Some say it is the biggest surprise of the Stanley Cup Playoffs' opening week.
Whenever the defending Stanley Cup champions find themselves going on the road down two games to none in the opening round, it has to be somewhat of a surprise.
Yet five minutes into the opening period of game one, you could see it coming.
Dallas won five of eight games from Anaheim in the regular season, and although the Ducks won the final two matchups -- games that came during the Stars' late-season slide -- the Stars clearly know something about their opponents.
Last season, the Ducks rode the strength of their checking line of Sami Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer, and Travis Moen to the franchise's first Stanley Cup. Yet in the first two shifts, Pahlsson was hit no less than three times. The stellar Swede is used to being the hitter and not the hittee, but this series would be different.
It continued throughout the first two games. Typically matched up against Brendan Morrow's line, Morrow led the physical charge against Anaheim's most physical line, rendering the checking line ineffective.
From the first shot on goal, it was clear the Stars had goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere figured out as well. Giguere is a classic butterfly goaltender, which often tempts shooters to go for the briefly available five-hole. Yet Giguere's weakness tends to be high, particularly to the blocker side.
Two of Dallas' first three goals went high to the blocker side, and the Stars shot high on Giguere all night.
Yes, these Stars have the Ducks figured out. Seven wins in ten games is more than a trend -- it's a sign the defending champs are in trouble.
Anaheim has played a strict defensive system all year, one based on structure and positioning. At the same time, the offensive system is stifling and unentertaining -- and veteran center Doug Weight essentially said so in the days leading to the playoffs.
The system is based neither on passion nor creativity and features a dump-and-chase style as the primary offensive option. Against this Dallas squad, the system does not work. The Stars have an underrated and physical defensive corps, and more often than not, Dallas has had little trouble winning the battles in their own zone.
The way to score against Dallas might be to engage in a run-and-gun style of play, one where teams trade odd-man rushes and scoring chances. Yet the Ducks have shown a disdain for that style of play this season, so one can only wonder if they will adjust Tuesday night.
Marty Turco has been solid between the pipes for Dallas, but he has not had to face many second shots. Dallas owned the defensive slot in the first two games, giving up very few chances there and allowing even fewer rebounds.
Anaheim has a reputation for getting in the goaltender's face -- some would say they get away with a lot of goaltender interference -- but that has been less prevalent without Corey Perry in the lineup. And with Rob Niedermayer -- once referred to as the human missle -- unlikely to play Tuesday with an "upper body injury," the Ducks will need to find another way to get under Turco's skin.
Unless the Ducks are willing to open it up in game three, do not count on anything changing. Anaheim plays a rope-a-dope style of play -- they like to sit back in the neutral zone, play a 1-2-2, and then utilize the dump and chase when they are on offense. For all the talk of Anaheim's forechecking style, the truth is, they often back off quickly once they lose possession in the offensive zone.
In other words, they are playing a passive game. Dallas has played a far more aggressive, attacking style in the first two games, and they have the wins to show.
Unless the Ducks figure out the Stars the same way Dallas has figured out Anaheim, it could be fall before hockey returns to the Honda Center. The personnel is certainly in place for Anaheim to change their style, but the question is, will that be the game plan?
Don’t overlook the contributions the Stars have received up the middle where top three centermen Mike Ribeiro, Brad Richards and Mike Modano have outplayed their Anaheim counterparts on even strength and on special teams.
They’re hard to ignore, and they must continue that level of performance when Dallas hosts Game 3 Tuesday night at American Airlines Center.
“They’re all top-notch centers,’’ Stars captain Brenden Morrow said. “You expect that from them. Those three guys are winning battles, winning draws, playing with poise, they’ve been getting the job done for us.’’
Centers have played a major role on the power play as the Stars continued their regular-season success with the man-advantage against the Ducks. Dallas converted 23.7 percent of its power-play chances against Anaheim in the regular season, and the Stars keep punishing the Ducks for ill-advised penalties in the post-season.
Great analysis. Best written article on this series I've read.
Ducks are being out coached outworked and are in big trouble. Last year they were successful because they could adapt quickly, almost on the fly. This year?
As a Dallas/Ft. Resident, I am excited about the possibility of the Stars getting beyond the first round, but I also know that this past season Dallas has found a way to lose 3 goal leads in the 3rd period... No one in Dallas is counting these chickens.
I have to agree that this is a very good analysis. Great job.
One more point is that Marty Turco has been stellar this series, obviously giving his team a chance to win. Meanwhile the Ducks penalty killers have been terrible...as you stated, based on positioning. However, just standing in these positions is not enough.
I am definitely not a stars fan, but I do give them credit for what they have done so far this post season.
I agree -- the play of the centers has been a dramatic difference, and that is something both teams should have seen coming, in retrospect. Ribeiro, Richards, and Modano are arguably as good of a 1-2-3 punch up the middle as any team in the league, and they've played that way. Richards has been better than the numbers indicate, in my opinion -- he's been dominant at times.
The Ducks have become less adapatable each year since the lockout, in my opinion. Last year, they were still far more adapatable than this year's squad, but I still wonder what would have happened if they played Dallas or Calgary in the playoffs. The year before, they could play a grind it out, dump-and-chase game, but they could also play a speed game with anyone in the league. It's hard to remember many people thought the Ducks' speed and finesse game that year would not match up well with Calgary's rough and tumble game in the 2006 first round. And that was only two years ago!
I was there when the Stars lost that 4-0 lead in the third at Staples Center -- quite an atmosphere that night, the highlight of the Kings' season. Yet I think the Stars are a different team at this point -- more confidence, and too deep at center with the addition of Richards.
Turco's play is the untold story of the series. He's made two or three huge saves in each of the first two games, and who knows how the game goes if those shots go in. In my opinion, Turco's reputation as not being a playoff goaltender went out the window long ago -- he has been outstanding the past two playoffs.
The Stars have run hot and cold.
The Stars were challenging Detroit for the points lead till they went really cold.
At the same time, injuries healed and now the Stars are hot again.
I'm waiting for the Stars to break my heart again.
As a life-long hockey fan and sports fan in general, sports has always been a big part of my life. I have combined that with my interest in writing to create a long-term interest in sportswriting , something that has manifested itself in various sportswriting opportunities over the years.
