Start off looking stellar, Stars hold on to win 4-3 (trade value?)

Stars 4, Wild 3

Fun game to be at last night. Dallas Stars go up 4-0 before having to hold off the Minnesota Wild to win 4-3 last night at the AAC. For those of you who don’t know or have not read my introduction in my first post, I had season tickets for the last 2 years and plan on having them again next year. But this season I was not able to, and last night marked my first game of the season.  Here is our view last night:

Star got out early and were attempting to be physical from the start of the game. It looked good, and Tom Wandell created the first goal of the game with some speed and a nice move to put Dallas up 1-0 after the first. Then Dallas came out and the 2nd period got interesting. Brad Richards gets two great assists, setting up Mike Modano on the powerplay, and then feeding Loui Eriksson right in front for the net for Dallas to take a 3-0 lead. Then on a shift were the Stars kept the Wild in their zone for a bit, a missed pass attempt comes out to between the circles and Niskanen finally does something good by whipping one into the net.

At this point Minnesota pulls goalie Niklas Backstrom and puts Josh Harding in the net. Now Harding is someone that I have read twice recently mentioned as someone Dallas could go after as a possible goal of the future. Well after only being in the net for briefly, Dallas crashes the net and almost scores and when the dust settles Steve Ott and Harding are tangled up in the crease as the puck goes the other way. I don’t if Otter said anything or if Harding just didn’t like Ott, but Harding takes a swing with his blocker at the side of Otter’s face. Well then Otter and Harding start grappling and Ott throws a few swings being not to pleased with the swing at his head. This happened at the net at which we were not that far back from, and was funny to watch. Ott is one of the biggest agitators in the game right now, but he also gets over punished and hated by the league and others teams sometimes. In this instance Ott just drove the net, he and a defender both go down onto Harding and the Ott and Harding both are responsible for what followed. But for Ott to get a pair of two-minute penalties and all Harding get for trying to sucker-punch Ott with a blocker is a two-minute roughing is some bull-something if you know what I mean. I would say the league should review it but I have a feeling if they did not only would Harding be punished they would probably “find” more to put on Ott like they have a few times in his career.

Dallas lets Minnesota slip back in, a pair of goals by former Star Antti Miettinen (or Mittens as Dallas fans called him) helped bring the Wild back into it. But the defense and Alex Auld held on and gave Auld and the Stars two wins in a row with Auld starting both, and Auld will again get the nod in net for Dallas’s trip to Vancouver on Thursday. Last time the two played Turco started and played good but Vancouver won 3-1 (with a empty-net goal late) here in Dallas. This starts another 3 game road-trip to Van, Edmonton, and Colorado which could be big with the Stars road struggles the last couple of months. Preview of that Wed or Thur.

And nice job by the Dallas Mavs last night in Boston. I may have not mentioned it yet, but I am a huge Dirk fan. Always have liked his ability to score and shot as a big guy. And yes he can help lead that team to a title, but he could use some more help. Marion hasn’t helped much since being brought here and Howard is oft-injured and not consistent.

Final note: What do you think Marty Turco’s trade value is? I think there best option is to package him with someone for either a goalie who can be a future star (Harding, Halak (probably to high now), or someone who is a high prospect). Or maybe in a package with defensive help? I think his value is about worth a 2nd-4th round pick area. Let me know what you think, and do you think they should move Turco?