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Different series, same mindset Sunday, May 18, 2008 Their series with the Detroit Red Wings has changed dramatically over the past five days, but the Stars said Sunday their mindset hasn't. They have cut Detroit's lead to 3-2 in the Western Conference Finals, but the Stars are still the team one loss away from going home for the season. "We're still in the same situation," said Stars coach Dave Tippett. "We have to win to continue to play. You recognize some of the things you did well, take them into Game 6, try to repeat some of those, clean up some of the errors we had. But the bottom line is, all-out effort has to be there. There is no tomorrow for us. That won't change in Game 6." The Stars have won two straight games, but won't talk about four straight wins and the history they would make by becoming just the third team in NHL history to overcome the 0-3 deficit. In other words, it's still one game at a time. "We're just focusing on one game. Our mind frame, we were pretty excited, happy to win the hockey game. But we came to work, we're focused today on winning Game 6," Morrow said. "What we did yesterday is not going to carry over into the next game, so we just need to prepare and get ready the same way we did for the last two games." The Stars have gained the momentum in the series with those two wins, and that's something they are hoping to build on in Game 6 Monday night at the American Airlines Center. "I think it does," center Mike Modano said when asked if there is a carryover effect as far as momentum. "I think being at home, being with the crowd, I think it's going to be a great atmosphere here tomorrow night. It should be exciting. If we can give them something to get off their seats early in the game, get excited, then that's good for us." Stars goalie Marty Turco said the Stars have the momentum heading into Game 6, but they will have to battle to keep it once the puck drops Monday night and if they lose it, they'll have to fight to get it back. "We have seen in the last series, over the years, in hockey in general, momentum is a huge part of every game. It is from game to game. But once you get into it, when you have it, you try to keep it. When you don't, you try to get it back," Turco said. And Turco echoed Modano, saying a good start in the game would be one way for the Stars to maintain that momentum advantage. "So probably all important first goal from their perspective I think would be huge. I know our fans are just pumped as ever to see us back playing here in Game 6," Turco said. "So it will be to our advantage to maintain it, to keep it on our side. To maintain an even keel is even greater from a preparation standpoint, to accept anything that comes your way in order to get the job done over 60 minutes, or if it takes more. We just don't know. I mean, it could be a big factor. It can only help us." Petersen: center of attention Toby Petersen spent most of the season with the Iowa Stars of the AHL, but he's become a center of attention of with the Dallas Stars in the Stanley Cup Playoffs the last few games. Petersen has centered a line with Joel Lundqvist and Loui Eriksson that has been very effective for the Stars, especially in matching up with Detroit's top line that features Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk. Stars coach Dave Tippett said Sunday that line's speed has been a key factor in the matchup with the Red Wings' dynamic duo. "The one thing that Toby Petersen, Lundqvist and Eriksson do, they all play the game pretty fast," Tippett said. "Zetterberg and Datsyuk, they were playing faster than we were able to keep up to. So we decided to throw those guys against them, see if we could at least calm them down a little bit. "Those guys are great players. They're going to get great chances in the game. If you have some people that can go at least the same pace as they are, I think, like I say, you're never going to stop them, but it gives you a better chance." Petersen said the trio isn't trying to do anything fancy against the highly skilled Zetterberg and Datsyuk. "We knew we had great wheels on that line," said Petersen, who won the fastest skater award at this season's AHL All-Star Classic. "We knew what we were capable of doing. We knew as long as we kept it simple we could have some success." Morrow on the Wings' frustration level Stars captain Brenden Morrow was asked Sunday about the Red Wings' frustration level, which appears to be rising, and whether that has to do with the Stars' stepping up the physical play. I think it's losing two games. They probably wanted to close it out Game 4," said Morrow. "We've gotten under their skin a little bit. The Holmstrom penalty, the Draper cross-check that wasn't called. Those things are frustration penalties. I think that's a lot to do with the way we're playing and competing. When things don't go your way, you start to lose your cool a little bit. I think we see that a little bit with Detroit." Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom took a roughing penalty late in Game 5 after taking a shot at players the Dallas bench. Detroit forward Kris Draper cross-checked Morrow in the face late in the game, and Morrow had a welt to prove it Sunday. Stars Notes
Quotable "I had the feeling that I just didn't want to be denied again. We couldn't be; just to keep playing. That was a big focus of mine. Wasn't going to back away from the notion of not winning there, whatever anybody was saying, not that I even heard it all, but you could only imagine. To me it was just more of killing two birds with one stone, of doing what we need to do to win, to keep playing, but at the same time just slaying that dragon. "You know, we did it. But even right after the game, I didn't feel any sense of extra jubilation for me personally. It was all about looking forward to Monday night and another opportunity to extend this, to continue, for me to give my teammates a chance. That's what I do. That's what I enjoy the most. It's not about proving other people wrong or other doubters. "You know, I had never won there. I haven't heard anybody think I couldn't do it, I just hadn't. Wasn't any better time than yesterday. Would have preferred Game 1 or 2, would have been more helpful in our cause. But it is what it is and we're going to push forward." Stars goalie Marty Turco on getting the first win at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit
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