2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Series – Dallas Stars versus the Toronto Maple Leafs (Preview)
Dallas Stars will be making a rare visit to the Toronto Maple Leafs this Monday as they face the each other after more than a year. The match will take place at the Air Canada Centre and is expected to be a very entertaining encounter.
The last time these teams met on 29th October 2009, James Neal proved to be the difference as he scored in overtime to win the match 4-3 for the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Centre.
Despite the fact the Dallas Stars are at the bottom in the Pacific standings but their recent form is no way near a bottom place team’s performance. The Dallas Stars have currently played 18 games out of which they have won 10 games lost 7; they have won
one of their games in overtime and have 21 points. The Dallas Stars are currently 5 points off the top in the Pacific standings and are looking good to register a win this time.
"I truly believe this is the hardest-working team I've ever played on, in eight years as a Dallas Star," veteran forward Steve Ott said. "When you have a team that doesn't quit, you're always going to be in games at the end of it. We find a way to scratch
and claw and rip some skin apart."
The Dallas Stars have bagged impressive performances in the last few matches. Though they lost the match against Colorado Avalanche this Saturday after shootout but they came back from a 3-0 deficit to level the scores.
The Dallas Stars have the great ability to gain confidence from small pieces of play which develop dangerous at the end. This can be seen from the fact that they scored twice within 23 seconds in their last game.
On the other hand, the Toronto Maple Leafs are not far behind as they have a star player in Brad Richards who is in good form. If this player clicks he would surely add to the 24 points he has scored this season so far. With 9 goals and 10 assists so far,
this player would surely give the Dallas Stars a tough time if his form clicks.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were also on a winning streak of 2 games until this Saturday as they lost the game against the Montreal Canadiens 2-0. The goal keeper, Jonas Gustavsson of the Toronto Maple Leafs is also in perfect shape ahead of the match as he
made 37 saves during last Saturday’s loss.
"He played well, especially in the first period and he gave us a chance to win," Leafs coach Ron Wilson said of Gustavsson. "I wouldn't say that they had a very good power play. We got the puck and then gave it right back to them."
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