Coaches Mike Babcock and Dave Tippett share their pre-game thoughts.

Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock:

Q. Is Valtteri Filppula going to play tonight?
COACH MIKE BABCOCK: Yes.

Q. Mike, any creative stuff you did to kind of deal with the lay-off?
COACH MIKE BABCOCK: No, you and I have been through it before. The last time we had a lay-off I did a brutal job, had two games, didn’t touch the puck. When I was in Anaheim there I think we had nine or 10 days, didn’t we ?? 11 days. We were no good for two games. Took us two games to get our game back. I don’t think we’ve had that kind of break at all.

We’ve had three practice days. Our team I think was really focused. We know we have to engage right away. I didn’t think we engaged in the first round until Game 3. If we don’t engage, and they’re too good a team, we’ll be done.

They have theories and we have theories about what’s it going to take to win. Until you play each other, you don’t know for sure at playoff time.

Stars Coach Dave Tippett:

Q. Is this a neutral zone series?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: When you don’t have it, go get it. And when you have it, keep it. Simple as that.

Q. Can you just talk about Detroit’s defense, specifically the problems surrounding Nicklas Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, and Stuart, how they can split those guys up and have physical presence in the puck movement?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: Obviously, they’ve got a great defense. We’re a team. I have enough to worry about with the players that I have, not worry about them. I recognize that they have great players and everything.

But we talk about what our defense has to do and they’re great players, without a doubt. But we’re trying to make our players great players. So that’s what I worry about.

Q. David, looked like Brad Winchester might be in. Is that a possibility tonight?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: Possibility. We’re kicking around still a couple of things. But he’s a good player that’s got some experience against Detroit in the playoffs, and has looked very good in practice, so he’s certainly an option for us.

Q. You’re talking about the other series?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: Right.

Q. What did you like about him at that particular time?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: He’s a big guy, he can skate, goes to the net hard. We’ve been tinkering around a little bit. B.J. Crombeen is a young guy that’s been in a little bit. And with Barnes being out, we just think if we’re going to go that way, a little more experience there would be a good fit tonight.

Q. Franzen has obviously been on a roll for them in the playoffs and even at the end of regular season. With a guy that big, that good around the net, what do you try to do against them?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: You certainly have to be aware of them around the front of the net. I mentioned the other day there was 11 goals. I think there’s five or six of them have been off deflections or bouncing pucks around there.

They’ve got a couple of guys, him and Holmstrom, both play very well around the net. You have to be aware of them, take their space away from them when you can, and if they’re in there, you have to defend well against them. That’s just the way it is.

Source: NHL Media Release