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Abel to Yzerman

Well Marty, What Now?

by IwoCPO on 05/09/08 at 10:44 AM ET
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Oh, Bubba Sr. must be a little distressed today. 

Stars Blog/Dallas Morning News

That almost felt like the series last night. Maybe because, for Stars fans, it’s the same ol’ same ol’ against Detroit. How do teams get that kind of gorilla off their backs?

In the back of their minds, maybe closer to the front, has always been the Turco Dilemma.  He’s failed consistently against the Red Wings, a blight on a pretty good record. He can’t win in Detroit, in fact can’t even keep it close.

But this year would be different.  He owned the Sharks, that cute little team from NoCal that can’t seem to get it together at the right time.  61 saves in a quadruple overtime series winner.  Taking IV’s, guaranteeing his teammates he wouldn’t be allowing any more goals, maybe ever.  Certainly that kind of Balboa-like performance (“ain’t going down no more”—Rocky II) would be enough to clear his head of the dangerous fog that seeps in when he travels back to MI.

Woops.  Rafalski wrister.  Screen. Goal.  Dirty, nasty Swedes and their unfair stickwork. Deflection, goal. Deflection, goal.  Homer’s ass in his face, skates in the crease.  Skates in the crease by god.  Kinda like Hull’s.  Filppula flying in. Goal. Chants from the crowd. Deflation.  Elbow to the face of Helm, dejection. Sadness.

Marty’s back to what we know.  It’s nice to be able to expect things, to know what’s coming.  A Turco meltdown?  Done.  Hey, Brett? How’s that deal with Tampa looking now? 

Not to jinx anything, but who the hell is going to stop this team right now?  Show me a weakness.  Last defensive pairing? Yeah, I guess it’s worrisome but no damage done yet.  Power play?  Muddling, middle of the pack, 20.9 percent heading in.  3 for 7.  Next. 

Brunnstrom to Dallas, eh?  Second thoughts on that Fabian?  Probably not.  If the decision was based on opportunity to win, which we know it isn’t, he would have signed with the Wings by now…and Toronto never would have been in the mix.

7-0 since taking over the starter’s job.  The only undefeated goalie left.  Leader in GAA and save percentage.  The Osgood of May is looking a lot like the Osgood of November and December.  Ten years since he last shut out Dallas in a game every sane adult expected him to lose.  Naturally, those same people are waiting for him to crack.  Apparently, that’s just not going to happen.

Maltby in for Mac?  Speed. Speed on the forecheck, the penalty kill.  You give up a bit in terms of scoring ability, but very little was expected any way. Grit? Equals out.  Uncle Mike’s call to make and apparently it was the right one.

One shot from Dallas’ top line?  ‘98 all over again.  The Wings, and the MSM will never admit this, are a shutdown team blended with an offense that is so hot right now that no one can guess which tactic to use.  A week’s layoff only made their legs fresher.

Danger ahead?  You tell me.  If Turco turns it around, I guess we have a series, or at least the games will be closer.  But, here’s the thing.  The Wings have won seven straight playoff games.  Trends are becoming habits.  Winning is now a natural expectation.  The Wings haven’t lost in three weeks. February, that bastard of a month, that punch to the kidney of a 28-day disaster?  Did it even ever happen?

We could be looking at another sweep. After playing as well as they did against San Jose, Dallas has got to be questioning their place in this scenario.  And with a history like these two teams have, the mental thing’s got to already be an issue.

For the entire team. 

Turco?  Oh, we know where his head is.  Welcome home Marty.  Nice to see you again.

7.

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Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977.  No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y.  Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation.  There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature.  Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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