Blackout Dallas - A Dallas Stars blog

The Dallas Stars jump back onto the ice tonight as this stretch of games against playoff opponents continues. Tonight’s road contest against the Phoenix Coyotes is the fourth game in a five game stretch where the Stars are playing five straight Western Conference teams that are in the middle of the playoff hunt. As of this morning, the Stars sat in 11th but they are only four points behind the 7th place Coyotes heading into tonight’s game. After breaking their three-game losing streak with a big 3-2 overtime win at home over the Calgary Flames, the Stars will now look to find some sort of positive streak to stay in the playoff picture heading towards the NHL trade deadline.

The Stars will have to do it though without Jamie Benn this weekend. Benn is expected to miss tomorrow’s contest as well after getting cut across his upper leg by a skate on Tuesday. The medical staff used 13 stitches to apparently close Jamie up, and he was seen at the Stars’ practice yesterday on crutches. The team and coach Glen Gulutzan are hoping that he can be back by Tuesday when the team plays at Montreal. Brenden Morrow is still out as well, and Sheldon Souray is still out of action with a “foot” injury. For the Coyotes, Derek Morris and Rostislav Klesla are both questionable while David Schlemko is still out.

The puck drops on the fifth meeting between the two teams at 7:00 PM central time tonight, and since it is a Saturday contest the game will be on TXA-21 locally. The Stars won the first two meetings of the season, but since then Phoenix has won the last two. The Stars will be looking to find a way around former teammate Mike Smith, who is 6-0-0 in his last six starts with a 0.99 goals against average. With Benn and Morrow out, the team will be looking for offense wherever it can get it and expect guys like Tom Wandell and Adam Burish to receive extra ice time tonight with the team trying to juggle the lines.

• While the Stars are 4-4-1 since the break, Phoenix is an impressive 6-1-1.
• While the Coyotes have lost more games than they have won, nine of their defeats have come in extra time, meaning they are earning points even when they lose.
• Kari Lehtonen is expected to be in net again for the Stars, meaning we should see Richard Bachman tomorrow in Nashville.
• Burish has a goal in each of the Stars last two games. Something impressive to see from a fourth liner.

Nov 21, 2011; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars general manager Joe Nieuwendyk looks on as new owner Tom Gaglardi (not pictured) is introduced during a press conference at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

As you probably know, the Dallas Stars traded Nicklas Grossman yesterday to the Philadelphia Flyers for a couple draft picks, but during the proceeding press conference, General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk quickly dismissed any notion that the move signified the Stars as “buyers” or “sellers”:

“Well, I don’t really like the term and I know everyone wants to talk about that,” Nieuwendyk said. “I just think today is an isolated case and it shows that we’re going to be active. We’re going to look at things that make our hockey club better going forward and if things present themselves that do that, we’ll take a strong look at it. But I think it just shows today that this is not an indication that we’re going to be sellers. This is an indication that we’re going to be active and listen to everybody.”

It’s about time.

I have always believed that these buyer/seller labels are far too general for a team in the Stars’ position. When you label a team as a “seller”, then they’re actively shopping multiple players for the highest return to build for the future due to a lost season. When a team is a “buyer”, they’re actively looking to acquire a player(s) that can make their team a contender or a Stanley Cup favorite, that last piece to add before a major playoff run. Do the Stars fit into either one of those categories? No. Continue reading this post »

Feb 16, 2012; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars center Steve Ott (29) celebrates after scoring a power play goal against Calgary Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff (not pictured) during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE

What Happened:

After falling to the Red Wings on the road Tuesday night, the Dallas Stars returned home with a lot more energy to start the game. The Stars came out early playing a solid game and didn’t take a while to get into the flow of the game, something they’ve done quite a lot recently. Just under 10 minutes into the game, the Stars 4th line opened up the scoring after a solid shift as Jake Dowell found Adam Burish right out in front of the net. Burish put the shot up high over Miikka Kiprusoff in close to give the Stars a 1-0. But after playing a very solid first period for 19 minutes, Jarome Iginla fought his way past Alex Goligoski to score off a rush to send the game into the 2nd period at 1-1. In the 2nd the Stars kept up the play and continued to look like the better team. But midway through the period, Jamie Benn left the game after Mark Giordano‘s skate caught him on his thigh when the two collided along the boards. Benn never returned in the game and now is listed as “day-to-day” until the Stars and Benn see how the injury heals. Late in the period Dallas received their lone powerplay chance of the night and capitalized as Steve Ott drilled a blast past Kiprusoff after Mike Ribeiro gave him the puck at the top of the right circle.

Early in the third period the Stars stretched their shot advantage to 12 at one point but were stoned multiple times by Kiprusoff and the game stayed close. After Kari Lehtonen helped the Stars kill two big penalties late with some huge saves, and help from Stephane Robidas, the Calgary Flames tied the game up when Mike Cammalleri was left alone to the right of the crease. With the game at 2-2, both exchanged a few shots in the last five minutes before the game went to overtime. Once in the extra frame, the ice of course opened up and Ribeiro left the crowd with something to remember.  Here is his ridiculous game-winner with the call and reaction from Ralph and Razor: Continue reading this post »

Feb 10, 2012; Buffalo, NY, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Nicklas Grossman (2) on the bench during the game against the Buffalo Sabres at the First Niagara Center. Sabres beat the Stars 3-2 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-US PRESSWIRE

The Dallas Stars have made the first substantial trade leading up to the NHL trade deadline this afternoon. Defenseman Nicklas Grossman is on his way to the Philadelphia Flyers for a pair of picks. Reports are that the Stars are getting back a 2nd round pick in the 2012 draft and a 3rd rounder in 2013 (originally belonged to Minnesota). With the news hitting this afternoon, Grossman will not be in the lineup for the game against the Calgary Flames tonight and his last game for the Stars was Tuesday’s contest in Detroit.

Rumors had been swirling that Grossman had been in talks and could be gone before the deadline. He is set to become a unrestricted free-agent this summer at 27-years old and with the trade it likely means that the Stars were not able to work out a deal with him, or just felt it was better for the team to move him and open room for younger players. Mark Fistric should benefit the most for the rest of this season, but the trade might also open up room for guys like Brenden Dillion and Jordie Benn to compete for some time later this season and for a spot next year.

Last week we discussed Grossman in the ‘Buy Or Sell’ series and it looks like the Stars found the move that fit. While it immediately brings up concern for filling out the roster this weekend, the deal looks like a strong one for the Stars long-term. They get another 2nd round pick in one of the deepest drafts in recent years, and acquire another mid-round pick for next year. The return is probably the max that could be expected for a player like Grossman.

January 24, 2012; Tampa FL, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Rick Nash (61) skates during the first period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Tampa Bay Times Forum. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Seemingly out of nowhere, Rick Nash is now on the trading block.

The face of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the superstar, the captain, the franchise. Now he’s up for grabs, but it’ll be a steep price. A price the Dallas Stars should not pay. A price no one expects the Stars to pay. A price they will not pay.

When a player of that caliber is available, it makes sense that every team would covet such talent, and each and every fan covets that kind of talent too. So of course the speculation builds, and people start to believe that Rick Nash is the answer to all of the Stars’ problems. Sure, a guy like Rick Nash would be a monumental addition to the Dallas Stars, but quite simply, it’s not going to happen. Why? Because Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson wants a lot in return. The rumors are that the price includes a first round draft pick, NHL-ready prospects, and even a young roster player or two. Sit back and think about that, what would that translate to for the Stars? Our best players down in Austin, like Matt Fraser, Scott Glennie, or Brenden Dillon? Then consider that the Jackets want roster players as well. Do the Stars really have the luxury of getting rid of even one core player on that NHL roster? No. Continue reading this post »

Feb. 14, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen (32) makes a save on a shot by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ian White (18) as Dallas defenseman Trevor Daley (6) defends in the first period at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

What Happened:

The buzz was all about the Detroit Red Wings trying to make history tonight, and the Stars knew they’d have to come out swinging to take the crowd factor out of the game to take two points. Well, a team sure came out swinging, but it wasn’t the Stars. The Red Wings took the first period and made it their playground, slapping around the Stars and dominating them in every single facet. The Wings are puck possession experts, unmatched in the NHL, and the Stars tried too hard to beat them at their own game. When Jamie Benn took a penalty 7:24 into the game, it only took 33 seconds for Henrik Zetterberg to strike, and just 1:18 later, Brad Stuart added another tally.  The Red Wings took a 2-0 lead into the middle frame. Whatever what adjustments were made during the intermission seemed to have worked, as the Stars showed poise and stability throughout the first half of the second period, getting decent chances but were unable to connect. Things grounded to a halt when Steve Ott took two back to back penalties 10:43 into the period that the Stars somehow killed, no easy feat against the well-oiled machine that is the Red Wings power play. The Stars weren’t able to cut into the lead, though, and faced the same 2-0 deficit heading into the final period. Again, the Stars opened a period with an all-out assault, this time around they looked much deadlier and generated even more opportunities, but again they could not take a goal away from it, they couldn’t even generate a shot on goal. The Red Wings survived the onslaught, and answered back with five minutes left to play courtesy of Juri Hudler, giving the Red Wings a 3-0 lead. Adam Burish added a late Stars goal, but the Wings held on to secure the historic 3-1 victory.

What It Means:

That ugly, ugly first period didn’t do the Stars any favors.  Kari Lehtonen, despite allowing two goals, stopped 18 other shots. 20 shots in one period is an inexcusable defensive failure across the board. How can you expect to be successful when you start a game like that against a team like the Detroit Red Wings? You can’t, and the Stars proved it tonight. One positive thing to take away from tonight is that the Stars knew how to respond. They opened the second and third periods with impressive displays of controlling the game, but they could not generate any goals, and the hole they buried for themselves was just too deep. Detroit came into this game with history on the line. The stakes were high, and the Stars had a chance to be spoilers, but the Red Wings are just too good, and they were playing for a permanent place in NHL history. The game was more than a chance to be a spoiler for the Stars though, the game represented two points, as they all do. Two points they let slip away once again. This loss didn’t sting as much as the one against Buffalo, but it still hurts knowing that with each passing day, the Stars are letting such important points slip by. The Red Wings are one of, if not the, best team in the NHL and you don’t fall behind 2-0 and expect to climb out of that hole. The Stars need to pack up, head back home, and focus on the next test.

What’s Next:

The Stars are back at the AAC Thursday night to face Jarome Iginla and the Calgary Flames. Calgary is another team right in the middle of the pack fighting for a playoff spot, and I would say it’s a big two points, but at this point, every single game, no matter the opponent, represents a big two points. If you’re one of the first 10,000 fans in the AAC, you’ll get a free Jamie Benn bobble head, so the real question is, why WOULDN’T you be there? The Stars need you, get out to Dallas to see the game and get some free stuff in the process.

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The Dallas Stars will have a difficult test tonight on the road. After dropping an afternoon contest to the Los Angeles Kings at home on Sunday, the Stars now are the team standing between the Detroit Red Wings and the NHL’s all time home winning streak. With their 20th straight home win over the Philadelphia Flyers over the weekend, the Red Wings tied the record and now have their sights set on breaking the record against the Stars tonight. After the first three meetings this season between the two teams, things don’t seem to favor the Stars. The Red Wings have won all three previous meetings this season, two in regulation and last one in a shootout at the AAC last month.

The Stars will again be without Sheldon Souray as he sits out with a foot injury after taking a puck off his foot last week, and captain Brenden Morrow continues to stay on IR while dealing with his neck/shoulder issues. For the Wings, Jimmy Howard is the big injury right now (finger), but Detroit has still found ways to win without their number one netminder. Dan Cleary and Patrick Eaves are both out right now as well.

Overall since the All-Star break the Red Wings are 5-1-1 while the Stars have gone 3-3-1 and seem to just be sitting in neutral with the schedule cranking up. Tonight offers a big chance for the Stars to slam the door on a top team and gain some confidence going forward. While the Wings have beaten just about everyone in their magnificent streak, someone has to end the streak right? Some might say why would the Stars finally be the one to do it. I can’t help but thinking, why not? The puck drops from the Joe at 6:30 central time and you can catch the game on FoxSports Southwest for your viewing pleasure, or of course you can hear the game over the radio on 1310AM The Ticket.

• The Stars are 13-13-1 so far this season on the road, while the Red Wings are 23-2-1 overall at home.
• During the streak the Red Wings have only allowed more than two goals twice.
• The Stars were win No. 4 in the streak, losing 5-2 at the Joe back in November.
• Kari Lehtonen and Joey MacDonald will be the starters in the creases tonight.

In the Buy Or Sell series, I’ve been talking about what approach the Dallas Stars should take at the NHL trade deadline and what players could be discussed. But through the series, I’ve talked primarily about what other teams could want from the Stars and what players they could be better off trading. Today I want to talk about what the Stars should be looking to gain at the deadline, either from trading for youth or even adding on players.

Let’s start in net. The Dallas Stars seem to be set with the emergence of Richard Bachman. We all have witnessed what Kari Lehtonen has done for the team since he was acquired two years ago. He has risen to the level of a true number one netminder and the team often wins games because he is a big part of their effort. The Stars now have Bachman rising as a viable backup and someone who could press to be something more in the future, while they still have former 1st round pick Jack Campbell down in major juniors. Past that the Stars even have former 2nd round pick Tyler Beskorowany in the system and starting to come along. As far as netminders go, the Stars are probably set unless they trade one for some reason.

The defense is where things really get interesting in my opinion. While the Stars have recently signed Alex Goligoski and Trevor Daley to big deals in the last two seasons, a lot of the defense is still up in the air. Nicklas Grossman and Sheldon Souray will both be free agents and we don’t know if either will be back. Past that, Adam Pardy shouldn’t be on the NHL roster and while I love Stephane Robidas, we all know he might only be a top four NHL defenseman for another year or two. But after that the Stars are starting to pile youth. Mark Fistric and Philip Larsen are in the NHL right now, and Larsen looks like he could be another Goligoski/Sydor type in a couple of years. The system features big prospects in Jamie Oleksiak and Brenden Dillion that could be top four, physical defensemen in a few years and a slew of projects like Jordie Benn, Troy Vance, and Patrik Nemeth that they hope can become something with time and work. Continue reading this post »