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Game 1 Notebook: Traffic jam Friday, May 09, 2008 The Detroit Red Wings made a point of saying they wanted to have a good presence in front of the Dallas net and make life difficult for Stars goalie Marty Turco, and Thursday night they did just that. There first three goals were all aided by a strong presence in front of Turco. Tomas Holmstrom was in front of Turco when Brian Rafalski scored on a five-on-three power play. Johan Franzen, stationed in front of the net, scored off a deflection for the second goal. Holmstrom was right in Turco's kitchen when he scored to make it a 3-0 game early in the goal. "We got two goals [off deflections in front of the net] for our guys in front of the net," said Franzen, who scored his league leading 12th playoff goal. "He was in front of Turco tonight," Babcock said of Franzen. "I thought we did a good job of that tonight early, especially as Turco's on fire, playing real well in the playoffs." Said Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom: "We want to get a lot of shots, but we want to create a lot of traffic too to have him play a little deeper in his crease." The Stars weren't entirely happy with the third goal, the one scored by Holmstrom. "We were told we had the ability to move through the blue, and I like to have my hands out in front of me," said Turco. "I wasn't able to do that because [Holmstrom's] coming backwards. It's a penalty, if you ask me. Those ones should be waved off." "The third goal was obviously one that we were told that if there's going to be a player in the blue paint that would be no goal. Obviously that didn't happen," said Stars coach Dave Tippett. " So when they're in the blue paint, our goaltender is supposed to have an ability to do his job. The third goal that wasn't the case. But obviously that goes by. Marty is going to have to be more aggressive. We're going to have to be more aggressive to deal with those people in front, if they're not going to call it how, to me, it's supposed to be called." Battle of the top lines Here's a look at how the top lines of both the Stars and Red Wings fared statistically in Thursday night's game.
Kronwall delivers a couple of big hits Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall has a reputation for delivering some big hits and he had a good open ice hit on Stars forward Antti Miettinen Thursday night. "I mean, he's an intelligent, intelligent player," said Wings coach Mike Babcock. "He sees the ice. He knows what's going on. He sees when a guy is vulnerable, and he's got that ability to hunt you down. He's looking for you all the time." Said Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom: "Kronwall is so good reading when to step up. His timing is so perfect all the time that he can read that, before even the pass is made, that's where the puck's going to come. He's able to step up at the right time. He's been doing it throughout the regular season and playoffs, too." Winchester in for the Stars Forward Brad Winchester made his first performance of the playoffs for the Stars Thursday night, playing on the fourth line with Toby Petersen and Steve Ott. "He's a big guy, he can skate, goes to the net hard," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "We've been tinkering around a little bit. B.J. Crombeen is a young guy that's been in a little bit. And with Barnes being out, we just think if we're going to go that way, a little more experience there would be a good fit tonight." Maltby in for Red Wings Veteran forward Kirk Maltby made his first appearance of the playoffs for the Red Wings Thursday night, playing on a line with Darren Helm and Jiri Hudler. To make room for Maltby, coach Mike Babcock scratched Darren McCarty. It was a tough decision. Mac has played real good. We wanted more speed," Babcock said. "When they put [Brad] Winchester in, we thought [Maltby] was a good move for us. He's a good penalty killer and he plays with lots of tempo. He thought that with him on line with [Darren] Helm and Jiri Hudler, we'd have more tempo." Notes
Armstrong on making Morrow captain During a recent appearance on The Fan 590, former Stars GM Doug Armstrong was asked about the decision to make Brenden Morrow the captain of the Stars, replacing Mike Modano. Here's what Armstrong had to say about it. "At the time when Brenden became captain there was an organizational philosophy that Mike, Jere Lehtinen and Sergei Zubov they had taken that ball and run with it a long time. It wasn't time to turn the team over, but to lend them some support," Armstrong said. "They had been carrying the mail for a long time. Brenden and Marty [Turco] and other players like a Steve Ott, who is flying under the radar screen but is an important player on their team and in the locker room, had to take a bigger role. "I am really happy for Brenden and Marty that they have taken that team and made it their own and are pushing forward. But it was never - and that the uncomfortable part - a slight at Mike Modano or the people there. It was just more a reflection of we have to move forward, and let these guys carry the mail. "I am happy for Mike Modano. He's playing some of the best hockey he's played in a number of years. He's embraced that role that Steve Yzerman embraced at the end of his career in Detroit. They have something special going on right now and I hope they can finish it out." Quotable "I'm not worried about how the Red Wings played. I'm worried about how we played." Stars coach Dave Tippett
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