Red Wings 3, Stars 0
1) Was this game as difficult to watch on television as it was to view live and in living color? Ugh. Brutal. What happened to the up and down wide open play the NHL likes to market? Bad ice contributed to the way it was played, but please, how about an occasional offensive chance. 2) Saying that, this just shows the Wings can win any way an opponent wants to play. They slugged this one out. 3) Babcock said after the game he'll hold out Holmstrom (knee) and Maltby (back) Sunday. Both should return early next week. Holmstrom is probably ready, and wasn't too pleased with the prospect of being sat out Sunday, but it's almost as if Babcock wants it that way. A snarly, angry Holmstrom will be difficult to contain when he returns. 4) Osgood gets the start vs. Chicago Sunday. 5) If Dallas plays as badly as it did in these two losses to the Wings, how in the world will it make the playoffs? It's an absolute chore for the Stars to produce any offense. Mike Modano is beginning to look his age (37), too. 6) He's been pretty much under the radar all season, but Brian Rafalski has been a terrific replacement for Mathieu Schneider. I wasn't sure about that trade-off, but I stand corrected. Rafalski is another guy you appreciate after you watch him for a long time. Very subtle and very heads-up player.
