Ducks vs Stars. The Dallas Stars need to take one tonight or risk letting the Anaheim Ducks run away with the Stars vs Ducks opening round series.
The Ducks have enjoyed home ice advantage, winning both of their home games. Now, the series travels to Dallas for two games and the Stars will enjoy playing before their fans. Still, the Dallas Stars will need to find a way to win at least one on the road against the red-hot Anaheim Ducks if they want any chance of advancing to face the winner of the San Jose Sharks vs Los Angeles Kings series .
Still, although they’re down 0-2, the Dallas Stars aren’t panicking yet. According to an AP report , Dallas coach and former NHL great wight he Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers Lindy Ruff had this to say about his team’s situation:
“It doesn’t feel like an 0-2 series. We definitely haven’t been dominated. In fact, the last game we dominated, we just didn’t win. So we’ve got to clean up some of our mistakes and take advantage of some of those key opportunities.”
Ruff is referring to Friday’s 3-2 loss in game two and he’s right. The Stars did look strong in that game, dominant even. Unfortunately for Dallas, though, there are no style points in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs. The only points that count are the ones you earn when the red light goes off after the puck crosses the goal line and finds the back of the net. Dallas has lost two close games. If they want to keep their playoff life alive, they’re going to have to find a way to win those games in the Stars vs Ducks series.
For their part, the Ducks aren’t taking the Stars or their two game lead for granted. Ducks center Andrew Cogliano put it this way:
“It’s going to be tough games in Dallas. We’re going to have to be ready for a great atmosphere for them with their fans. That’s by far the most offensive we’ve seen them play right in the series. The games right now are so intense, but the guys are ready.”
The Ducks have the best record in the Western Conference this season and home ice advantage all the way until the Stanley Cup Finals – and even then, they will enjoy home ice advantage over anyone except the Boston Bruins, who are currently embroiled in a hard fought series against the Red Wings, who are enjoying their longest-in-major-sports 23 year string of appearances in the NHL playoffs . The Stars, on the other hand, were still in doubt about their playoff prospects going into the wild final week of the regular season as they held off a late surge by the Phoenix Coyotes.
Don’t miss a minute of tonight’s Stars vs Ducks game three. You can watch Ducks vs Stars streaming online live for free here .
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