On the Wings

Update (2:26 PM): I’m finishing up with post-graduation and moving out stuff so I’ll just refer you to Bruce MacLeod, who has an update on the Wings here and the Stars here. Also, IwoCPO has some keys to the game here. - Matt

Tonight is the second game of the Western Conference Finals. Detroit took a 1-0 lead with a 4-1 win Thursday night.

The Stars could really use a win here. Going back to Dallas down 2-0 isn’t the end of the world, but that’s not a position they want to be in with the Wings on a roll. Some keys to the game for Dallas:

Stay out of the box. That means playing a clean game and figuring out the officiating standard early. The Wings’ power play will make them pay if they don’t.

Score first. Scoring first doesn’t guarantee anything, but it’s certainly better than playing catch-up all night.

Marty Turco. For Turco, he has to view this game as the night to overcome his issues with winning at the Joe. He may have to steal this one for the Stars.

The Stars could see the return of Stu Barnes (concussion-like symptoms) tonight. That would help their PK.

For the Wings, they’d obviously like to keep the Stars from splitting the first two games. Some keys to the game for Detroit:

Weather/end the storm. The Stars are bound to come out hard and the Wings will have to be ready for that. Either they’ll need to weather the storm or they’ll need to end it by an opportunistic goal.

Marty Turco. Get in his head and in his space. Get him off his game and keep him there.

Minimal penalties. If I had to guess, I’d say the officiating will go against the Wings tonight, so they’ll have to keep their feet moving as much as possible to avoid chintzy calls, at least.

Kirk Maltby is likely to remain in because of the speed he provides over Darren McCarty.

I think we can count on the Stars playing a much better game tonight. That just means the Wings will have to step it up that much more. I’d like to see them keep on the attack for the majority of the game this time around.

Tonight’s the night we really find out how this series is going to go.