The Wings are in Texas tonight to face one of the league’s hottest teams, the Western Conference-leading Dallas Stars. The two teams split the 2005-2006 season series 2-2, with the Wings winning the first (4-1) and last games (3-2) and the Stars winning the middle two (6-3, 2-1). Tonight is the first of four games between the clubs this season.
The Stars are in the middle of the best start in franchise history, winning five in a row before losing to the Sharks last Tuesday. Since then, they have won three in a row, beating Chicago, Phoenix and Vancouver in a home-away-home stretch.
They are getting adequate offense, notching 29 goals, with 11 of those coming in the last three games alone. Their defense has been great and leads the league with a 1.67 GAA.
The team leader in goals is former captain Mike Modano, who is no doubt highly motivated this season after losing the “C” to Brendan Morrow. Marty Turco is quieting those who questioned him after last season, posting 7 wins and a 1.86 GAA.
The Dallas Morning News had a piece yesterday detailing the apparent difference in fates between the Stars and other teams that have been strong in recent years, such as the Wings, Avs, and Flyers. While the latter three have struggled in various ways, Dallas is winning and staying ahead of the pack in the West. Based on what the media reports the Stars players as saying, they don’t see themselves as having been especially dominant thus far, but what matters is that they’ve been coming out on top.
The DMN and Star-Telegram each have similar pieces today about the Wings’ effect on ticket sales in other cities. Despite the perception that the Wings are a falling star, they still seem to sell out arenas wherever. The Stars are wary of the Wings, despite their mediocre start to the season, but will be playing in front of a large crowd, which will give them a boost.
The Wings, in contrast to the Stars, have not had such a hot start, going 4-4-1 in the first nine games. They are coming off a fairly dominate (despite the low score) 2-1 win over the Sharks at home on Wednesday. The win followed up their annual awful West Coast (plus a stop in Edmonton) road trip, in which they went 1-3 and were outscored 11-7.
Although the team offense has not been on par with expectations, its 22 goals isn’t vastly worse than the Stars’ production. They could definitely put up better numbers and, if Wednesday’s game is any indication, they will. The defense has allowed 22 goals, which is disappointing given the talent the team has on D but they took 97 minutes in penalties on the trip alone, so it’s not terribly surprising.
The team leader in goals for the Wings is defenseman Mathieu Schneider, who has four. Dominik Hasek, whose performances thus far have, honestly, been underwhelming (not necessarily bad, just not stellar), has posted 3 wins and a 2.13 GAA.
The Detroit News reports Johan Franzen is questionable for tonight while the Free Press lists Brad Norton as out and Mikael Samuelsson as doubtful. Valtteri Filppula will stay with the Wings for a little longer, at least, though it appears Norton could come back at any time. If he does, there’s a chance Samuelsson could be put on the IR, which would allow Valtteri to stay. If Franzen, Samuelsson, and Norton all can’t go tonight, the Wings will be short two forwards instead of just one, as they have been since Samuelsson’s injury.*
According to the Freep, Dominik Hasek will start tonight and will sit tomorrow in St. Louis while Chris Osgood gets a shot.
According to Ted Kulfan of the News, the Wings have regained confidence after beating the Sharks Wednesday night and are mentally out of the rut that they were in on the West Coast trip. The biggest thing was their success on special teams, which produced a power play goal and killed off four of five penalties. If they can improve on that, or at least keep it up, as well as maintain the same level of intensity, they should be well off.
This is an important game for the team, who could use another win over a fast-starting team to help with their confidence and to get a on a roll.
*11 forwards instead of their usual 13. Add the standard six-man defensive corps and two goalies, and you have an undermanned 19-player lineup. The Wings would only down one player if they weren’t forced to carry a third goalie, Joey MacDonald. He occupies the last spot in the allowed 23-man roster, of which 21 are dressed when everyone is healthy.
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