What can we expect to see in Game 6?
It seems that nothing about this Stanley Cup finals has gone according to plan. The Devils trounced the defending Stanley Cup champion Stars in Game 1. The Stars, after setting things straight with a Game 2 victory, then proceeded to lose Games 3 and 4 at home. And despite numerous chances to hoist the Cup on home ice in Game 5, the Devils dropped a 1-0 decision to move the series back to Dallas for Saturday night's Game 6 (8 ET, ABC) . What is going on? What will tonight bring?
We asked ESPN's NHL analysts their opinion on how the two teams will bounce back from Thursday's triple-overtime thriller and what kind of game we can expect to see tonight.
What kind of game can we expect tonight?
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NHL analyst Barry Melrose
The teams will be fresh, and they will play hard. The building will be electric, which will add a lot to the game. You will see the same type of game as before. New Jersey will outplay Dallas and get more scoring chances because they have more offensive weapons. But Belfour has been the equalizer all series long -- all playoffs long. If he plays like he did in Game 5, they have a chance. If he lets in a couple goals, it will be very tough because Dallas is not going to score many. I don't think we will see another 1-0 game, but I can see a 2-1 game. There were just too many chances. I can't believe those two, Belfour and Brodeur, can play that good again. That was just a night where everything went right for those guys. |
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NHL commentator Darren Pang
Everyone is going to expect this game to take on the same pattern as Game 5. I don't think we can expect that. History shows that when a game goes to a long overtime, the team that loses usually struggles the next game. After the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia 5-OT game, the next game Pittsburgh kept it close for a little bit but as the game wore on, mentally they were exhausted. In 1990 when Petr Klima scored in triple-overtime against Boston, the next game Boston hung on for a little while, but got blown out 7-3. Hopefully, this game won't take on that kind of resemblance, but certainly it is something you can't underestimate -- the fatigue and how the travel wears on you. From talking to the Devils players, they know it is still in sight, and that they are playing for Lord Stanley's Cup. They will be prepared. |
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NHL analyst Bill Clement
I always felt when I played, after any game that was really grueling physically, the fatigue didn't set in the next day; it was a two-day effect. That said, I don't know what we are going to see tonight. Some of the players might be in a fog and may not feel as if they have any legs at all. It will be interesting to see if Martin Brodeur and Ed Belfour can regain the focus that they had at 1:15 a.m. ET two days ago. There are many question marks in tonight's game. The biggest thing will be which Dallas team will show up. They have been the Jekyll and Hyde of this series. In Game 4, they played their two best periods of the series and then their worst period in the same 60-minute game. In Game 5, they were outplayed in regulation but then took it from the Devils in overtime. The variable in tonight's game will be Dallas. |
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NHL commentator Steve Levy
Unfortunately, I don't think we will see a similar style game to Game 5. I could not get over how up-and-down Game 5 was with all of the scoring chances. You will see both teams be a lot tighter because the pressure is squarely on both teams now. Last game, it was off Dallas because they were down two. But now they are at home and still have a chance to win the Stanley Cup. I think you will see a lot of neutral-zone play, and it might not be as entertaining as what we saw Thursday night. |
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Mike Keane thinks the Stars are back in business.
