On the Wings

Update (7:41 PM): If you’re watching the game near a computer, you should stop by the liveblogs that will be going on:

• Abel to Yzerman
• FanHouse
• Behind the Jersey

I’ll be away from the computer during the game, which is why I’m not at the FanHouse liveblog. - Matt

Update (6:12 PM): Mike Babcock has not ruled out splitting up Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk tonight, according to the anonymous CBC playoffs blogger, who also provides Babcock’s reasoning behind putting Mikael Samuesson on a defensive line. - Matt

Update (5:17 PM): With the high temperatures and the likelihood of poor ice quality in Dallas, Mike Babcock is looking to shorten the shift length for his players, as he told Helene St. James: “… I want to have four groups at 40 seconds apiece, not three groups at 60 seconds apiece.” - Matt

Update (4:24 PM): It’s supposed to hit 97 degrees in Dallas today, but the folks at the American Airlines Center are doing all they can to ensure the ice quality, according to Mike Heika. - Matt

Update (2:11 PM): Helene St. James confirms that Johan Franzen is out tonight: he didn’t make the trip to Dallas, though it was considered a possibility. - Matt

Update (1:52 PM): Bruce MacLeod has three game day updates posted. There are a couple changes.

First, it looks like Chris Chelios will be out tonight with an injured leg. If he can’t go at game time, Andreas Lilja will be in. Let the nightmares of a Lilja turnover leading to a Dallas GWG begin.

Second, the lines are being mixed up a bit. Jiri Hudler is being moved to the second line while Mikael Samuelsson is dropping down to the third. Kirk Maltby will evidently moved to the fourth. I like moving Hudler up, but I’m not a fan of the idea of breaking up the third line, which has been effective. - Matt

Tonight is the sixth game of the Western Conference Finals. Detroit leads the series 3-2, with wins in Games 1-3. Dallas won Games 4 and 5.

Dallas is looking to pull off the impossible, a comeback from a 3-0 series deficit. To do that, they must feed off the momentum they’ve built up over the past two games and win again tonight at home. Some keys to the game for the Stars:

First goal. Scoring first is absolutely essential for Dallas tonight. If they can do that, they’ll have the psychological edge over Detroit.

Stay out of the box. The last thing Dallas needs tonight is to give the Wings a chance to get into the game.

Marty Turco. Once again, how Turco plays will determine the course of this game. In the first three games, he was average. In the past two, he’s been very tough, surrendering just two goals on 73 shots. If he continues to play at such a high level, Detroit’s task will be that much more difficult.

The Stars will be without Jere Lehtinen (leg), Stu Barnes (concussion-like symptoms), Philippe Boucher (hip strain) and Mark Fistric (mono).

With a 3-2 lead in the series, Detroit is technically in the driver’s seat. Over the past two games, however, Dallas has taken the wheel and is taking this series to places Detroit never wanted to go. The Wings have to take the wheel back tonight and end this thing. Some keys to the game for Detroit:

Score first. They’ve not done that in either of the past two games. Tonight it’s huge. Scoring first will not take Dallas out of the game, but it will help the Winsg reassert their dominance in this series.

Depth. I said this before Game 5 and the team fell flat on its face. The Wings’ depth has to be better tonight. The second, third, and fourth lines must take pressure off the top line.

Chris Osgood. In 1998, Chris Osgood shut the Stars out in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals. It was one of the best games of his career. The Wings will need him to put on a similar performance tonight.

It looks like Detroit will be without Johan Franzen (post-concussion symptoms) for another game. He has not yet been cleared to play, though Mike Babcock said “he’ll play the day he’s cleared.” Franzen told the media yesterday that he feels better, so I suppose there’s hope.

I don’t think this will be a fun one, folks.