Saturday Afternoon Special - Round Two Game Two
Dallas Stars vs. Anaheim Might Ducks
By: Rink Rat
Those plucky Duckies. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks did it again on Thursday night - taking a favored team deep into overtime then winning. In game one of round one they took Detroit into overtime, gave up more shots than are sold in a singles bar, rode their goaltender, and stole the game.
Except maybe they didn't steal the game exactly. Against Detroit the Ducks were out-shot nearly three to one in overtime. Against Dallas they were out-shooting the Stars through three periods 27-21. In the four complete overtime periods Dallas was 40-25. Something of a pattern seems to be developing. The Ducks in overtime are ultra-conservative; allow the other
team to attack to the point of exhaustion then counter attack and score. In Dallas Thursday Anaheim was nearly played off the ice in the third period but never lost their composure.
In periods four through six they gave the appearance of a team that knew what it was doing. Even a disallowed goal didn't unsettle them much.
Following their Detroit marathon the Ducks came back with a second comprehensive effort, winning 3-2. Dallas lost their opening round game, 2-1 to Edmonton then trounced the Oilers 6-1 in game two. Anaheim is now on a five game play-off winning streak.
Another odd feature of the Ducks game was the fact that there were no power play goals in five games. Zero for 17. At the other end of the scale, Minnesota was 7/29 (24%) on the power play against Colorado. Thirteen of 14 Duck goals have been even strength.
Duck goaltender Giguere outplayed the flashier Turco in the Dallas net. Giguere
takes a minimalist approach to the game, staying in the net, economizing his movements, seldom playing the puck behind the goal. Turco on the other hand roams widely and is forever playing the puck. In the fourth period Turco was looking ragged and seemed to the Rat to have lost his shape. On the final shot of the game he didn't so much as move as lurch forward trying to stop the puck.
Anaheim have profited by players having big series. Defenseman Carney is playing over his head. Scooter Krogh buried a great shot. And center Niedermayer, well who knew? Niedermayer has been a failure everywhere he has played. He isn't the force Flyers' Primeau is but he's not far off.
Dallas made a great adjustment in their opening round series, coming to terms with -Edmonton's speed through the neutral zone. They are having trouble again with Anaheim's speed, except it is in Dallas' defensive zone, not further up the ice. There were stretches of game one where the Stars lost control of the play in their own end. Anaheim was skating well off the puck and the Stars at times simply couldn't keep up.
Dallas also has to be concerned that game two is an afternoon game. Defensemen Hatcher and Zubov played over 62 minutes in game one and center Modano 55. No Anaheim player did 60, Carney was tops at 56 minutes.
The Rat thought Dallas was complacent and rusty through two periods of game one, then worn out at the end of the third overtime period. They have less than 48 hours to recover, a circumstance the Ducks have already overcome.
Anaheim catches a break and wins game two.
Play on the DUCKS Money Line
[This message was edited by The General on 04-27-03 at 12:35 AM.]
Dallas Stars vs. Anaheim Might Ducks
By: Rink Rat
Those plucky Duckies. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks did it again on Thursday night - taking a favored team deep into overtime then winning. In game one of round one they took Detroit into overtime, gave up more shots than are sold in a singles bar, rode their goaltender, and stole the game.
Except maybe they didn't steal the game exactly. Against Detroit the Ducks were out-shot nearly three to one in overtime. Against Dallas they were out-shooting the Stars through three periods 27-21. In the four complete overtime periods Dallas was 40-25. Something of a pattern seems to be developing. The Ducks in overtime are ultra-conservative; allow the other
team to attack to the point of exhaustion then counter attack and score. In Dallas Thursday Anaheim was nearly played off the ice in the third period but never lost their composure.
In periods four through six they gave the appearance of a team that knew what it was doing. Even a disallowed goal didn't unsettle them much.
Following their Detroit marathon the Ducks came back with a second comprehensive effort, winning 3-2. Dallas lost their opening round game, 2-1 to Edmonton then trounced the Oilers 6-1 in game two. Anaheim is now on a five game play-off winning streak.
Another odd feature of the Ducks game was the fact that there were no power play goals in five games. Zero for 17. At the other end of the scale, Minnesota was 7/29 (24%) on the power play against Colorado. Thirteen of 14 Duck goals have been even strength.
Duck goaltender Giguere outplayed the flashier Turco in the Dallas net. Giguere
takes a minimalist approach to the game, staying in the net, economizing his movements, seldom playing the puck behind the goal. Turco on the other hand roams widely and is forever playing the puck. In the fourth period Turco was looking ragged and seemed to the Rat to have lost his shape. On the final shot of the game he didn't so much as move as lurch forward trying to stop the puck.
Anaheim have profited by players having big series. Defenseman Carney is playing over his head. Scooter Krogh buried a great shot. And center Niedermayer, well who knew? Niedermayer has been a failure everywhere he has played. He isn't the force Flyers' Primeau is but he's not far off.
Dallas made a great adjustment in their opening round series, coming to terms with -Edmonton's speed through the neutral zone. They are having trouble again with Anaheim's speed, except it is in Dallas' defensive zone, not further up the ice. There were stretches of game one where the Stars lost control of the play in their own end. Anaheim was skating well off the puck and the Stars at times simply couldn't keep up.
Dallas also has to be concerned that game two is an afternoon game. Defensemen Hatcher and Zubov played over 62 minutes in game one and center Modano 55. No Anaheim player did 60, Carney was tops at 56 minutes.
The Rat thought Dallas was complacent and rusty through two periods of game one, then worn out at the end of the third overtime period. They have less than 48 hours to recover, a circumstance the Ducks have already overcome.
Anaheim catches a break and wins game two.
Play on the DUCKS Money Line
[This message was edited by The General on 04-27-03 at 12:35 AM.]
