Western Conference Final Preview

Dallas vs. Detroit.

Two nights ago, there were 62 shots fired at Marty Turco. And he isn’t even in Detroit yet!

All kidding aside, Turco’s goaltending is a huge reason why the Dallas Stars are heading to the Motor City for the Western Conference Final against the Red Wings. Captain Brendan Morrow, Mike Ribiero and icon Mike Modano have also played great and helped the Stars get past both the Ducks and Sharks, but if the Conn Smythe trophy gets awarded to a Star, the smart money is on it landing in the hands of Turco.

However, to win the playoff MVP, Turco and the Stars will first have to defeat the formidable opponent that is the Detroit Red Wings. And, as is often the case when going up against a Presidents Trophy winning club, that is no easy task. The Wings, as rapper Chamillionaire would say, are ridin’ dirty. After a closer-than-it-should-have-been six game opening round series with Nashville, the Wings absolutely steamrolled the Colorado Snowflakes…errrr…Avalanche, in four straight not-so-close contests. This is a Detroit team that looked good enough on paper before the playoffs began; but with the likes of less than household names such as Johan Franzen and Niklas Kronwall stepping up their games in the postseason, the Wings have become a truly formidable force. And while Chris Osgood might not be one of those sexy goaltending names along the lines of Turco, Brodeur, or Luongo, he does have the privilege of being able to shield his ears from any unjustified criticism with his two Stanley Cup rings.

Coincidentally, two is also the number of games the Stars are going to win in this series.

WINGS IN SIX.