Mission Not Yet Accomplished for Stars

The Stars could learn something about George Bush. And, no, I'm not talking about a way to deal with low ratings.

Five years ago yesterday was the anniversary of the US's end of major combat operations in Iraq. Making a dramatic and powerful statement, George Bush arrived to the U.S. warship on a F-18 fighter jet. Later, he stepped off the jet, and proclaimed under the now famous, "Mission Accomplished," banner that the United States had successfully overthrown the oppressive Iraqi government, and declared that reconstruction of the country could begin.

That was five years ago... or 1,828 days ago. Can anyone honestly say with a straight face that the mission was, "accomplished?"

No, and here is where the Dallas Stars can learn their lesson.

Up 3-0 in a best of seven series against the San Jose Sharks, Dallas had an opportunity to close the series out on Wednesday after playing on back to back nights against a mentally fragile Shark team.

They didin't close out the series, and now the Stars have to go back to San Jose tonight to end the Sharks season. If they can.

You can say all you want about the statistics (believe me I looked it up)Just three teams in the American professional sports have come back from a 3-0 best of seven series deficit. The 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, 1975 New York Islander and most recently, the 2004 Boston Red Sox. Although it would be a Herculean task for San Jose to come back...there is still a chance. And that's why the Stars MUST win tonight in San Jose.

Consider for a second that the Sharks win tonight. All of the sudden the series shifts back to Dallas, where the pressure will be entirely on the Stars to close it out at home. The Sharks have been one of the best road teams in the NHL this season, so I'm not sure if the Stars want to play Russian Roulette with this team.

To win tonight, Dallas is going to have to set the tone early. They are going to have to get key contributions from guys like Marty Turco, Brad Richards, Mike Modano, and especially Brenden Morrow. The first ten minutes should tell us all we need to know about this game.

Above all, if Dallas is to win tonight, they must live by their playoff motto of, "lock it down," and not listen to their native Texan's motto of, "mission accomplished."