WESTERN QUARTER-FINALS
GAME DAY PREVIEWS
GAME 3:
#1 DALLAS STARS vs #8 EDMONTON OILERS
Dallas leads 2-0
Game time: Sunday April 25th, 1999 9:30pm at Edmonton
Fresh off a pair of one-goal losses, the Edmonton Oilers hope to avoid falling into a three games to none hole tonight as they face the Dallas Stars in Game Three of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.
The Oilers put up tough battles in the first two games in Dallas, suffering a 2-1 loss in the series opener as Guy Carbonneau scored the game-winner with 6:53 remaining. In Game Two, the Oilers could not overcome third-period goals by Jere Lehtinen and Jamie Langenbrunner in a 3-2 setback.
The Stars, who are still without captain and defenseman Derian Hatcher due to a suspension, have received balanced scoring thus far. Carbonneau, Lehtinen, Mike Modano and Dave Reid each have two points to lead the team. The 39-year-old Carobonneau and Lehtinen have two goals apiece.
One area of concern for the Stars is the power play, where they are 0-for-10. But Dallas has held the Oilers scoreless on five power-play opportunities as well.
Ethan Moreau leads Edmonton with just two points and no player has more than one goal.
Tommy Salo had never appeared in a playoff game before this series but has not disappointed, stopping 60 of 65 shots for a .923 save percentage. Counterpart Ed Belfour, who is no stranger to the postseason, has not been nearly as busy, stopping 32 of 35 shots for a .906 mark.
Game Four is Tuesday in Edmonton.
#2 COLORADO AVALANCHE vs #7 SAN JOSE SHARKS
Colorado leads 2-0
Game time: Wednesday April 28th, 1999 10pm at Colorado
The Colorado Avalanche get a playoff game at home a week later than originally scheduled tonight as they look to push the San Jose Sharks to the brink of elimination in Game Three of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.
This series was originally scheduled to begin in Denver last Wednesday but in the wake of the tragic shootings in nearby Littleton, the decision was made to move the first two games to San Jose.
The change in locale certainly did not affect the way the Avalanche played as they swept the two games in California. Patrick Roy continued his postseason success with a sparkling 42-save effort in the opener and rookie Milan Hejduk scored 7:53 into overtime, lifting Colorado to a 2-1 victory on Monday.
Roy is 101-59 all-time in the playoffs and 17-3-1 in his career against the Sharks. Providing the offense has been captain Joe Sakic, who leads the team with four points. Hejduk has three points and three others have two.
Colorado is 3-for-15 on the power play in the series and has killed off 10-of-11 shorthanded opportunities.
Sharks goaltender Mike Vernon did all he could in Game Two, holding the Avalanche scoreless until Adam Foote tallied a fluke goal with 5:40 left in regulation. Vernon finished with 34 saves as his postseason record dropped to 75-51.
San Jose may switch to goaltender Steve Shields for tonight's game. During the regular season, Shields was 15-11-8 with a 2.22 goals-against average.
Jeff Friesen and Vincent Damphousse are the only Sharks to have beaten Roy thus far. Captain Owen Nolan has been held without a point despite a team-high 12 shots on goal.
Game Four is Friday in Colorado.
#3 DETRIOT RED WINGS vs #6 ANAHIEM MIGHTY DUCKS
Detriot leads 2-0
Game time: Sunday April 25th, 1999 3pm at Anahiem
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim hope a return to "The Pond" today can provide a spark and help slow down the rampaging Detroit Red Wings in Game Three of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.
The Red Wings have looked very much like two-time defending Stanley Cup champions in the first two games of the series. Captain Steve Yzerman recorded a hat trick in a 5-3 victory in the opener and Brendan Shanahan scored twice in a four-goal first period as Detroit rolled to a 5-1 win in Game Two on Friday.
The Wings were 3-for-9 on the power play in Game Two after a 1-for-6 effort in the series opener. Anaheim is 2-for-10 with the man advantage.
Yzerman leads with four goals and five points and Shanahan and Sergei Fedorov have four points apiece for Detroit, which has received points from 11 different skaters. By contrast, the Mighty Ducks have gotten points from just five players, with Paul Kariya leading the way with four.
Detroit's Chris Osgood has allowed four goals on 64 shots through two games for a .933 save percentage. Counterpart Guy Hebert has been beaten eight times on 70 shots for an .871 mark.
The Ducks have never beaten the Red Wings in the postseason, losing all six meetings.
Game Four is Tuesday in Anaheim.
#4 PHOENIX COYOTES vs #5 ST. LOUIS BLUES
Series tied 1-1
Game time: Sunday April 25th, 1999 2pm at St. Louis
The Phoenix Coyotes avoided a nightmarish start to the postseason with a win Saturday and will look to grab a two games to one lead today when they face the St. Louis Blues in Game Three of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.
The Coyotes, who trailed twice before blowing a third-period lead, avoided a 2-0 deficit in the best-of-seven series when Shane Doan scored at 8:58 of overtime.
With leading scorer Jeremy Roenick sidelined for the postseason with a broken jaw, the Coyotes need contributions from more than just Keith Tkachuk, Rick Tocchet and Robert Reichel. Center Juha Ylonen had two assists Saturday, while Doan and Dallas Drake combined for two goals and three assists in the win.
The Coyotes franchise is also trying to end a streak of 11 straight playoff series losses dating back to its days as the Winnipeg Jets.
Phoenix is 1-for-12 on the power play in the first two games while St. Louis has been far more productive, going 3-for-7. Blues defenseman Al MacInnis continues to present problems for the Coyotes. He has had a hand in all six of the Blues' goals, logging a pair of goals and four assists.
Blues goaltender Grant Fuhr is 16-2 all-time in the postseason against the Phoenix-Winnipeg franchise but has lost his last five overtime games in the playoffs. Fuhr's next victory will be his 88th in the postseason, tying Billy Smith for second on the all-time list.
Game Four is Tuesday in St. Louis.