2013 Stanley Cup Finals Prediction

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins

This is it. The best team of the regular season versus the best team of the playoffs. shutdown defense versus rapid-fire offense. Brawn versus skill. It is arguable that both teams faced a glimpse of their rival in the conference finals, but I would like to add that that’s all it was. A glimpse.

For Boston, there are a lot of similarities between Pittsburgh and Chicago, but the little differences are what will make this a completely different series. Yes, the Penguins had a more star-studded depth, but Chicago’s depth is filled with role players excelling this postseason. They’ve been tallying points series in, series out. Whereas Pittsburgh seemed to go out of their way to hit Boston more, Chicago is more selective with their hitting. They tend to hit more to keep the puck in the offensive zone, specifically pinching in near the blue line. The Pens were seemingly throwing their bodies around thinking they could throw Boston’s game back at them. Chicago is faster and attempt stretch passes much more than the Pens. Chicago has a stable goalie and team defense that possibly only the Bruins don’t envy. Pittsburgh did have arguably the two best players in the world and several big names in tow, but I just can’t see Chicago’s best players getting shut down the same way. Chicago dominated the Wild, survived the Red Wings and handled the Kings mostly without Kane and Toews. Kane finally woke up in the last couple of games against the Kings. So imagine the high-flying Hawks of the past three rounds with a fully engaged and confident and a productive Toews.

Like the Bruins, the Kings were a big, physical team backstopped by a tremendous goalie, strong defense with scorers and skilled players sprinkled throughout their lineup. Both teams had good production from the blueline and strong performances from young, inexperienced players. But the Bruins are bigger than the Kings. They have better team defense and the ability to completely shut down the best of the opposition. They win a lot more faceoffs because their centers are some of the best in the game. Their depth is more productive and more effective in their roles. Lastly, the Bruins have the hottest goalie this postseason, and we’ve seen before what a hot goalie can do to lead his team to the cup. The biggest difference between the Kings and Bruins is their forwards’ two-way play. They dominate on faceoffs, possess the puck well, attack the net and when the other team gets the puck, will skate back just as hard and play defense. Boston has the ability to agitate the Chicago forwards with defense during play and the ugly stuff between whistles. It may be enough to frustrate Toews and Sharp off their games as evidenced in the Wings and Kings series.

The questions. Which goalie will slump first, Rask or Crawford? Both have been stellar and silenced any doubters through the first three rounds. But whichever team comes out the champion, will need their goalie to stand on his head. Crawford has let in a few soft goals that make me question whether or not he can outplay Rask. Can Chara shut down any or all of Kane, Toews, Sharp and Hossa? Sharp has been productive, Kane has finally awoken, Hossa has been steady and determined, Toews hasn’t produced, but he’s done everything else well. Each of the offensive stars of the Hawks bring something to the table, so even if Chara shuts down one or two of the players mentioned, Chicago is more than capable to bounce back with others. Who will win the special teams battle? Chicago’s PK has been (almost) perfect. Boston’s PP has been terrible. Chicago’s PP has been underwhelming, and Boston’s PK has been strong. Something has to give. It’s much easier to believe that Chicago’s power play will finally come to and be a positive factor. Which’s teams defense will be a bigger factor at both ends of the ice? Boston’s defense maintained offensive production in the conference finals, but they were unbelievable in their own end. Chicago stumbled a few times in their own zone last round, but pinched in well and produced in the offensive zone.

As deep, skilled and dangerous as the Blackhawks are (and as much as I want them to win), there’s something about the Bruins this postseason. Their drive, team hunger and detailed focus at both ends of the ice seemed to be something else this postseason. It’s a coin flip really. Chicago can relentlessly attack the Bruins and work together on defense to squeeze Boston into submission, or the Bruins can hammer the Hawks with big hits, big shots and big stops as they have all postseason. 

Even though my gut tells me the Bruins will win in 6, I have to go with the heart and say

Chicago in 7

Dallas Stars Unveil New Logo and Jerseys

The Dallas Stars began (or actually continued) their re-branding under owner Tom Gaglardi Tuesday night. Defending Big D did a great job covering the event and have some good reads on the details along with hundreds of reader comments so you can see what fellow fans think of the new look. I'll provide a glimpse and a bunch of photos with my thoughts on the jerseys. Pictures below are via @icethetics on Twitter. 

• The Dallas Stars will retire Mike Modano's #9 on March 8, 2014, when the Stars host the Minnesota Wild. 

• A coach has not been hired yet, but Nill was headed north to interview a few candidates. Most likely Dallas Eakins and Alain Vigneault. Hopefully not John Tortorella. 

Personally, I like the new jerseys. Yes, hardcore fans will probably hate the new look, but this is about re-branding and a new beginning under a new owner. I agree that there wasn’t much wrong with the old Stars logo. They could’ve just updated it. And yes, they could have brought back the classic green-and-black jerseys from the Cup-winning game that everyone seems to love. But Gaglardi wanted a new look, logo, color, etc to be the team’s identity going forward. I think they will grow on you with time if you don't start off liking them. At least we can all agree they are better then the current all black or all white DALLAS jerseys. 

The color, named “Victory Green,” is amazing. It’s a unique green with pop. (Unique as in no one else in the league comes close… as long as it’s not St. Patty’s Day.) Green is what the fans asked for, and green is what they got. It seems like there is too much green and too much white on the jerseys, but yet again, they look great when worn. Laces are such a great touch. 

The logo seems a bit too simple at first, but take a look at the Original 6 logos. Simple, classic and amazing. Dallas’ new logo seems a bit off on a screen, but on a body it looks much better. The D really stands out and the logo looks smooth on a worn jersey. On screen, I was way too distracted by the jumpy beveling/layering at the bottom of the D. it seemed cut off. Again, it doesn’t look bad at all when worn.

The shoulder patch is great and can easily translate to the main logo on a 3^rd jersey. It would be very much like Minnesota, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, etc, but still very nice.

The logo on the pants is another great piece. This also is a strong alternate jersey logo possibility. 

One big thing that I think needs to be added to strengthen the jerseys is an outline on the numbers and names.

Merchandise on sale, this picture via @FSSW_Girls on Twitter.

So... What do you think of the new look?

2013 Playoff Predictions: Round 3 (Conference Finals)

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(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings

There is now a blueprint to beating the Chicago Blackhawks: aggressive two-man forecheck, frustrate Toews and lots of physicality. The Kings are more than capable of doing all three. The Kings had a strong forecheck that gave the Sharks fits last round, and they can put pressure on the Hawks’ defenders this round. The Kings are big and tough and should be able to give the small-but-skilled Hawks problems. And who knows how to agitate better than Dustin Brown? Not too many. 

The Hawks head into the conference finals with confidence in Crawford. Yes, he has let in some soft goals and seemed shaky at times, but overall, he has been great for Chicago. Will he be able to match Quick at the other end? Niemi almost did match him, but it wasn’t enough. Crawford has to be good, but his defense has to be even better. As a unit, they took a slight step back against the Wings. Their outlet passes weren’t very smooth, they jumped up on offense a bit too deep a few too many times and were beat behind the net a lot. They did well on rushes (for and against them), but they need to be stronger on the puck and more efficient at getting out of the zone. 

Chicago’s PK is almost perfect, but the Kings have several big players to set in front of Crawford. Pair that with a defense who has been rifling shots well from the point and it looks like Chicago’s PK can be solved. It falls to Chicago’s power play to get better if they want to advance. Yes Chicago netted PPG’s against the Wings, but most of the time they couldn’t even enter the zone and when they shot or dumped it in, were quickly beaten to the puck and left to chase it down the other end. Toews and Kane have to step up their game and the PP has to click to push Chicago through to the finals. 

The Kings are red hot when they need to be, again. Quick is far and away their leading Conn Smythe candidate. Both teams have a strong top-6, but have been gifted with a healthy amount of scoring from their bottom 6. I said before the playoffs that the hawks are great, but I am afraid they can be handled by a physical team. And I think this round will show exactly that.

Prediction: Los Angeles in 7

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (4) Boston Bruins

The beast may have awoken. After a few scares against the Islanders and Senators, the Penguins could show that they are the team everyone expected them to be since the trade deadline. but it all comes down to their goaltending and defense. Their leadership, depth and determination has been critical and improved through each round. They can seemingly score goals at will. Their forward depth is the scariest of the remaining teams in the playoffs. 

The Penguins are the highest scoring team in the playoffs, but they now meet a very big, tough defensive team. The Bruins surprised many by replacing three veteran defensemen with rookies and not missing a beat on the ice. Hamilton, Bartkowski and Krug have stepped up big for the Bruins and will need to continue to do so if they have any chance to beat the Penguins. Chara versus Crosby sounds somewhat manageable perhaps, but there’s still Malkin, Neal, Iginla, Dupuis and Kunitz to remember, and there’s still more. Rask has been stellar so far, and as true as it is that he doesn’t have much competition at the other end (unless Fluery wakes), the fact is this is the toughest he can face this postseason. 

Boston might be able to hold Penguins to lower scoring than they’ve been used to the past two rounds, but it won’t matter if they can’t get their offense to wake up. Of course Bergeron and Lucic should lead the way, but Seguin needs to step up. And it’s time for Jagr to show up on the score sheet more. As seen with the Islanders and Senators, the penalty box will have to be avoided as much as possible for the Bruins to have a chance at surviving. The Penguins’ power play is lethal and full of options. It feels like a power play for them is almost a guaranteed goal more often than not. 

What I’ll be looking at closely is the Penguins defense and goaltending. They’ve been ok, just ok, so far. Pittsburgh has been in too many high-scoring games with lower-ranked teams and they now meet a team that can score goals AND shut them down. If the Penguins continue to play sparingly on defense and have less-than-stellar goaltending, this series will end up going to the Bruins, no matter how gifted the Pittsburgh offense is on paper.

Prediction: Pittsburgh in 7

2013 Playoff Predictions: Round 2

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(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings

Don’t let the playoff seeding fool you, this is going to be a great matchup. The team that won’t go away easily versus the team that usually puts teams away easily. Chicago’s key edge is in depth, and as long as Crawford keeps playing the way he did in the regular season and the first round, Chicago should come out on top. They are evenly matched as skilled, possession teams with some super star talent and question marks in net. Chicago’s defense is notably stronger in this matchup. Also, expect the Blackhawks’ power play to come to life as it will be instrumental to moving on in this series. Detroit’s special teams are dangerous as well and don’t underestimate Detroit’s ability to find ways to win similar to Chicago. The return of Bolland and Helm to their respective teams will provide a boost, but even Helm’s return is questionable whereas Bolland will be in the lineup for game 1. The scariest aspect of Chicago is that they easily handled Minnesota without Toews or Kane scoring a goal. It’s tough to imagine both of them going two full rounds without finding the back of the net. And this will be the last time they play each other outside of future finals as Detroit will be changing conferences next season with the new league alignment plan.

Prediction: Chicago in 6

(5) Los Angeles Kings vs. (6) San Jose Sharks

Another balanced matchup in the West. Big, physical teams with strong goaltending, a handful of scorers, versatile defensive units, effective role players and a good mix of veteran leadership with youngsters. Oh and a division rivalry, too for added nastiness. The Sharks were great against the Canucks, but this series won’t be anywhere near as easy. They won’t be able to overpower the Kings and their depth can be matched. Not to mention the mess in net for Vancouver is the complete opposite of an in-form Jonathan Quick. Quick looks to be back to his Conn Smythe/Vezina candidate ways, stealing wins and earning shutouts in tight games. Again, the Kings look to be waking up at the right time, and seem poised for another deep playoff run. Is this yet another year where the Sharks look promising, but fall to the annual choke-fest that has haunted them for far too long?

Prediction: Los Angeles in 7

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (6) Ottawa Senators

I consider the Senators the biggest underdogs left in the playoffs. What’s worse is that they face a Penguins team that was already considered Cup favorites and have now been through a wakeup call after their series with the Islanders. The Penguins are too stacked, too deep, too star-studded to fall victim to the Senators. Ottawa needs Spezza to return but until he does, the top line of Alfredsson, Michalek and Turris will be expected to lead the way. Just looking at the Ottawa’s second line shows the vast difference in depth and star power. Latendresse, Zibanejad and Silfverberg vs Neal, Malkin and Iginla. That about sums up the series. Even with Fleury flopping, Vokoun has been a tremendous fill-in, getting the all-important W in his appearances without much flash or pizzazz. He is simply getting the job done. Even if Vokoun falters, it is possible Fleury wakes up and bounces back from his first round performance. Ottawa gets the edge in net, but as good as Anderson is, he won’t able to withstand attacks in waves from the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Iginla, Kunitz etc etc. Pittsburgh was built as a Cup-or-bust team this season and they should easily make it past the Senators.

Prediction: Pittsburgh in 5

(4) Boston Bruins vs. (6) New York Rangers

The unbelievable come-from-behind win in game 7 over the Leafs just might’ve been that wake up call, that spark, the Bruins needed for a deep playoff run. However, they face a determined, balanced Rangers team who won their own game 7 to be here. Not to mention they are led by one of the best captains in the league and the world’s best goaltender. If there is any doubt about Lundqvist’s abilities, back-to-back shutouts in elimination games in the first round should settle that. The Rangers are built to be a scary team with their depth, list of big-name players and strong role players. And what’s scarier is that their star players aren’t really playing to their utmost ability, or so it seems. If just Nash, Richards and Clowe play to the level we have seen them play before, this series will be over relatively fast. Even without them exploding on offense, the likes of Stepan, Brassard, Zuccarello and Hagelin have been chipping in along with others in the bottom 6. The Rangers have a strong shot-blocking defense corps and that’s without Marc Staal, who is still day-to-day with his eye injury. Boston’s biggest problem has been their offense, but game 7 against the Leafs just might have woken up their top line. They need Lucic to play like he did in game 7 for success this round. They need Krejci to keep up his offensive pace and for Bergeron to continue providing key points and strong play on the faceoff dots. And they really need Seguin to wake up offensively. Jagr was able to create chances, but not as often or effectively as Boston would like, so they will look for him to step up his game as well. Rask will have a tall task facing Lundqvist, but we’ve seen that he is more than capable of putting up a fight. He needs the defense in front of him to continue blocking shots and using their big bodies to clear the crease, but the biggest thing he needs is for the offense to wake up. The Bruins can win the Cup this year, they are built for another good run at it, but the Rangers just might be this year’s Kings.

Prediction: New York Rangers in 6

2013 Playoff Predictions: Round 1

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(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs (8) Minnesota Wild

The Chicago Blackhawks have been simply dominant this season. The Wild have given them fits during the regular season, but the way Minnesota stumbled into the playoffs coupled with Pominville’s injury can really make it tough for the Wild to keep up. Chicago is too deep  and skilled to fall to the Wild. That being said, I don’t think there is a sweep in this series. Minnesota can stave off a blowout, and maybe hang in to win a one-goal game, maybe in overtime. This series is a best test for Crawford. Many, including myself, have doubts that the amazing net-minding of the regular season will carry over. A stumble out of the gates would be disastrous, so Crawford needs to show up early and often for the Blackhawks to have a chance to win this series and the Cup.

Prediction: Chicago in 5.

 

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs (7) Detroit Red Wings

A team built for the playoffs that surprised everyone this season versus a team led by veterans stepping up at the right time. This is going to be tough. Ultimately, if the Ducks’ goaltending stays strong and they continue to get contributions from their depth players (Bonino, Beleskey, Cogliano, Winnik, etc) they have the upper hand in this series. The Ducks defense doesn’t have that superstar quality or attractiveness, but they work as a unit and are very effective led by early-season Norris candidate Beauchemin. We all know how great Datsyuk and Zetterberg are, but they cannot win this series on their own. Franzen has to step up and produce like we know he can, and role players must chip in. Brunner and Filpulla need to find the net more often, and the defense has to make up in effort and strong play what they lack in experience.

Prediction: Anaheim in 6

 

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs (6) San Jose Sharks

Vancouver is the more highly-touted team in this series, but the Sharks have the upper-hand in matchups, in my opinion. The physicality of the Sharks will be tough for the Canucks to overcome. All eyes will be on Schneider as he duels Niemi. Vancouver has the upper hand in scoring depth, but the Sharks have solid role players to counter. The Sharks have choked year after year and a look at this roster doesn’t seem that far off from that of old, but I believe they at least make it out of this round.

Prediction: San Jose in 7

 

(4) St. Louis Blues vs (5) Los Angeles Kings

Is this the year the Blues have been waiting for? When their leaders couple with developed and experienced youngsters to take them deep in the playoffs? I think it all comes down to their goaltending. Will they get last year’s Elliott or the Elliott that was sent down earlier this season? Can their goaltending hold off the deep Kings? This is Kopitar’s time to wake up. He has quietly put together a decent season, but he needs to step up to lead the Kings past the Blues. Richards and Carter will chip in, and we know Brown will do his thing (hitting, diving, scuffling). Stoll, Williams, Penner and Richardson need to chip in. The Kings defense is superb, veteran stay-at-home defensemen coupled with offensive-minded youngsters, but can they handle the huge, strong, powerful Blues forwards and their attacks in waves? Quick has to be stellar again because the Kings should be able to score on the Blues, but can they hold the Blues off the score sheet? I love Hitchcock and we know what he is capable of in terms of shutting down the opposition and picking the right times to send out the bottom 6. Oshie should be back and he’ll provide a huge lift to the offense and hitting of the Blues, who have a lot of two-way players throughout their lineup. And what I think is not talked about enough is the Blues defense. The additions of Bouwmeester and Leopold stabilize the defense and help Pietrangelo and Shattenkirk along. And who wants to face a third pairing of Polak and Jackman?

Prediction: St. Louis in 7

 

 

 

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (8) New York Islanders

On paper, this shouldn’t even be close, but I contend it at least won’t be a sweep. Don’t underestimate the Isles. My biggest worry about the Islanders is whether or not Nabokov can hold his regular-season form. Once Crosby comes back, the Penguins will have their full arsenal to throw at the Islanders and it will simply be too much for the Isles to handle. One thing that bodes well for New York is how loose they can play in comparison to the Penguins. Pittsburgh has a “Stanley Cup or bust” roster and all the pressure will be on them to advance, with or without Crosby. The Penguins have better depth and a stronger defensive unit than the Islanders, and obviously a much stronger top 6. Fleury has to be better than his performance in last year’s playoffs, though. Offense can carry the Penguins far, and the defense is good 9especially now that they are focused on team defense), but Fleury will be the key to winning the Cup. I believe Tavares will have a good series, but unfortunately I think their great story ends in this round.

Prediction: Pittsburgh in 5

 

(2) Montreal Canadiens vs (7) Ottawa Senators

Montreal’s influx of youth and energy coupled with strong defensive play and a stellar Price in net makes Montreal scary. What make Ottawa scary is their story of the season. They started out looking strong and then were hit, and hit hard, by the injury bug. Despite losing two of their best forwards (Spezza and Michalek), their best defenseman (Karlsson) and their top goalie (Anderson) were periods of time, they managed to not only stay afloat, but stay strong and push into the playoffs. The returns of Karlsson and Anderson boosted them into the playoffs and will be tremendously helpful against Montreal. But I don’t think it will be enough. Markov is healthy and energetic this season, Subban is a Norris candidate and their youth continue to blossom alongside proven veterans. I’ve seen a number of people pick the Canadiens as their dark horse for the Cup. I don’t believe they will the cup, but I think they will make it out of the first round, at least.

Prediction: Montreal in 6

 

(3) Washington Capitals vs (6) New York Rangers

Could this finally be the year the Capitals make it to the finals? Or is this the year the paper All-Star Rangers live up to their potential to win the Cup? The Capitals are one of the hottest teams in the league and Ovechkin was absolutely on fire heading into the playoffs after an unbelievable April. The Capitals have woken up and look to make a serious playoff push, but they will have to face one of the toughest matchups in the East. Whether they were going to enter the playoffs as a top seed or an 8 seed, the Rangers are a very scary team to face in the playoffs. their goalie is one of the best in the world, their defense is solid all around (and that’s without Marc Staal), and their offense consists of All-Stars and budding youngsters. They’ve have trouble putting it all together and getting a cohesive team on the ice this season, but they got it to work near the end of the season, the right time. The Capitals need to have a big series from their goaltending and they will rely on Ovechkin contuing his MVP-worthy play as well as Green’s resurgence on the blue line. One thing is almost guaranteed: whoever emerges the victor will be hobbled and bruised after this grueling series. The Rangers have a better chance of limping out of the series and still have enough left in the tank to make a deep run.

Prediction: New York Rangers in 7

 

(4) Boston Bruins vs (5) Toronto Maple Leafs

Boston has owned the Maple Leafs of late, but the playoffs are a whole new beast. Take into account how badly the Bruins stumbled into the playoffs and all the little stories and rivalries between the two and we got an interesting series on our hands. Boston has the clear advantage in terms of playoff experience, being built for the playoffs and overall depth. The Leafs have a lot more question marks than exclamation points on their roster. Can Optimus Reim carry the Leafs to victory? Can Kessel finally wake up and produce against his former team? Can Kadri remain one of the better players for Toronto in his first playoff appearance? How will the Leafs handle the big, bruising Bruins forwards who know what it takes to win in the playoffs? The biggest questions for Boston are can their offense wake up now that it’s do or die? And can Rask maintain his Vezina-nominee goaltending standards? The Bruins will look to Jagr to step up and help ignite the dormant offense. And Lucic has to be a factor for Boston to win. The Leafs have been playing as a team and winning as a team this season. When one slumps, another steps up. They need continue to rally together and play as a cohesive unit to have any chance against the Bruins.

Prediction: Boston in 5

Dallas Stars Game 48: The Good and the Bad

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Dallas Stars 3-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings

Shots: Dallas 17, Detroit 37

PP: Dallas 0/3, Detroit 0/4

The Good:

Penalty kill- The Stars PK was perfect. They ended the night 4-for-4 and not just that, but they really did keep the Stars in the game. They killed the high-sticking double-minor to Garbutt in one of the better kills I’ve seen all season. Throughout the night, they didn’t give the Wings much room or time to set up, they took away passing and shooting lanes effectively and were monsters at clearing the puck. It also helps to have Bachman play great as well.

Richard Bachman- Bachman stopped 34 of 37 shots and did well to keep the Stars in the game. He helped keep it a one-goal game through 40 minutes and was strong on the PK. He isn’t fully to blame for Detroit’s three goals. The first bounced off Goligoski’s skate right in front of him. The second was a backup goalie versus world-class Zetterberg. And on the third, he was screened by Abdelkader and Robidas as they battled at the top of the crease. Overall, I think he did well and has really turned his game around from the first half of the season. 

The Bad:

Handling Datsyuk and Zetterberg- All three goals were scored with Detriot’s top line on the ice (on the short-handed goal, Datsyuk and Zetterberg were on the PK together). Dillon did well fighting off Zetterberg on the first goal. It was just a bad break to hit off Goligoski’s skate and go between Bachman’s legs. On the second goal, Datysuk brilliantly got to a missed shot first, made a between two Stars to spring Zetterberg on a breakaway.  On the third goal, Zetterberg won a battle on the boards and got the puck to Datsyuk. Datsyuk drew defenders and passed to a wide open Ericsson for the goal. The Stars just couldn’t do anything against this high-powered duo.

Detroit goal #1- Zetterberg attempts a move in on the goal, but Dillon pushes him away and forces him to the  side. They battle behind the red line, but Zetterberg still managed to send a centering feed to Abdelkader in the slot. The puck instead bounces off Goligoski's left skate and goes between Bachman's legs. 

A closer shot of Goligoski's skate right after the puck slid between Bachman's legs. 

Detroit goal #3- Zetterberg wins a puck battle with Rome and Benn along the boards and kicks the puck forward to Datsyuk.... (next picture) 

Datsyuk makes a move inside, draws attention and dishes the puck to a wide open Ericsson between the top of the circles.... (next picture)

Ericsson rifles a wrist shot on net with Abdelkader screening Bachman. Bachman looks to his right, but the puck goes in to his left. 

Power play- The Stars ended 0-for-3 and again fell victim to the same problems they have been having. They moved the puck decently, got some good looks, but just couldn’t put it in the net. Actually, the Stars suffered from too many shots on the power play that didn’t even hit the net. And they gave up the short-handed goal where the Stars were simply too slow to handle the play.

Detroit goal #2- As mentioned above, Datsyuk was first to jump on a loose puck, and he made a pass between Whitney and Jordie Benn to spring Zetterberg on a breakaway. 

Zetterberg made a move to his right and tucked in a backhander between Bachman's legs. 

Dumb penalties- Too many men penalty in final two minutes of the game? Cole interference penalty 26 seconds into a crucial power play midway through the second period? Garbutt’s slash in the third? Come on. These were mindless penalties in a “play for pride and show you got heart” type of game. The Stars were fortunate the PK was outstanding and bailed them out, but again, same as it’s been all year: you cannot constantly take dumb penalties at critical points or crucial games and hope the PK bails you out.

Turnovers in own zone- Not going to add anything new here, it’s been the same problem all season. Nothing new. 

Severely outshot- It’s pretty self-explanatory. If you get outshot 37-17, you’re not going to have much of a chance to win. Let alone a game against Detroit. Let alone against a desperate Detroit team fighting to make the playoffs. Just not going to win that way. 

Lines seen tonight:

Whitney-Benn-Eriksson

Nystrom-Fiddler-Cole

Roussel-Eakin-Garbutt

MacDermid-Wandell-Smith

Dillon-Goligoski

Rome-Robidas

Jo. Benn-Larsen

PP- Eriksson-Benn-Whitney-Cole-Goligoski

PP- Nystrom-Eakin-Cole-Whitney-Jo. Benn

PK- Fiddler-Nystrom-Dillon-Goligoski

PK-Eakin-Cole-Rome-Robidas

PK-Benn-Eriksson-Jo. Benn- Larsen

PK- Roussel-Wandell-Rome-Robidas

Notable Notes:

• Faceoffs- Benn won 9 of 11, Fiddler won 9 of 15, Eakin won 6 of 13, Wandell won 2 of 11. 

One of the best hits of the game. Fiddler lays out Quincey as the buzzer sounds to end the second period. 

Roussel had a tremendous short-handed breakaway chance....

...but the puck was rolling on edge and he wasn't able to lift the puck past a stretched out Howard. 

Maybe it's just me, but there were way too many Detroit fans in the stands. Seemed almost like a home game for the Red Wings. 

Dallas' Season Ends With a Thud. Dallas Stars Game 48: 3-0 Loss to the Detroit Red Wings

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The Dallas Stars ended their season with a five-game losing streak after a 3-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in the final game of the regular season.

Dallas had already been ruled out of the playoff hunt, but the Starswere playing for pride and a chance to end Detroit's consecutive playoff streak at 21 seasons. The Stars' season is officially over, and they head home before the playoffs for the fifth straight season.

Richard Bachman made 34 saves on 37 shots, but he received little help at the other end of the rink. Dallas was 4-for-4 on the penalty kill but 0-for-3 on the power play.

Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg scored the game's first goal with 1:43 remaining in the first period. He attempted a move on net in the slot, but Brenden Dillon fought him off and kept him to the outside. They battled behind the red line, but Zetterberg still managed a centering feed intended for Justin Abdelkader. The puck instead bounced off Alex Goligoski's left skate and slid between Bachman's legs.

The game remained 1-0 until Zetterberg scored a short-handed goal on a breakaway 1:57 into the third period. A shot by Ray Whitney sailed wide and Datsyuk was the first to the puck along the right wing boards. He passed the puck between two Dallas players to spring Zetterberg on a breakaway. Zetterberg made a move to his right and tucked in a soft backhand shot between Bachman's legs.

Zetterberg and Datsyuk put Detroit on the board a third and final time 6:30 into the third period. Zetterberg battled Jamie Benn and Aaron Rome along the boards and kicked the puck ahead to Datsyuk. Datsyuk made a move to the middle of the zone and drew the attention of several Dallas players before he passed to a wide open Jonathan Ericsson between the top of the circles. Ericsson rifled in a wrist shot with Abdelkader  providing a screen on Bachman. Bachman was looking to his right as the puck went in to his left.

Dallas ends the season 22-22-4 for 48 points, placing them 11^th in the Western Conference and 21^st in the league. The Stars now begin the off-season and prepare for the upcoming NHL Draft in Newark, New Jersey on June 30.

Dallas Stars Game 47: The Good and the Bad

Getty Images

Dallas Stars 3-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets

Shots: Dallas 32, Columbus 35

PP: Dallas 1/3, Columbus 2/4

The Good:

Variety of shots on Bob- Bobrovsky is very good at getting his body in front of the puck and swallowing rebounds. He’ll take the puck in the gut or chest and squeeze it. The Stars didn’t get too much traffic in front of the net, but they did well peppering him with a variety of shots. Several times, Stars players could be seen withholding a shot to look for a pass to get Bobrovsky moving a little in hopes it would get him out of position. They didn’t cause the deflection on the first goal, but you could see the puck changing directions in front with two guys driving the net led to the goal. 

Dallas goal #1- Cole sent a centering feed to Eriksson in the slot. The puck hits off Atkinson's stick and goes wide of the net, but right to where Benn can tap it in behind Bobrovsky.

Whitney had a chance in tight that sailed high.

Cole made a great move to get between Columbus defenders and get a clear chance on net, but Bobrovsky came up big. 

Fiddler received a pass in front of the net and had a great opportunity to score, but Bobrovsky's elbow got enough for the save.

The Bad:

Forwards back-checking- Dallas’ forwards were much better after the trade deadline at coming back on defense and helping eliminate scoring chances. This game… not so much. After being used to seeing Eakin, Fiddler and others skating behind the Stars’ net to collect a puck or pressure an opponent, we didn’t see much of that tonight. The Stars defenders for the most part seemed to be on their own, especially through 40 minutes. Forwards needed to drop back quicker and more often.

Losing their coverage- Both of Atkinson’s goals were a result of him being left alone to the side of the net to put in a rebound. I don’t blame Letestu’s goal on Nystrom not getting to him fast enough. It was a clean faceoff win and Letestu let his hammer shot loose. Nystrom headed right at him. If the puck was an inch lower, Nystrom would’ve blocked it. If the puck was an inch higher, Lehtonen probably would’ve gloved it. The Atkinson goals were just being lost, from Lehtonen to the defense.

After the initial shot from the left wing boards bounced to the slot, Comeau took a shot on net. Lehtonen thought he had the puck covered but it slid to his right. 

Columbus goal #1- Lehtonen thought he had the puck, but it slid to his right and Atkinson got the open goal. 

Columbus goal #3- A shot from Johnson near the blue line was stopped by Lehtonen. He thought he had it, but again it trickled to his right. Again, Atkinson was left alone to the side of the net and scored the final goal of the game. 

Another shot of the final goal. 

Penalty kill- Columbus ended 2-for-4 on the power play and the numbers tell the story here. The Stars did well on the first two. They managed six successful clears and only allowed two shots on goal in the first two PK’s. Columbus scored after four clears and one shot on goal in the third man advantage. The fourth Columbus power play led to a goal right off the opening faceoff.  Considering how strong the PK was recently, Dallas fell back a little tonight.

Columbus goal #2- Off the opening faceoff on a power play, Letestu's shot deflects off Nystrom's stick and goes off the post and into the net.

Lines seen tonight:

Whitney-Benn-Eriksson

Nystrom-Fiddler-Cole

Roussel-Eakin-Garbutt

MacDermid-Wandell-Smith

Dillon-Goligoski

Daley-Robidas

Jo. Benn-Larsen

PP- Eriksson-Benn-Whitney-Cole-Robidas (Goligoski and Robidas switched on first unit)

PP- Smith-Eakin-Garbutt-Daley-Goligoski

PP-Fiddler-Nystrom-Eakin-Daley-Robidas

PK- Nystrom-Fiddler-Daley-Robidas

PK- Eriksson-Eakin-Dillon-Goligoski

PK- Cole-Eakin-Dillon-Goligoski

PK- Fiddler-Nystrom-Jo. Benn-Daley (Robidas in the box)

Notable Notes:

MacDermid got into it with Boll for the second fight of the game.

MacDermid landed a few good punches on Boll and ended up on top. 

Huge hit by Boll on Eakin that made both of them wince on the bench soon after. 

Probably Lehtonen's best save of the game. Gaborik intercepted a Robidas pass at the Columbus blue line. He streaked ahead on a breakaway, but Lehtonen stood strong. 

A solid save by Lehtonen on Umberger in tight in the first period.

A really awkward but good save by Lehtonen. Easily the weirdest save of the night.

Lehtonen didn't see the puck on this save until it was almost literally on his pad. 

Another huge hit by Columbus. 

 Nystrom landed some haymakers in his fight. 

Not sure what was going on here, but thought it was funny. After his fight, the camera caught Nystrom pointing two fingers at his eyes, then someone on the ice, then pointed to the Columbus penalty box. 

Richard Matvichuk was honored for being selected to the 20th Anniversary team.

Opening ceremonial faceoff.

Matvichuk!