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From the Locker Rooms Stars look to regroup; Devils know it's not over
Posted: Tuesday June 06, 2000 07:19 PM
By David Vecsey, CNNSI.com DALLAS - The Dallas Stars put on a brave face after what was surely one of the most bitter defeats of their two-year run atop the National Hockey League. Blitzed for three third-period goals, down 3-1 in the series, heading back to New Jersey ... without question a grave situation. "We are not tired and we are not worn out," said Stars coach Ken Hitchcock. "Don't even go there. We are down 3-1 to a hell of a hockey team. "Obviously the momentum is on their side. We have got two days to recoup and to get healthy. ... We have a great ability to recover and move on." Of all things, the Stars took note of the fact that the team beating them in these Stanley Cup finals had themselves come back from a 3-1 deficit against Philadelphia in the conference finals. Here are some of the other stiff-upper-lippers out of the Dallas side:
Mike Keane: "We have no choice. We have to bounce back." Ed Belfour: "I think we're all disappointed, but we've never done anything the easy way. This is just another challenge." Brenden Morrow: We've got to make history here. We've been playing through adversity all year and playing good under pressure. We've got a lot of pressure now. We've got a lot ahead of us." Devils are about to let up Down the hall in New Jersey's locker room, there was hardly a feeling of satisfaction, nobody mapping a parade route from Camden to Montclair. "Obviously we have to respect the team and realize that it's not over," said defenseman Scott Niedermayer. "If we come out and we're not playing our absolute best, we're not going to compete with them." Said Brian Rafalski: "Fifteen wins don't get you a Stanley Cup. We don't want to drag this on any longer." Of first concern was the condition of Jason Arnott, who was helped off the ice after a big hit from Derian Hatcher ... after the Devils had scored three times on three shots in the third period. "I am not the referee, so I can't call those," said Devils coach Larry Robinson. "There are four of them out there, one didn't see it. I played it back and I thought maybe he hit him with the stick, but he didn't. "With the some of the penalties that were called, that should have been a penalty." Robinson said Arnott was "fine."
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