Turning Point: Nolan, Shields must have bite
By Brian A. Shactman
ESPN.com
A goalie can have a greater impact on a series than any player. Dominik Hasek had a decent team in front of him last season, but by all accounts, they weren't championship caliber. And the Sabres made it all the way to the Cup finals.
| |  | | | Steve Shields |
| |  | | | Nolan |
Steve Shields doesn't have Hasek's history of success. But he proved against St. Louis that he is resilient and can win big games with solid performances.
Then, there's Owen Nolan, a player who may not have received enough notice for the Hart Trophy this regular season. In the first round, he scored six goals against the Blues and was a menace in many ways. Perhaps, the best contribution Nolan made was his leadership and motivation to succeed. The younger players followed suit, and the veterans were rejuvenated.
Buffalo is a great benchmark for upset-hungry teams because they went so far with what was perceived as so little. Buffalo certainly didn't have anyone like Nolan last season. Farfetched as it sounds, if Nolan can come close to repeating his first-round play -- and it won't be easy against the tough and savvy Stars -- and Shields plays more like he did in Game 7 than in Game 6, there's a chance that combination could equal the impact of a Hasek.
No matter what roster Dallas utilizes, and regardless of how well other San Jose players perform, the entire series hinges on these two guys.
Brian A. Shactman is the NHL Editor for ESPN.com. |
