WESTERN QUARTER-FINALS
GAME DAY PREVIEWS
GAME 3:
#1 ST. LOUIS BLUES vs #8 SAN JOSE SHARKS
Series tied 1-1
Game time: Monday April 17th, 2000 10:30pm at San Jose
The San Jose Sharks try to build on Saturday's stunning victory as they host the St. Louis Blues in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. San Jose stole home-ice advantage on Saturday with a 4-2 victory at St. Louis that evened the series at a win apiece. Mike Ricci scored the go-ahead goal on the power play with 5:42 left in the third period before Owen Nolan got an empty-net goal with 63 seconds remaining.
One of three teams in the postseason with losing records, the Sharks finished 27 points behind St. Louis. But they will host three of the final five contests, if necessary, including Game 3 on Monday.
Nolan, still nursing a shoulder injury, has two goals and an assist in the series.
Sharks defenseman Gary Suter was credited with one of the oddest goals in playoff history during a first-period power play. His flip shot from the left faceoff circle was gloved by Blues blueliner Marc Bergevin, who accidentally tossed it into his own net.
After closing the regular season in a 2-for-24 power-play funk, the Sharks are 2-for-12 in this series against the Blues, who were second in the league in penalty-killing.
The Blues nearly tied an NHL record with 27 road wins during the regular season. That bodes well now that they have squandered home-ice advantage as the series switches to "The Tank".
"We have won on the road and we have had success in a number of buildings this year," St. Louis coach Joel Quenneville said. "We have to play better than we have played, for sure."
Blues rookie Marty Reasoner has scored in each of the first two games of the series, including St. Louis' 5-3 victory on Wednesday, while veteran Stephane Richer tallied his 53rd on Saturday.
St. Louis right wing Scott Young, who missed Game 1 with a shoulder injury, had an assist in his first game back but also took the crucial double-minor penalty that led to Ricci's goal.
#2 DALLAS STARS vs #7 EDMONTON OILERS
Dallas leads 2-0
Game time: Sunday April 16th, 2000 7pm at Edmonton
The Dallas Stars look to continue their playoff dominance over the Edmonton Oilers when the teams play Game 3 of the Western Conference quarterfinals Sunday night.Ed Belfour stopped 17 shots for his eighth career postseason shutout and was backed by goals from Kirk Muller, Brett Hull and Scott Thornton as Dallas took a two games to none lead in the series with a 3-0 victory on Thursday. The teams had played six straight one-goal games, all Dallas wins, in the playoffs before that.
Dallas had a 13-7 lead in shots by the end of the second period and finished with a 22-17 edge. The Stars held Edmonton to only 14 shots in Wednesday night's 2-1 win.
"We had a heck of a time trying to get through their defense," Oilers center Doug Weight said. "All we can do now is keep our heads up and continue to get a good effort. Hopefully, going up for Game 3 will energize us and make us feel a little more comfortable."
The series now switches to Skyreach Centre, where Edmonton posted an 18-14-9 this season. Dallas was 22-14-5 away from home on the campaign and has won six straight playoff games on the Oilers' home rink.
Belfour, who backed the Stars to the Stanley Cup championship last season, is 14-2 against the Oilers in playoff action and holds a 25-4-6 career mark against them.
Dallas swept Edmonton in the first round last season en route to its first Stanley Cup title. It has won nine straight playoff meetings with the Oilers, its first-round opponent for the fourth consecutive postseason.
"The onus is on us to get a win in Game 3," Edmonton coach Kevin Lowe said. "But we know our margin for error right now is about zero."
Mike Modano picked up his 80th career playoff point with an assist, moving into second place in franchise history. Retired center Brian Bellows is first with 83.
Belfour's counterpart, Tommy Salo, made 19 saves and dropped to 0-6 lifetime against Dallas in the playoffs. His career mark against the Stars is 0-13-1, including the postseason.
Dallas has won four consecutive series when leading two games to none and has not lost in that situation since 1992, when it fell to Detroit in seven games. Edmonton has never come back from being down 0-2 to win a series.
#3 COLORADO AVALANCHE vs #6 PHOENIX COYOTES
Colorado leads 2-0
Game time: Monday April 17th, 2000 10pm at Phoenix
The Colorado Avalanche hope to continue capitalizing on the Phoenix Coyotes' mistakes Monday night as the teams meet in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.Colorado scored on its first three power-play chances -- two during 5-on-3 advantages -- en route to Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Phoenix, giving them a two games to none lead in the series. Chris Drury, rookie Alex Tanguay and Milan Hejduk scored the goals.
"There's no rhyme or reason for three 5-on-3s," Roenick said. "(Coyotes forward Dallas Drake) did what half their guys did, tackling and holding. I don't want to get fined, so I'll keep my comments to myself."
The Avalanche also scored on its first two power-play chances in Thursday's 6-3 victory and is 6-for-14 with the extra man in the series.
Colorado, which welcomed back All-Star Peter Forsberg on Saturday, has recorded 10 straight wins dating to the regular season while handing Phoenix its fifth straight playoff setback.
Patrick Roy stopped 25 shots on Saturday and added to his NHL record by collecting his 112th postseason victory. Roy has been a member of three Stanley Cup championships, including one with Colorado in 1997.
The Coyotes franchise has not won a playoff series since 1987, losing eight straight since the Winnipeg Jets defeated the Calgary Flames in six games in the Smythe Division semifinals.
Colorado has won the last five series when holding a 2-0 advantage after dropping the previous two, while Phoenix has never won a series after losing the first two contests.
#4 DETROIT RED WINGS vs #5 LOS ANGELES
Detroit leads 2-0
Game time: Monday April 17th, 2000 10pm at Los Angeles
The Detroit Red Wings hope their potent offense can carry them into a commanding three games to none lead Monday night as they visit the Los Angeles Kings in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. After posting a 2-0 victory in Thursday's Game 1, Detroit exploded for four goals in the first period en route to a wild 8-5 victory over Los Angeles to take a two games to none lead in the series.
Martin Lapointe recorded his first career hat trick in the win. Lapointe, who had only 14 goals in his previous 72 playoff games, registered his only other hat trick against the New York Rangers on March 26.
The offense also got a lift from captain Steve Yzerman, who returned after missing Game One with the flu to record two assists.
Luc Robitaille had a goal and two assists for the Kings on Saturday. The three points gave Robitaille 81 in 79 career playoff contests, placing him second on the team's all-time postseason scoring list, trailing only Wayne Gretzky, who recorded 94 points in 60 playoff games with Los Angeles.
The Red Wings are looking to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs for the sixth straight year. They also have won six straight games in the first round, but coach Scotty Bowman is not taking anything for granted despite the 2-0 series lead, pointing out last year when Detroit squandered a 2-0 lead to Colorado.
"You can't survive by just winning your home games," he said. "We need to go one in LA."
Los Angeles suffered its 10th straight playoff loss and is looking for its first postseason victory since winning Game One of the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals against Montreal.
The Kings have never come back to win a series after dropping the first two games.