The marathon men

posted: Monday, May 5, 2008  

ESPN.com

E.J. HRADEK

If you stayed up late watching the Stars-Sharks game, you got to see a real good one. I mean, a really good game. If you didn't, well, too bad. For the record, the Stars eliminated the Sharks with a four-overtime 2-1 win in Dallas.

It was a game that had just about everything, including acrobatic, pressure saves at both ends of the rink. Stoppers Marty Turco and Evgeni Nabokov were both brilliant. Nabokov's stretch-glove save on a Brad Richards' bullet in the first overtime was absolutely ridiculous. The puck might have gone over the goal line, but there was no way to be certain. At the other end, Turco turned back numerous scoring chances.

Stars captain Brenden Morrow -- my Conn Smythe winner through the first two rounds -- scored the game-winner on the power play at 69:03 of extra time. Stationed in front of the net, Morrow tapped a perfect Stephane Robidas pass into the net behind Nabokov, who had no chance on the play.

Other than Turco, Morrow was the best Star throughout the night. He played an unbelievable 51 minutes on 55 shifts. He had seven shots and was credited with an eye-popping 19 hits. That's 10 more hits that any other player on the ice. Morrow's regulation-ending hit on San Jose left winger Milan Michalek forced the Sharks sniper to the sidelines.

In my humble opinion, the Dallas captain has been Messier-like in the way he has taken his team on his back during these playoffs. Yeah, he has been that good!

Here are some other crazy numbers from this marathon game:

  • Stars center Mike Ribeiro, brilliant working a line with Morrow and steady vet Jere Lehtinen, finished with 52:43 minutes of ice time. The playmaker had nine shots and hammered a chance off the crossbar in overtime. Not known for his physical play, Ribeiro was also credited with five hits.

     

  • In just his fifth game back after suffering an injury in January, Dallas veteran defenseman Sergei Zubov logged a team-high 53:50 over 61 shifts. Let me just say this: Don't try that at home.

     

  • The underrated Robidas played 50:34 minutes, blocking a team-best seven shots, as well as setting up the game-winning goal. Robidas spent most of his evening (and early morning) dealing with Super Shark Joe Thornton. He did an impressive job against the highly skilled, and much bigger, Thornton.

     

  • On the Sharks side, defenseman Brian Campbell played a terrific game, logging a game-high 56:23 over 68 shifts. Campbell, however, found himself in the penalty box when the winning goal was scored. He'd been whistled for tripping. Early in overtime, the Sharks had a power-play chance when Stars defenseman Nicklas Grossman was nailed for hooking. You had to feel bad for Campbell. Two seasons ago, during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals between Carolina and Buffalo, Campbell committed a delay-of-game penalty in the third period of a tie game. The Hurricanes netted the eventual winner on that power play. That's some bad timing.

     

  • Thornton led all Sharks forwards with 47:14 minutes of ice time. He did a terrific job, competing in all three zones. Sharks captain Patrick Marleau received 42:53 minutes, registering eight shots and winning 13 of 17 faceoffs. Veteran Jeremy Roenick turned in a strong effort, posting five shots in 30:58. I hope it wasn't J.R.'s last game. I think he can still help the Sharks. Roenick and "Little" Joe Pavelski seemed ready to force a Game 7 on a couple of different occasions.

    The Sharks probably deserved a better fate in this game. Playoff overtime, as we know, is very unforgiving.

    No bloody call?!
    I'm not one who likes to waste too much time bashing the refs. The men in stripes have an unbelievably tough job calling a game that moves so ridiculously fast. I did it once -- by necessity, at a much lower level -- and that was enough for me. There will be missed calls or bad calls. As far as I can tell, it has always been that way. I figure you have to overcome different forms of adversity to win in this league.

    But ...

    I do have to wonder why Pens forward Ryan Malone didn't get a high-sticking penalty in the second period of a scoreless game when his blade opened a two-inch gash under the left eye of Rangers forward Chris Drury, who was left woozy and bleeding. It's hard to imagine referees Marc Joannette and Brad Watson or linesmen Derek Amell and Jay Sharrers all could miss it. There was a stoppage to clean Drury's blood from the ice. Still, despite the opportunity to chat amongst themselves, the officials didn't make a call. The Pens got a big break there.

    Crazy good
    That Evgeni Malkin kid continues to make his case as the league's best player. He scored another highlight-reel goal and snapped off a game-high 10 shots in the Pens' series clincher over the Rangers. The lanky Russian pivot also won six of eight draws and received more ice time (24:43) than any other forward in the contest.