Detroit makes mistake-prone Dallas pay
Posted: Wednesday June 03, 1998 12:14 AM
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The Stars' Modano, normally an explosive scorer, has been limited to only one goal this series (AP) |
DALLAS (AP) -- The Detroit Red Wings know
the best thing the Dallas
Stars have going for them is their doggedness.
"They're persistent," said Detroit forward Darren McCarty.
"Any time you play them you know they are going to play hard for 60
minutes. We will have to match them again. You won't win many games against
Dallas unless you do."
Dallas will throw everything it has left against the defending Stanley
Cup champions Wednesday night to stave off elimination. The Red Wings hold
a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference finals.
Sometimes, Dallas' aggressiveness isn't a good thing. The Stars tend to
make mistakes that Detroit has been quick to capitalize on.
"This game is all about taking advantage of mistakes and that is where
Detroit is outplaying us," Dallas center Brian Skrudland
said.
Mike Modano,
normally the Stars' most-explosive scorer, but limited to one goal this
series, said every time Dallas makes an error Detroit makes them pay.
"It is just one or two things that cost us the game," Modano said. "It is
a never-ending battle with little mental breakdowns we have during the
game. It all adds up."
Coach Bowman says the Wings have played like champions in crunch time (AP) | |
Dallas posted the best regular-season record in the NHL by feasting on
opponent's mistakes. In the playoffs, the Stars have scored only two
power-play goals, making it even more important for them to create
turnovers.
"We have to turn things around," said right winger Pat Verbeek. "We have
to make our own breaks, our own luck. Things haven't come easily to us all
year long. We're just looking at this as a new challenge."
Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock said the Stars' frustration has reached the
boiling point.
"We are getting a lot of energy from our players, but to beat a
championship team you have to be better in every way," he said. "Just being
even isn't enough. Detroit has gotten some breaks. But they've earned them.
We have to earn ours. We have to take out our frustration on the ice and
play smart. We haven't been playing smart."
Detroit is seeking to become the first repeat champion since Pittsburgh in
1992.
Coach Scotty Bowman of Detroit said the Red Wings have played like
champions in crunch time.
"We have done a good job of playing well when the games have been on the
line," Bowman said. "But we can't let down. I believe we have too much
respect for Dallas to do that."
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NHL Finals
