- Wow. If that's the last home game of the Star's season, I'll take that and ride off. What an atmosphere. Tons of intensity. Tons of standing in the crowd. Tons of chanting. You never would have guessed that the Stars were down 0-3 in the series.
- This playoff run has re-ignited a fan base and re-introduced a city to the Stars. Although it shouldn't be hard for people to like this team and these guys. No prima-donnas who create public or private rifts in the team. No huge salaries with huge egos. (Outside of Brad Richards, but he's about as non-controversial as they get). Just a blue collar team in every sense of the word. How can people not enjoy and get behind this team?
- Mike Modano played probably his best game of the postseason. A game after getting beat up pretty good on a hit against the boards, there he was, at 37 years old, knocking in a vintage 1-timer for the game winner. Putting in 18 minutes of ice time. Making cross-ice passes that only he can do. He's simply amazing. And if this was his final game at the AAC, what a way to go out.
- The Stars finally got a clutch, shut down game from a rookie defenseman. Nik Grossman played out of his mind last night. He was physical, knocked Holmstrom around and out of the crease all night, won loose puck battles in his own zone, and just was a prototypical shut-down defenseman. The Stars may have found their new Derian Hatcher.
- Mike Ribeiro. 11 faceoffs. 10 wins. Phenomenal.
- Marty. I'm pretty sure you could chalk up some of those saves as nothing but pure luck. But superior skill breeds superior luck. He made great saves, and got lucky with some pucks just floating in and around the goal-line. In a series where he has gotten no breaks, it was great to watch things finally go his way. He's definitely talented enough to get luck like that. So I say, it's about time.
- Morrow - the captain further adds to his legend. A game after looking he should have a bone sticking out of his forearm, he's out there banging away, leading the team, and scoring goals. Simply amazing.
- Henrik Zetterberg is scary to watch. I put him on the same level as Crosby, Ovechkin, and the like. You hold your breath when he has the puck. Because there's a 75% chance something bad is about to happen to your team. He's unreal.
- What I loved is that when Detroit flipped the switch into motivated, crank it up mode in the 3rd period, the Stars were able to weather it and survive it. And score 2 goals and ice the game. Very impressive.
- The crease violation by Holmstrom seemed to be BS. But I look at it as make-up for Game 1 in which Holmstrom committed a clear violation that went uncalled and pretty much sealed the loss for Dallas. He's still a punk.
- All in all, I just wanted 1 more game. At this point, I'm so far up in casino winnings, that Game 5 on Saturday is like that prime steak dinner the pit boss just gave me at the Horseshoe Casino.
- I wanted to see fight, passion, and intensity. I wanted to see the Stars give the home crowd even more reason to love this team. I wanted a fitting end to a great season, which was a stirring home victory. Go let the handshake happen up north. I wanted one more watching party on Saturday. I don't want this season to end. But if it ends Saturday, what a ride it's been.
- Seeing a local Dallas team overachieve is a beautiful thing to watch.
Still a prayer vs. Wings: Dallas Stars win Game 4, 3-1
02:30 AM CDT on Thursday, May 15, 2008
By MIKE HEIKA / The Dallas Morning News
Marty Turco has been a lot like his team this season – embattled.
The Stars goalie has fought ups and downs, playoff demons, and critics who want more – and he has overcome most challenges.
But the one poltergeist that has chased him throughout his career comes dressed in red, so it was particularly sweet for Turco and his teammates when they beat the Detroit Red Wings, 3-1, Wednesday night in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at American Airlines Center.
Turco pushed his career record against Detroit to 3-13-5 and became the first goalie since Ed Belfour in 1998 to beat the Red Wings when they had the chance to eliminate an opponent (a run of 12 consecutive wins).
"He's played phenomenal hockey against every team in the league, but for some reason, Detroit hasn't been on his list," center Steve Ott said.
"And tonight, he proved to himself and he proved to us boys in here that it doesn't matter who he faces. He's the same guy and the same goalie, and he's just a great, great competitor."
The Stars said they proved a lot to themselves with the victory. Yes, they are still facing a daunting task of coming back against the Red Wings with a 3-1 series deficit. Yes, they head up to Joe Louis Arena on Saturday – a place where Turco has never won in the NHL. Yes, they grabbed a huge break when officials disallowed a Pavel Datsyuk goal in the second period.
But the Stars say they were put in a tough situation and responded. Loui Eriksson scored with 22.7 seconds left in the second period on a drive to the net to give Dallas its first lead of the series. But that lead lasted only 49 seconds into the third period, when Henrik Zetterberg whipped a shot past Turco's glove to tie the score.
In past games, that would have been enough to break the Stars' back. In this one, it strengthened their resolve.
"We just weren't going to give up, that's all there was to it," defenseman Stephane Robidas said. "We didn't know if we would win or lose, but we weren't going to give up."
Dallas, applying the desperate pressure of a team backed to the elimination wall, drew a tripping penalty on Brian Rafalski and scored on the ensuing power play.
Mike Modano scored from the slot to give the Stars and their fans life.
"When you're in the situation we are, where there's no tomorrow, you might as well keep playing," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "It's that little extra desire in the third period. You just love to see that ... the character of the group."
This time, the Stars kept the lead and even expanded upon it. Brenden Morrow added his ninth goal of the playoffs with a wrister from the slot, and the Stars had their fans – and themselves – believing.
Still, there was one more challenge to bat away, and that fell in Turco's lap. Morrow and Modano each took penalties in the final three minutes, and Dallas had to kill a 6-on-3 after Detroit pulled its goalie.
Turco ran his save total up to 33 as he shut the door.
"You lose, you go home ... it's going to be like that for a while," Turco said. "Going back to Detroit ... it's nothing short of an exciting challenge for all of us, and for me personally."
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