Trevor Daley gets the goal, but it was Brad Richards' work that made this possible. He got the puck bouncing off the boards, then made a nifty between-the-legs pass to Daley coming down the slot. Daley beat Osgood stick side, and it's 1-0 Stars at the 9:21 mark.
Stars are outshooting the Wings 8-3 at the 10:26 mark.
The Wings had evened this one up at the start of the third thanks to (shocking) Henrik Zetterberg off a Stars turnover. But the Stars got a big one on their fourth power play. Mike Modano was by himself in the slot and blasted one through Chris Osgood for a 2-1 advantage. It's Modano, from Zubov and Brad Richards at the 5:35 mark.
It's the Stars' first third-period goal in seven games.
Not sure if it was just a crazy bouncy puck or it hit off defenseman Niklas Cronwall, but the end result favors the Stars nonetheless. Brad Richards is on the rewarding end of this one, as his shot gets through to tie this one up again, 2-2, at 3:47. Credit Loui Eriksson and Joel Lundqvist on the assists.
I had to check first to make sure it's Monday. One thing about being a beat writer: You lose track of what day is what. Every day feels the same! Anyway, the updates:
One, really. Sergei Zubov is apparently feeling just fine after last night's game, and Dave Tippett expects him to be back out there tomorrow for Game 3. I asked if he was dressing seven defensemen again, but he wasn't sure at the moment. Zubov is ready to up the minutes, so we'll see how the Stars gradually work him back up to his usual numbers.
Oh, and tidbit about Brad Richards: He's the first player in franchise history to get four points in a period in a playoff game. Pretty impressive. Last guy to do it was Alex Moginly (former Devils man) in 2001.
Hey folks. I'm sitting in San Jose Airport way before the crack of down. I think I slept last night but I have no real proof. Anyway, talk of the game:
All I can say is, wow. That third period was as big of a statement as the Stars have made in this postseason, with their third period in Game 2 against the Anaheim Ducks a close second. Very similar, actually. Couple of points:
** Yes, Sergei Zubov's skating wasn't his best. Three months off, here. But the man's passing and shooting haven't suffered a bit. I talked to him after the game, said he felt good. We'll see where his soreness level is today, but I think it was best his first game was Game 2, not Game 3 when he'd have a very short recovery time for Game 4.
** Mike Ribeiro's goal was ridiculous. He said afterward that he's actually had three goals like that off Evgeni Nabokov. According to Ribeiro, he's scored one off the inside of his leg, off his back and now off the back of his skate. That line was carrying the load through the first period, especially.
** Marty was great again. Yes, he probably wishes he would've stayed put on the Milan Michalek goal (who's to say Michalek still wouldn't have scored), but if not for Marty in the first period the Stars have more than a one-goal deficit staring at them to start the third.
** Welcome back, Brad Richards. We missed you in Game 1, and part of Game 2. But you reminded us again why the Stars picked you up at the deadline. Great goal to open the third, and it changed everything. Co-GM Brett Hull probably wore a smile in his sleep last night.
** I still find it a bit amusing that the third period, the period that doomed the Stars over and over again through that horrible March, has been their strongest in these playoffs. They're burying the opposition in that final 20 minutes, although I'm guessing the guys would like to enter it with a lead again. This is the third consecutive game they trailed to start.
**Niklas Hagman said it doesn't matter if he doesn't score, as long as the Stars keep winning. Nevertheless, he needed that game. By the way, credit Jennifer Floyd Engel for her prediction of Hagman getting off the schnide.
OK, folks, I'm fighting sleep deprivation hard. I've got a lengthy layover in Denver, so I'll be back.
First, the defenseman: Sergei Zubov had a "procedure" done overseas to fix "lingering problems from a sports hernia," according to coach Dave Tippett on Thursday morning. Zubov will fly back to Dallas tomorrow, and the Stars will re-evaluate after that. This procedure apparently, according to Tippett, "allows him to come back quicker."
Now what constitutes "quicker"? The surgeon that did Zubov's procedure is the same one who did Brad Lukowich's back in February. He was back in about a month. If Zubov is on the same time frame, you would think he would be out at least the first round, depending on what the Stars do in the postseason.
The sports hernia was a lingering problem for Zubov. Whether or not the other injuries added to the hernia problem, who knows. Either way, it seems Zubov has taken care of the problem. We'll see what we can find out this weekend.
Brad Richards will not play tonight. He's still ailing, so he's out for the evening (it's not mono). The guy must not feel good, because he's not much for missing games. He had a streak of 354 straight going into tonight, and this will only be the third missed game of his career. Not too bad there.
Oh, and Johan Holmqvist will get the start out here tonight. Marty Turco will take tomorrow's game against the Desert Dogs in Dallas, as well as the regular-season finale against San Jose on Sunday.
Whew... and just like that, I'm tired.
Dallas Stars coach Dave Tippett said defensemen Sergei Zubov (foot) and Philippe Boucher (shoulder) are "day to day" and getting closer to returning. Boucher will be re-evaluated Thursday morning to see if he could be possibly ready for San Jose. Zubov is unlikely to return Thursday.
Lines were again shook up in practice with Mike Modano returning to a checking line with Steve Ott and Stu Barnes. Brad Richards, who was teamed with Modano and Barnes on Monday, centered a line with Niklas Hagman and Loui Eriksson.
--Milenko Martinovich
That's the word from Dave Tippett regarding Brad Richards (flu) and Mike Ribeiro (elbow), as far as tonight's game is concerned. Ribeiro was having a little fun with it on Wednesday morning, saying he was a "game-time decision" with a wry smile on his face.
I'm intrigued by tonight's game. Remember the days when the Stars could just chalk up a victory against the Coyotes? No more with that. The Desert Dogs are feisty this season, so there's no gimme with this one.
Mike Ribeiro and his bruised elbow skated early on Tuesday. Brad Richards was out with a flu bug that's been going around the locker room. But Dave Tippett said both should be players tomorrow against the Coyotes.
Toby Petersen has apparently cleared waivers, so he'll be with the team the rest of the season. He's another center, and Tippett said with Jokinen and Halpern gone it doesn't hurt to get another one blended in with this group.
Matt Niskanen practiced again on Tuesday; as far as his status for tomorrow, TIppett said, "we'll see."
I'm sensing that this team is very, very focused on tomorrow's game. After all, there's only four points between them and Anahim right now (six between them and San Jose). March will be good for rest, but there's going to be a lot of pensiveness, a lot of days sitting and seeing what happens. There are few games remaining, but it's immeasurable how much each one means to this team's finish.
Wow. Sorry, I know we journalists are supposed to be unbiased, but that was an impressive display of work by Mr. Richards tonight. Could you tell the guy was just ready to play and be done with all the drama of the past week or so? Although it's going to be hard for him to top that from here on out.
Anyway, some other tidbits:
Niklas Hagman looked great. He said he just had his stick on the ice and didn't do much for those, but it was his hard driving to the net that ultimately made those goals. Great stuff. And now he's just one goal away from being among the team's leading scorers. Don't see any reason why, with 14 games remaining, he doesn't get at least 30 now.
Mike Modano still scores some of the prettiest goals I've ever seen.
Loui Eriksson gets his sixth goal in his last four games. The committee is alive and well.
OK, folks, I'm about to call it a night. Have a good one.
OK, Brad Richards has three assists already, and we're not even halfway through the second period. This time he's the primary assister on another breakaway, and he feeds it back to Trevor Daley trailing down the back. It's 5-1 stars at the 6:34 mark, and not surpsingly that's enough to chase Patrick Lalime from the game. Corey Crawford takes over for him.
This could get ugly for Chicago, folks. Actually...
The Stars are looking like a well-oiled machine right now, and Brad Richards is showing why he's here. His passing with Antti Miettinen to Niklas Hagman was a thing of beauty, as Hagman got his 24th of the season for a 3-1 lead at 2:47.
Not to be outdone, the Mike Ribeiro had their own little nifty passing display, this one led to Loui Eriksson's sixth goal in his last four games, at 4:41. The Stars are up 4-1, and everyone's looking fantastic, especially that Richards group.
Brad Richards throws a great pass down low to Niklas Hagman, who just stuck the stick out and knocked it in to tie the game 1-1 at 4:57. It was a great answer for the Stars, who saw the Blackhawks scored just 50 seconds prior to that.
Anyway, Richards' first point as a Star and Hagman's 23rd goal of the season.
Brad Richards took the ice with linemates Niklas Hagman and Antti Miettinen at the 1:40 mark. There was a round of applause as he went to the faceoff circle at center ice, and the trio had a pretty nice first shift, flying around and creating two shots.
The rest of the lines:
Morrow-Ribeiro-Eriksson
Ott-Modano-Lehtinen
Lundqvist-Barnes-Barch
Stars owner Tom Hicks wasn't sure what his team would be getting if it acquired forward Brad Richards. Co-general manager Brett Hull put Hicks at ease when he called Richards "a 27-year-old Joe Sakic." Hicks also didn't mind the fact that Richards is a Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup winner.
That seems fitting, as Sakic was one of Richards' idols, and the reason he wore the No. 19 before coming to Dallas. That number's retired here for Bill Masterton.
We had the meet-and-greet today in Frisco, and it looked like both of these guys were just happy to be here and ready to go. Especially Richards. I can imagine the last week or so has been rough for him, considering all the havoc being wreaked down in Tampa with the Lightning.
Anyway, Richards was with Niklas Hagman and Antti Miettinen at practice on Wednesday. Is that tomorrow's line? Who knows. Dave Tippett said not to read too much into all that hubub. So I won't. For the moment.
I talked with Johan Holmqvist about the trade. I didn't know if the guy knew he could be in the deal, considering Mike Smith's name coming up on the Stars' side. Turns out he had no idea.
"I didn't think it was out there," he said. "Then we're at practice (Tuesday) and I get a tap on the shoulder. It's a different situation, but I embrace it."
That's what Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist will be doing this afternoon in Frisco. Well, first they'll be practicing with their new teammates. Hmmm, on what line will Brad Richards be?
Anyway, this is Fun Day, part two as far as finding out more about these guys. Obviously, I know a lot less about Holmqvist, given the fact that he's only in his second full year as a starter and we see Eastern Conference teams as much as I saw the sun these last few days leading up to the deadline.
We'll find out more this afternoon.
Well, say this for the new GMs: They know how to make a splash. The more I think about this deal the more I love it. Yes, the one thing that still hurts is losing Mike Smith. But with the talent he has and the numbers he was putting up, how much longer would he have been a Star?
I'm about to go on the Brad Richards conference call right now to get his thoughts. It's been a whirlwind day for everybody involved in this. But I think it's going to end up paying great dividends for the Stars.
I have mixed feelings about the Brad Richards deal, just based solely on getting to know these guys in the locker room. I'll especially miss Mike Smith. He had such a great attitude and sense of humor in that locker room, and I don't doubt that he helped keep Marty Turco loose. Those two had such a great friendship.
But this is a business. So now that it's just about official, what do you all think about the deal? Good? Bad? Indifferent? Remember one thing: Richards has proven he can score in the playoffs, and the Stars could use that.
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