismal amateur prognostication career.
  24. W R from Stratford, PE, Canada writes: No Comment from United States writes:
    Whatever the reasons for not moving up the game scheduling when series end early, it certainly is a momentum killer. All the excitement of playoff hockey, every night for a couple of weeks and then a hiatus. I like the NBA's approach to playoff scheduling.

    You must hate the Super Bowl scheduling then? For years I've been saying that the two week layoff before the Super Bowl Game is the main reason why the Super Bowl is often a let down. After playing every week since Sept. (with one exception) and building up to a fever pitch to win their respective leagues, the two teams have to spend two weeks waiting and waiting for the big game. All momentum is lost.

    As far this series concerned, Wings in four. They are just too good for anyone to beat this year. The Stars, Philly and Pittsburgh don't have a chance.
  25. Alberto Bayo from Canada writes: Anything less than a Cup victory in Detroit will be considered a failure. The Wings will take the series in 5 or 6 and dominate whatever Eastern team advances to the final.
  26. Dave The Rave from Ottawa, Canada writes: If the Stars play like they are in the opening period of Game 1 vs. the Wings, this is going to be a very short series. Dallas looked completely lost and Detroit scored two power play goals while dominating in every category, including SOG 12-4 and faceoffs. PS Mike Ribeiro fans take note: Ribeiro has 95 goals in 433 NHL games over 10 seasons, and five goals in 32 playoff appearances. Decent, but not exactly superstar category. Tippett's coaching, Brenden Morrow's leadership and Marty Turco's goaltending are the reasons why Dallas is in the conference final. Niklas Hagman has scored zero goals, and there is very little offense beyond Morrow. The Stars may have beaten San Jose and Anaheim, but those teams had major weaknesses. Detroit is a serious opponent, and they have the killer instinct. Kronwall, Stuart, Franzen, Samuelsson, Cleary, McCarty and co. can duke it out with anybody. And Osgood may not be a flashy as Turco, but he's playing as well as any goalie in the NHL.

Comments are closed

Thanks for your interest in commenting on this article, however we are no longer accepting submissions. If you would like, you may send a letter to the editor.

Report an abusive comment to our editorial staff

close

Alert us about this comment

Please let us know if this reader’s comment breaks the editor's rules and is obscene, abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, defamatory, profane or racially offensive by selecting the appropriate option to describe the problem.

Do not use this to complain about comments that don’t break the rules, for example those comments that you disagree with or contain spelling errors or multiple postings.

Back to top