2008 NHL Playoffs: Dallas Stars Hoping to Force Game 7 with Win

Three games into the Western Conference Championship, the hockey world firmly believed that the result of the Dallas and Detroit series would mirror that of Detroit's previous series with Colorado.

Instead, it is resembling Dallas' last series with San Jose, except reversed.

Dallas was watching the dirt thrown on the grave of their 2007-08 season, when they decided they weren't finished yet.

In fact, I believe the transcript of the two teams conversing went something like this:

DALLAS: I'm not dead!
MORTICIAN: What?
DETROIT: Nothing, here's your nine pence.
DALLAS: I'm not dead!
MORTICIAN: Here, he says he's not dead!
DETROIT: Yes, he is.
DALLAS: I'm not!
MORTICIAN: He isn't.
DETROIT: Well, he will be soon. He's very ill.
DALLAS: I'm getting better!
DETROIT: No, you're not. You'll be stone dead in a moment.

Nevertheless, here we are in game six. 

And it took several milestones to get there.

In game four, Dallas grabbed their first lead of the series, and subsequently their first win.

Game five, Marty Turco did one of the few things he hasn't accomplished in his career, won inside the Joe Louis Arena.

Regardless of it being a third "do-or-die" game for Dallas, they have taken the momentum away from the Red Wings, and are running with it.

Now they have to harness that momentum, and win their third consecutive game, which could be their third consecutive game six victory of this postseason.

Detroit knows that they have let Dallas taste blood, and could be in for a shocking surprise.

When the puck drops tonight, Dallas' season will rest, ultimately, in the hands of Turco. If he can handle the puck, and stymie the Detroit sharpshooters, this series will return to Detroit one final time.

Also, if Detroit cannot match Dallas' physical prowess for three full periods, they'll risk making costly mental errors and risk giving Dallas multiple opportunities.

So now the question is, can Dallas strike first and impose their will on Detroit or will the Red Wings put games four and five behind them, and finish Dallas off?