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Wings think sweep ... quietly
Posted: Tuesday April 18, 2000 08:17 PM
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) -- Just when the Detroit Red Wings could afford to be cocky about their 3-0 playoff series lead over the Los Angeles Kings, they remember what happened last year. The Red Wings won the first two games against the Colorado Avalanche, then got beat in the next four to lose the second-round series and get bounced out of the playoffs a year after winning the Stanley Cup. So even though Detroit can clinch a first-round sweep with a victory in Game 4 Wednesday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles, the Red Wings aren't counting the Kings out. "They're fighting for their lives and that's when teams get dangerous and desperate," Detroit's Kris Draper said. "We've put ourselves in a good situation, but until it's over, it's not over. All you need is a little momentum and it can change a series, so Game 4 is the biggest game of the series." Kings rookie coach Andy Murray hinted Tuesday that he plans a few minor personnel changes, but otherwise will stick with his top line combinations. "This is our team, this is what got us here and this is what has to deliver us from evil," he said. The Kings believe all they need to win is a couple of power-play goals, which has been impossible so far. They are 0-for-16 in the series. "We've got to make the plays on the power play. They're really forcing us well," Luc Robitaille said Tuesday after practice. "They never beat themselves and that's one thing we've got to learn." Asked what he's learned from the first three games, Robitaille said, "Don't take penalties in the first period and you're better off getting a lead against Detroit." The Kings have had plenty of the former and none of the latter in the first three games. Two high-sticking penalties led to power-play goals in Detroit's 2-1 win Monday night. Los Angeles has never played with a lead in the series, and twice fought back from three-goal deficits in Game 2 only to lose 8-5. "It's been an historic problem with the Kings, the penalties and the retaliations," Murray said. "It's very frustrating. I'm sure the guys that took the retaliation penalties went home last night and said, `What the heck am I doing?' " Murray tore into his team in the dressing room between the second and third periods Monday, but seven seconds into the final period the Kings were whistled for another penalty. "You want players that want the puck, that want to have the responsibility of trying to make something happen," he said. "I thought we had players that didn't want that responsibility. I wanted them to step up." The Red Wings have been especially effective in shutting down Kings defenseman Rob Blake, who has yet to score on 15 shots in three games. He committed the first high-sticking penalty early in the first period Monday that led to a goal by Sergei Fedorov. "It's the same thing as we've tried to do to (Larry) Murphy, (Chris) Chelios and (Nicklas) Lidstrom, is to try and get pressure on him and try to wear on him," Murray said. "They're playing him real tight, but that means somebody else should be open," said Robitaille, who had the Kings' only goal Monday. Except for the wide-open, run-and-gun style of Game 2, the other games have been tight-checking defensive battles. Both teams expect more of the same in Game 4. "I don't think we've had much of an edge in any of the games," Detroit's Steve Yzerman said. "We've played in a ton of close games, so we've become comfortable in them. We just play and don't get caught up in the score or the situation of the game, just go out and really concentrate on your shift."
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