SB Nation - Marty Turco

Gameday Preview: Columbus Blue Jackets @ Dallas Stars (7:30pm CST)

Brad G — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:47:00 -0000

Next Game

Wednesday, Dec 23, 2009, 7:30 PM CST
American Airlines Center

Local Radio: 1310 The Ticket (via dallasstars.com)

Local TV: FS SW

To use an anology, James Neal is to Columbus as Steve Ott is to St. Louis. The Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets meet for the second time this year, but it is the third part of a story that spans last season and this one. A story that needs retelling before they can begin:

Twas the night before (the night before) Christmas, when all through the AAC,
James Neal was frightened. "Oh crap, Columbus is coming to get me."

He had injured Brassard, in a really quick fight,
Dislocated his shoulder and ended his year in one night.

Then in November Dallas was nestled, all snug on their bench,
When Dorsett took revenge, and Neals' buttocks did clench.

And Ma' in K1, and I K2,
Arose from our seats to see what James Neal would do.

When along the half boards, there arose such a clatter,
Toronto even took note to see what was the matter.

Towards the boards Neal did coast, hunting for the puck,
And hit Dorsett's shoulder, but to Neal's bad luck.

And as James Neal turned, forgetting that arse,
Derek Dorsett's head flew right into the glass.

So often this happens, and the league is often mute,
But James Neal was suspended, what's that all aboot???

For weeks after that, he wasn't himself,
He hesitated and struggled, his aggression on the shelf.

But slowly and surely, his swagger returned,
A team leading 16 goals the young sophomore has earned.

A wink of his eye, and a turn of his head
And soon Stars fans, you'll know, you have nothing to dread.

So our story continues tonight, as Columbus comes back
Penalty minutes will fly, and some eyes will turn black.

They'll spring to the ice, to their team give a whistle
And to the penalty box they'll fly, like the down of a thistle.

And you'll hear James exclaim, as he begins his next fight,
Let's kick the crap out of Columbus tonight!

Follow the jump for a (more serious) look at both teams and an injury report...

The Stars:

The Dallas Stars are coming off a very tough loss to the San Jose Sharks on Monday night at the AAC. Dallas out-chanced and out-shot San Jose for most of the game, but Nabokov and his posts were equal to the task and Dallas fell, after an empty net goal, 4-2.

The team fought back from a 2-0 third period deficit, and out-skated the Sharks throughout. If they can carry that momentum and confidence into this game against a struggling Columbus team, they have a chance to get two points. But as I mentioned before, things are rather complicated between these two foes.

Mike Heika gives you an update from Tuesday practice in Frisco:

Jere Lehtinen (groin) did not practice and is listed as day to day.

Trevor Daley (shoulder) and Mark Fistric (concussion) are getting better, but will not play against Columbus Wednesday.

Lines were juggled slightly, as Fabian Brunnstrom was moved up and playing with Mike Ribeiro and Steve Ott. Mike Modano had Brian Sutherby on one wing and possibly Toby Petersen or Krys Barch on the other. We'll see if that shakes out.

Jeff Woywitka, Ivan Vishnevksiy and Matt Niskanen alternated on the third pair on defense. We'll see if Marc Crawford decides to put Niskanen back in tomorrow.

Crawford said he still hasn't decided on a goalie yet, but he sure sounded like he was leaning toward Marty Turco against the Blue Jackets. He said he feels the schedule is very manageable right now and that Turco played well on Monday.

The defensive pairings bear watching tonight, as some feel that Vishnevskiy, after his miscue on Monday, should be replaced by Matt Niskanen. Nisky was sent a pretty clear message by Marc Crawford when he was benched despite injuries to Trevor Daley and Mark Fistric.

The Stars have fallen to 10th place in the West. Marty Turco is expected in goal tonight.

The Blue Jackets:

Columbus had what is being described as an "emotional" meeting with Ken Hitchcock this week. They are winless in their last 7 (0-5-2).

The Columbus Dispatch brings you all the details:

The Blue Jackets carry a seven-game losing streak into a game tonight against the Dallas Stars in American Airlines Center. They've dropped nine straight on the road and 15 of 17 games overall.

As those numbers have grown, so has the burden on the shoulders of the Blue Jackets' players, and it's been evident in their play of late -- tentative, afraid to make a mistake, slow of mind and foot. During the seven losses, they've given up the first goal six times and been outscored 10-1 in the first period.

"Everyone is angry and frustrated," captain Rick Nash said.

Yesterday was an emotional day spent off the ice, searching for a way to lift the stress that threatens to ruin the season.

The most noteworthy event occurred before noon, when general manager Scott Howson, coach Ken Hitchcock and his staff and 10 veteran players --Nash, Umberger, Antoine Vermette, Fredrik Modin, Sammy Pahlsson, Kristian Huselius, Jason Chimera, Mike Commodore, Jan Hejda and Fedor Tyutin -- stepped into a conference room for a meeting that stunned at least a few of the players.

According to players, who didn't want to discuss the meeting publicly, Hitchcock opened up in a way they have not seen, letting down his "coaching" guard and showing them a side that rarely finds its way through all the film study and the harping on playing more competitively.

It seems as though the Stars will get Columbus' best shot tonight as they try to get back on track.

Injuries:

Dallas: Jere Lehtinen (groin), Trevor Daley (shoulder), Mark Fistric (concussion)

Columbus: Derek Dorsett (broken hand), Rostislav Klesla (torn groin)

Game 38 Preview: Jackets limp into Dallas

Mike MacLean — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:05:00 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

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Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is a god damned win! The Jackets are in the midst of the worst tail-spin of any NHL squad right now. Remember when they were at or near the top of the Western Conference standings? Now they are battling with Edmonton and Anaheim to stay out of the conference cellar.

Based on the Dispatch's projected lineups, it looks like the roster is is set up like we all predicted it would look like back in the summer. Vermy and Brass are the scoring line pivots, with Juice, Nasher, RJ and Jake as the scoring wings. Chimmer is checking with Sammy and Freddy, which makes a hell of a lot more sense than having Juice on that line. The fourth line will bring energy and physical play, no doubt. I'm pulling for Blunden to score that first goal, and i think if Boller and Raffi can create havoc and the guys can work the forecheck as well as they have of late, it could happen. Mase gets the start. I hope he took Hitch's comment about he and Garon being equal on the depth chart personally and re-affirms himself as the clear-cut number one.

The Stars are a good team- they can score and they bang bodies. The James Neal subplot is an interesting one, it will be fun to see how he is treated by the Jackets. I'm sure that given the chance he and Boller will chuck knuckles tonight. Brad Richards seems to have returned to his former high-scoring self, so he will need to be contained. Their defense is missing some pieces, but are serviceable. I remember watching Fortunus and Vishnevskiy when they were playing in the QMJHL, they are both good players and while they aren't household names yet, they have the potential to forge decent NHL careers, especially Vishnevskiy, a former first round pick. He's a natural Zubov replacement. Turco is in net for Dallas.

Fearless Prediction : A decent effort, the Jackets want to go into the break on a high note, so they can start fresh after Christmas. Mike Blunden gets a point.

Game Time: 8:30pm ET

Opponent's Blog: Defending Big D

Game Page: Blue Jackets vs Stars Coverage

TV: FSN Ohio

Radio: WBNS-AM (1460); WWCD-FM (101.1)

More after the jump...

From the Columbus Dispatch:

It's hard to imagine a more fragile club in the NHL right now than the Blue Jackets. Getting out of the first period without trailing would be huge. The Blue Jackets are 5-1-1 in Dallas the past three seasons. If the Jackets lose tonight and Edmonton wins in Minnesota, they fall to last place in the Western Conference.

Jackets Links:

Columbus Blue Jackets / Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule

Columbus Blue Jackets Roster / Columbus Blue Jackets Stats

Here are the lineups for tonight's tilt:

Columbus Blue Jackets

Kristian Huselius	Antoine Vermette	Rick Nash
R.J. Umberger	Derick Brassard	Jakub Voracek
Jason Chimera	Samuel Pahlsson	Fredrik Modin
Raffi Torres	Mike Blunden	Jared Boll

Fedor Tyutin	Mathieu Roy
Mike Commodore	Jan Hejda
Kris Russell	Marc Methot

Steve Mason

Mathieu Garon

EXTRA: Andrew Murray

INJURED: Anton Stralman, Rostislav Klesla, Derek Dorsett

Dallas Stars

James Neal	Brad Richards	Loui Eriksson
Brenden Morrow	Tom Wandell	Jamie Benn
Steve Ott	Mike Ribeiro	Fabian Brunnstrom
Toby Petersen	Mike Modano	Krys Barch

Nicklas Grossman	Stephane Robidas
Karlis Skrastins	Maxime Fortunus
Jeff Woywitka	Ivan Vishnevskiy

Marty Turco

Alex Auld

Dallas Stars Holiday Wishlist

Brad G — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:35:20 -0000

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As we slow down a bit for the Holiday weekend ahead of us (not to worry, we'll still be here for every game, pre and post) we take time to reflect on the year gone by, and all of the things we have to be thankful for. As Stars fans, these things may not be particularly clear on the surface, nor terribly abundant in nature, but they are there.

I mused, for example, last night at the AAC that although Mike Modano seems to have his good days and his bad, watching his jersey flap behind him as he cruises through the neutral zone is a pleasure that will soon be gone. I am thankful for every game he suits up. We watched the emergence of Jamie Benn this year, and James Neal has continued to grow his game to the delight of us all, and the Texas Rangers might actually get sold, which can only be a good thing.

Let us not forget that 2009 saw the birth of Defending Big D.com. We''ve had a real blast covering this team and starting a community we feel will continue to blossom in 2010.

All of these warm feelings and reflections aside, let's face it: This is a time of year where people are making lists (and some are checking them twice.) And like the greedy little boys we once were, we have a list of our own.

So we present to you the Defending Big D.com Stars wishlist: A list of things each of us here would like to see the Hockey Gods stuff down the Stars metaphorical chimney...

After the jump, Brandon, Brandon, Art and Brad give their biggest Stars holiday wishes...

Art Middleton:

My Christmas wish for the Dallas Stars is simple and straight forward: I want David Steckel.

Eric Belanger, Vernon Fiddler or even Rich Peverly would also be be quite acceptable. The running theme with all these guys? They are solid depth players and can all be considered faceoff specialists and all are over 53 percent on faceoffs this season. And if the Stars were to get Fiddler they'd get the added bonus of having a faceoff specialist who plays wing.

Imagine third period, a minute left in the game and down by one but the faceoff is in the offensive zone... Stars can throw Brad Richards and Fiddler onto the ice so that even if Fiddler gets thrown out of the faceoff dot, Richards can come in and they'd still have decent chance to gain puck possession.

The Stars in case you haven't really noticed have struggled this season at the faceoff dot and could use the help. Too many times when the Stars need to win a critical faceoff win - especially when on special teams - they simply aren't doing it. The NHL is growing into a puck possession league and all the top teams have at least one if not more player they can turn to to win the really important faceoffs. The Stars have nothing of the sort.

The four players I listed are guys that with the right kind of deal could be brought to Dallas so it's not like I am asking for the moon here either. Who is part of that "right kind of deal" for Dallas? Why not Fabian Brunnstrum and a defensive prospect like Hubert Labrie or Dan Jancevski? For Fiddler or Peverly I'd even throw in a 2nd rounder into that mix. Clearly I am no expert GM based on my fantasy hockey performance this season, but I gotta think a deal could be done here...

Bottom line, I want to see more Stars faceoff wins in the new year and the only way that will happen is if they go out and get a faceoff specialist.

Brandon Bibb:

I could have taken the easy way out and said I wished Tom Hicks would increase his budget to meet the actual salary cap.

But that would be too easy, would lack specifics, and would also be the biggest pipe dream in sports right now. So would wishing for a number 1 defenseman to step in here, stabilize the defense, and also be capable of manning the point on the power play.

Not. Happening.

So realistically, my wish is for young players like Matt Niskanen, Jamie Benn, and James Neal continue to improve and prove themselves worthy enough to be regarded as the next nucleus of the Stars as we press forward. I have no doubts that Joe Nieuwendyk and Marc Crawford will seek to make changes next offseason when the internal cap is lifted.

That having been said, in a salary cap era, it's extremely important for teams to be able to fill holes on their from within as opposed to filling them in free agency. I hate to point to the Red Wings as an example. And to a lesser degree, the Penguins. Afterall, those two franchises have clearly been the best two franchises in the NHL over the last two years. And in the west, Detroit's the gold standard.

Why?

Because they've been able to develop their core, their nucleus from within. When you're able to do that, your ROI is much higher than when you're forced to go the free agent route.

Just ask the New York Rangers.

Brandon Worley:

My wish is for the Stars to put together at least some sort of consistency from game-to-game, especially at home. The win against Detroit on Saturday was big for home town fans, and if we all want the Stars to raise their budget and spend more money, then we need better attendance for home games. We're not going to see those empty seats filled unless the fringe fans have something to cheer for, and so far this season has been frustrating. I love nothing more than to see a rocking AAC, filled with cheering Stars fans; not just on Saturdays but also on Mondays and Wednesdays as well.

Brad Gardner:

The goaltending position is a lot like the quarterback position in football: Franchises flounder for years without one you can call a "franchise guy."

Stars fans have had luck with this position over the years, never having the need to see a new guy in the net every other season, but with Marty Turco's play uneven, and the seemingly never ending well of top-notch goal tending prospects finally drying up, this franchise could be in for some real turmoil should Marty Turco be cast out of Dallas without a suitable replacement.

My Christmas wish is not that Marty Turco be re-signed, or that he play better (I do wish this), but that he quite simply go one way or the other, so to speak, such that the goaltending situation is not one that festers into the mid 2010's. That is, I don't want to see the Stars wrap a noose around their neck with an extension for him if he's not going to be consistent, but I also don't want to see him leave Dallas high and dry over money without a backup plan.

I like Marty Turco. He is a very nice man, he's a fierce competitor and he can be a good leader of his defense. He handles the puck unlike any other netminder in the league, maybe ever. All that aside, he has the unfortunate habit lately of making the hard saves and flubbing some easy ones. I'd like him to stop that. I think it would be a real shame for Turco's time to end here without at least a Final appearance.

So please, Hockey Santa Claus, help Joe Nieuwendyk guide this franchise's goaltender position into the new decade.

We don't want to be the Philadelphia Flyers post Ron Hextall.

And if you can't swing that, then please ban those stupid little mustache's like Olli Jokinen and Daniel Carcillo have. Seriously, what is that?

What's your biggest Dallas Stars Holiday wish?

Dallas Stars Winter Wonderland: Cooked Wings, Good Feelings and Turco Trade Talk

Brandon Worley — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:00:57 -0000

The scene outside Defending Big D headquarters this morning. And it's still snowing.

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It's an interesting mood Dallas sports fans are in this morning. As the holidays approach, the feeling among us all has shifted a bit from where we were just 24 hours prior. Apprehension, worry and a lingering sense of foreboding was creeping into our psyche as the feeling that the season was creeping into seriously disappointing territory grew.

Dallas Stars 4, Detroit Red Wings 3.

Dallas Cowboys 24, New Orleans Saints 17

I understand that not every Stars fan is a Cowboys fan, but for this writer the two teams live side by side in my heart. I have lived and breathed the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Stars for nearly my entire life and I find that at times my health, attitude and well-being are adversely affected by these two sports teams. Lately I've tried my best to distance my emotions from the outcomes of the games and I've been doing a pretty decent job of turning off the television after another loss and just...moving on. Business as usual. Yesterday, however, was the first time all season that I have jumped out my chair, punching the air and screaming like a banshee after a Stars goal. All while chatting on ESPN.

While the parallels between yesterday's two big wins aren't exactly on the same level of magnitude, I cannot express to you how big the victory over the Red Wings was for this team. After the jump, some thoughts not only on yesterday's game but on the near-future of the Dallas Stars, some trade talk, and further musing on the financial status of the team.

It's tough to say that the win yesterday over the Red Wings was 'season saving', but it certainly kept the Stars from falling into a fairly significant hole in the Western Conference standings. As it stands now:

#	Team	Points
5	Los Angeles Kings	47
6	Calgary Flames	44
7	Phoenix Coyotes	44
8	Detroit Red Wings	41
9	Dallas Stars	41
10	Vancouver Canucks	40

The Stars kept themselves right where they wanted to be after a severely disappointing road trip where they gained nor lost much in the standings. Yet after winning just one of their past six games, including one demoralizing effort against basement-dwelling Carolina, the Stars were in danger of falling into the abyss. Starting with Detroit, the Stars were beginning one hell of a tough stretch of games, all against Western Conference and teams and all but one against teams above them in the standings. To start with a loss would have put the Stars back in 10th place in the division and four points out of 8th; not insurmountable, but the loss could have set off one hell of a bomb. The Stars would have lost four straight and would be trying to get their act together against some of the toughest competition they've faced all season. A loss yesterday could have been the spark that effectively ended the Dallas Stars season before it was halfway over.

Now, the win doesn't absolve the Stars of future failure. They could lose four straight and find themselves down int the hole anyway. Yet the win over the Red Wings put a temporary salve of a bubbling wound and gave the Stars a reprieve from all of the questions and doubts that had started to infect every aspect of the team.

What was most enlightening about the game yesterday was how it was finally a complete 60 minute effort from the entire team. Marc Crawford didn't do anything crazy with the lines, yet the team came out with more determination and resolve than I've seen all season. Sure, we've witnessed some good starts before but that usually faded as the game wore on. Yesterday, the Stars not only responded from an early 1-0 deficit at the first intermission, but they also won the second period and evened the game up with a couple of huge goals by James Neal. The big goal by Karlis Skrastins a little over a minute into the third period set the Stars up to have one of their better defensive efforts with a lead this season. There were some tense moments, but the Stars held the Red Wings to just six shots on net and didn't allow Pavel Datsyuk to continue to skate all over them like he had done in the first 40 minutes.

Maxime Fortunus had a solid NHL debut and we saw what he's done for most of his career in the AHL; play an intelligent and physical game without being flashy. He had a couple of nifty clears of the puck from around the crease, covered his side of the net perfectly and overall didn't make many mistakes. He started off paired with Jeff Woywitka but as it became apparent that Matt Niskanen was having yet another terrible game, Crawford put him with Karlis Skrastins and the Stars suddenly had two pairs of shutdown defensemen. In fact, Fortunus finished with four more minutes of ice time than Woywitka and Niskanen, even seeing significant time on the penalty kill. He's not your average NHL rookie blueliner and he's going to be very solid for the Stars while they deal with the injuries to Mark Fistric and Trevor Daley.

The best part of this game that I took away was the Stars undying resolve to never give up; they counter-punched all game long and were able to overcome some seriously shoddy goaltending miscues. Marty Turco had one of the most schizophrenic games he's had a a Dallas Star, making several incredible "how did he do that?" saves and then turning around and allowing two of his softest goals of the season. His failed clearing attempt was laughable, yet it speaks to the confidence he has when playing the puck. Unfortunately, he swung and missed and the Red Wings had themselves an easy tap in goal.

Yet it was the horrendous attempt at a save on Pavel Datsyuk's goal that could have been the back-breaker. The Stars had just scored two goals in the second period to take a 2-1 lead and Turco allowed a goal on what could only be described as a 40mph changeup. Now, they gave the goal to Datsyuk because I'm guessing he touched it, but replays showed that Bertuzzi's off-speed pass barely changed direction if at all before slipping between Turco's pads. Now whether Turco was bracing for Datsyuk to receive the pass and make amove is unknown, but the genesis of the play was the simple fact that Turco's stick was nowhere close to being in position. Keeping the paddle square and on the ice would have been enough.

In a game like this, with the Stars playing so well and able to come back and take the lead in the second period, allowing a goal of that nature in unacceptable. I've been the biggest supporter of Marty Turco over the years and I still stand behind him, but allowing goals like that leads to lost confidence from the fans and you wonder if it affects the team at all. It seems every game one aspect of the Stars' team falls apart and lately the goaltending has been incredibly suspect after pretty much playing well all season long.

With Turco allowing a couple more soft goals yesterday, the murmurs among the fans and elsewhere started to rise again about the possibility of trading Turco. My stance on this situation is still the same as it was last week; the Stars aren't trading Marty Turco as long as they are within spitting distance of a playoff spot. The team believes that Turco is the guy for the rest of this season and despite his recent struggles he's still the best option for this team at this time. Some state that the Stars need to get value for Turco before he potentially departs via free agency, but it's impossible to say if there's even a slight chance the Stars can maintain the same level of goaltending we have now, even with their struggles. Who on the open market is as good as Turco? Which teams are willing to take on his salary and able to give up the value the Stars deserve for trading a top 10 goaltender?

More importantly, which players in the Stars system are you ready to hand over the reigns to? Do you have faith that Alex Auld can hold the fort for the rest of the season, and is there any of the Stars' prospects able to step up and take the job? If Turco leaves, whether via trade or free agency, the Stars are going to have some short-term issues at goaltender on their hands. You're not going to be able to secure the young players this team has that they desperately need to keep, you're not going to be able to acquire a big defensemen and you're not going to get a top-flight goaltender all in the same summer. Not with this team's financial situation.* Is your best option right now to lock up Turco on a two-year deal and allow him to play with either Matt Climie, Richard Bachman or Brent Krahn under him (and Climie and Krahn's contract aren't very long either) and then hand over the team to them? Tyler Beskorowany is on his way as well, but he's two to three years away from the NHL, at least.

*I understand that Stars fans are hoping that a sale of the Texas Rangers is going to suddenly free up cash, but this team won't feel any effects of the sale until next season, best scenario. Expect the Stars to operate with a budget until Tom Hicks gets everything straightened out, and there are more, longer-term, pressing needs on this team than an expensive goaltender free agent.

So now the Stars have confidence and their goal scoring back (4.0 goals-per game the past week) and are embarking on a tough stretch of games, continuing tomorrow night with San Jose. They got the easy part out of the way with a big home win over the hated Red Wings; now comes the hard part. For this team to truly get past this 35 game funk they've been in ever since the season started, they have to find a way to win multiple games in a row. San Jose comes next, and the Sharks are trying to get over their own miniature slump.

I'm expected to see and hear a raucous AAC crowd on Monday night.

I'm also expecting to do some big fist pump, air punches.

Go Stars.

Skrastins The Sniper? Dallas Stars Outgun Red Wings 4-3

Art_M — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:20:47 -0000

More photos » by Tim Sharp - AP

The three certainties in life: death, taxes and Kris Barch / Brad May fighting whenever they play against each other. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp)

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So to start off, lets go over the list of guys who the Dallas Stars should be leaning on for offense this season and see how they did today! Brad Richards? Two assists. Mike Modano? No points but did have 8 shots on goal which led all players on either team. Loui Eriksson? Two assists in the game as well. James Neal? Two goals and an assist. Karlis Skrastins?

Woah... Wait... Who?! Karlis Skrastins? With two goals - one of them being the game winner that he scored very early in the third period - and an assist today? Uhhh... Ok, sure!

Karlis Skrastins having a three point game - a career high for him of course - seemed about as likely as seeing the Dallas Stars putting a solid sixty minutes worth of hockey against the Detroit Red Wings who came into the game having won four in a row and five of their last six, but yet both the solid sixty minutes of play and the Skrastins offensive outburst happened and your Dallas Stars won their first game in regulation time since December 3rd.

Huge win this afternoon for your Dallas Stars as they beat the Red Wings 4-3. We here at DBD have talked the last few days about how this next stretch of games over the next two weeks or so for the Stars will be a big test, so starting it off with a win over one of the club's main rivals is a great start. Also things suddenly don't seem quite as bad for the team standings wise when you consider that the Stars have earned 10 out of a possible 16 points so far this month.

But as is fitting in a season where fans on almost a nightly basis are never sure of what exactly they'll see from the Dallas Stars, today's game saw offense from maybe the most unlikely source possible: A stay-at-home defenseman who is know more for blocking shots than taking them!

Now granted the Red Wings are beat up and a hurting bunch right now with eight of their regulars out with various injuries, but they are still the Red Wings, they still had Pavel Datsyuk and Todd Bertuzzi in their lineup - the only two players who the Stars just couldn't seem to contain - and lest we forget the job goalie Jimmy Howard did against the Stars in their last meeting.

The Stars were full value for their win today. It wasn't a perfect win but it was maybe the best we've seen this team play over the last few weeks. The biggest thing - and as you might be able to tell, I can't say it enough - is that it was a complete game. There were no five minute lapses where the roof caved in on the team, or periods where 18 of 20 minutes were spent in the Stars zone, and maybe most importantly when the Stars did have a one goal lead late in the third period they didn't go into a cheesecloth-like prevent defense and allow the opposition to fire at will on Marty Turco until they got a goal to tie it.

Do I even dare suggest that the third period today almost kinda sorta looked like the Dallas Stars of old where they'd get a one goal lead and then "lock it down" defensively for a win? Ok, maybe they are still a ways away from that kind of play and heck, coach Marc Crawford may not even want the Stars to win that way... But in the third period the Stars stuck to playing strong fundamental hockey that both offensive and defensive players played all game and ended up with a W.

Playing strong fundamental hockey... Where have we heard that before? Lets hope they can keep it up against the Sharks!

Defending Big D Three Stars:

1: Karlis Skrastins (DAL) - Oh yeah, on top of his three point night he also had 2 blocked shots. A career game for him!

2: Pavel Datsyuk (DET) - Three point night and the Stars couldn't prevent him from setting up goals even when three guys surounded him.

3: James Neal (DAL) - Six hits to go along with his three point game and as an added bonus, neither of his two goals came off his visor!

Off the Post - December 14th

Conico do Mayo Miracle — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:13:52 -0000

Reminder - Manny Malhotra will be at the Sharks Store tomorrow from 4:30 - 6pm. See you there.

Rudy Kelly is was savoring the fact that the Kings ~~are~~ were (temporarily) on top of the Western Conference, while his least favorite team in the universe is (still) at the opposite pole.

~~No, that's not a misprint -~~ ~~the Kings are on top of the West. What is this, 1991? (for the record, the Kings have~~ ~~never~~ ~~actually finished at the top of the West in their 42 year history)~~

[UPDATE, 10:47pm] The Kings' loss tonight propels the Sharks back to first place. At least Rudy's dream came (briefly) true.

Is Marty Turco on the trading block? Defending Big D with your info.

One of the teams Turco might be sent to does indeed need a goaltender... so much so that they're looking at rec leagues, as well as the Thrashers.

[UPDATE] - The Flyers reacquire Michael Leighton from Carolina, where he'll reunite with Laviolette.

Five for Howling's primer on Ice Edge, the group purchasing the Yotes.

Mike Grier's importance to the Buffalo Sabres.

In the spirit of Christmas, the Dallas Stars have been giving away points to their W.C. opponents.

The Phoenix / Saskatoon Coyotes doesn't quite have that ring to it.... but it's going forward anyway.

Former Kings / Flames sniper Mike Cammalleri is setting his sights on a Montreal Canadiens mark.

In case you missed it, the Washington Capitals cleared up some massive overhead by shipping Michael Nylander to the AHL, where he'll join (drumroll please...) Patrick Rissmiller.

Thirty teams, 30 Christmas wishes.

Is the Bulin Wall coming down?

Out-shot teams that manage to win.

Behind the Net on size differential between players being hit and those hitting them.

Our friends at SLGT will soon be getting a Brett Hull statue outside the Drink Scotch, which should be a fitting place to recount your unpublishable Hull stories (right, Chris Gift? Ho ho ho indeed...).

Kiprusoff should be on Team Finland (was anyone surprised by this? No? Moving on).

Signs the world is going to end = a Canadian journalist thinks hockey is going to work in Phoenix.

Despite the 5-game Sharks slump, Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley are still in the Art Ross and Rocket Richard runoff, respectively. While you're admiring stats, take a good fucking look at Zenon Konopka... but don't make eye contact or he'll kill you.

Jason Blake either shat his pants while being held at gunpoint, or he just scored a goal... you decide.

Monday Links: Barret Jackman for Captain edition

averagejoe — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:00:34 -0000

Well, we have all had a weekend to digest Friday's bed shitting. How are we all feeling?

Blues news

Maybe Chris Gift is right, Barret Jackman sure does sound like a captain. And, he's acting like one following The Loss. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
The Blues are saying the right things about The Loss, but actions speak louder than words. [Belleville News-Democrat]
It's rumor mongering time: Bruce Garrioch, who a few summers ago had Evgeni Malkin packing his bags to head to the Kings, thinks the Blues might try and deal for Eric Staal. [Ottawa Sun]
What do Erik Johnson and Tiger Woods have in common? Besides hanging out with tall blond Swedes, it's that they landed on this list of bad drivers. [Winnipeg Sun]
Need insight from the father of a Blues player. I mean BESIDES Coach Osh. Bob Boyes, father of Brad Boyes if you aren't good at logic, talks about the OHL draft and what his family dealt with. [CBC Sports]

Hockey news

Guess who is still in last in the Central? Hint: It's the Blues. [NHL.com]
Blackhawks beat the Lightning and the Avalanche beat the Flames on Sunday. [Yahoo! Sports]
After only two games Sunday, the NHL has a pretty full slate on Monday ... to compete with Monday night football. [Yahoo! Sports]
Marty Turco probably is on the trading block. [Defending Big D]
Did Christmas come early for Coyotes' fans? [TSN]
Bettman about suspending the owner of the Anaheim Ducks: My bad. [ESPN]
Not really hockey related, but interesting nonetheless, who should light the Olympic cauldron? [Nucks Misconduct]
You ever wanted to hear Red Wings fans instead of just reading them. Well then, your wish has been granted. [Winging it in Motown]

Other links

Since it's not sports, I'm OK with linking to the Bleacher Report. Here's a collection of Tiger Woods' jokes. Enjoy. [Bleacher Report]
Everyone, meet Mike the Headless Chicken. His name is not ironic. [Life]
More offices in America need this. Including mine. [The Chive]
Hollywood recycles more than just old tv shows into movies. [Cracked]

Video

Doc Whiskey wants to help you get in the holiday spirit.

Awesome way to start out the week. Get used to holiday themed videos because that's all I seem to be finding right now.

That's all for this Monday edition of the links. Got something to pass along? Please do at gametimelinks(at)gmail.com.

Marty Turco Trade Rumors Heating Up?

Brandon Worley — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:45:17 -0000

More photos » by Darryl Dyck - AP

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Mark Stepneski has a couple of tidbits from Philadelphia and Ottawa news sources, both stating that the Flyers and Senators are perhaps interested in inquiring about the availability of Marty Turco via trade.

What's interesting is that both stories essentially say that a trade really wouldn't make much sense for the Stars.

The Stars are looking for a top defenseman and again, the Flyers aren't going to part with Kimmo Timonen or Chris Pronger, so this doesn't make a lot of sense from the outside. What the Flyers need most right now is scoring help.

Expect this to happen about once a week or so as the trade deadline nears. Turco is in the last year of his contract, and the Stars could be looking to get value for him before losing him via free agency, and teams are constantly going to be checking in on his availability. Just don't expect a trade to happen while the Stars are still in the playoff hunt.

[Update by Brandon Worley] Here's the scoop on any trade that might happen regarding Marty Turco: Even if the Dallas Stars do tank in the next few months, and even if they decide to see what they might get for Turco on the trade market, it will take one hell of a return for them to ship him off. Some use Turco's large salary as a deterrent for any potential trade, but the reality is that he will have just $1.2 million left on his contract after the trade deadline. A lofty price for just a few months of work for sure, but not completely out of the question for any team that has cap space and in desperate need for a goaltender.

Make no mistake about it; despite Turco becoming a potential free agent over the summer, the Stars have all of the bargaining chips in any trade scenario. It is rare indeed that a goaltender of Turco's talent and track record are available for a team that is in desperate need of a goalie and still in the playoff hunt.

The Stars won't be looking to just get a veteran, aging defenseman or another potential free agent forward either; a trade for Turco would have to include players or prospects that would benefit the Stars after the 2009-2010 season. This makes a perfect storm leading up the trade deadline and while it's possible something happens, the chances of such a trade happening are very unlikely.

Game Day Preview: Dallas Stars @ Los Angeles Kings (9:30p CS)

Brandon Worley — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 21:00:19 -0000

Next Game

Dallas Stars (14-8-9, 8th in the West)
@ Los Angeles Kings (20-10-3, 4th in the West)

Saturday, Dec 12, 2009, 9:30 PM CST
Staples Center

TV: FSSW+
Local Radio: KTCK 1310 The Ticket

Opponent's Blog: A Queen Among Kings | Battle of California

Complete Coverage >

Note: Tonight's game is being broadcast on FSN+. Here are the channels this network is carried on in the DFW area.

* Time Warner - Digital Channel 960 (requires digital cable box)
* DirecTV - Channel 677, Channel 677-1 HD
* Dish Network - Channel 448, Channel 9518-HD
* AT&T U-Verse - Channel 755, Channel 1755-HD

At 10:30, the broadcast will be picked up by the normal FSN carrier after the Mavericks post-game show.

The Dallas Stars continue their five-game road trip tonight with the last of a California three-game swing against the Los Angeles Kings. The Stars will once again try and carry over the momentum from a big win, after dropping the San Jose Sharks last night 3-2 in a shootout. The game was impressive (and important) for the Stars in a number of ways and should be the type of performance that hopefully pulls them away from this trend of inconsistency. Of course, we've said that same thing about a dozen times or so this season and the Stars face a difficult opponent tonight to try and put together that elusive winning streak.

Before we get onto to tonight's game, some more thoughts on the Stars' performance against the Sharks...

What impressed me the most about the game was the resolve the Stars showed not just after getting down 2-1, but actually to start the game. You could see the players' determination to bounce back from the debacle in Anaheim, and San Jose proved to be the perfect venue. Despite the one-goal deficit at the end of the first period, I felt that the Stars still had a good showing to start the game. They were aggressive on the forecheck, intent on being physical and pulled the Sharks into the exact type of game the Stars wanted them to. Yet the Sharks are the top team in the West for a reason, and showed that despite the distractions after the whistle they still have the ability to respond offensively.

What was tremendous to see was how the Stars responded coming out of the second period. They fixed the defensive mistakes they had to start the game and continued to put the pressure on the Sharks. While San Jose was able to contain the Stars to the perimeter of the offensive zone for much of the game, it was as if we were watching an old medieval siege; the Stars chipped away and chipped away at the defenses until finally breaking through in the third period.

Steve Ott gets a lot of credit for having a great game last night, and Brendan Morrow was just as effective as he constantly got under the skin of the Sharks in front of the net, yet it was the work by Mike Ribeiro that really stood out as the game progressed. He opened the scoring with a very 'un-Ribeiro' like goal when he tipped in a Daley pass, but provided much of the offensive pressure that kept the Sharks back on their heels for most of the game. What stood out to me was how the Stars ran their equivalent of the half-court offense, keeping the Sharks out of a run-and-gun game. This is the perfect approach for Ribeiro, who loves to slow the game down to his pace. He finished the game with six shots and five (!) hits, and in my mind set the tone for the rest of the team. It's something we haven't seen much of from Ribeiro this season and is something the Stars desperately need from him every game.

Goaltender news and injury notes for both teams after the jump.

The Dallas Stars:

Alex Auld is expected to get the start in net tonight for the Stars, a night after Marty Turco put on a masterful performance against the Sharks. It still feels like the best move however, especially since Auld has been solid in his past two games. One of the goals headed into the season was to get Turco the rest he needs, and the Stars are committed to that plan even if Turco is coming off a great win.

What was interesting about last night's game was the fact that Mike Modano sat on the bench in favor of Steve Ott and Tom Wandell in the third period:

Marc Crawford said Mike Modano was sat down for much of the third period and overtime (he played 1:24) not because he was playing poorly, but because Tom Wandell and Steve Ott were playing so well. Ott played 8:04 in the third period and OT, while Wandell played 6:18. Modano played 9:15 in the first two periods, but Crawford was worried about the match-up against Joe Thornton down the stretch.

It seems like he made a pretty good call on that one, as the Thornton line looked pretty frustrated in the third.

Modano, like the team as a whole, has been up and down this season. At times he shows the same skill and speed he's always had throughout his career and other times he disappears for long stretches during the game. The Stars had issues containing the Sharks' top scorers to start the game and there was a time when Mike Modano was the go-to guy to help shut them down. Yet Tom Wandell (and Steve Ott, who's turned into a faceoff specialist) has emerged as an intriguing matchup on the checking line and has shown he can give fits to opposing team's top lines.

That's not to say the Modano is being completely phased out, but it does seem that the Stars are starting to see the emergence of a young player who could perhaps take over the veteran's role when he does retire. It's also good to know the Stars have a player who can step in when Modano isn't as effective during a game.

There are murmurs that Crawford will be looking to insert some fresh legs tonight, so there's a good chance we see Brian Sutherby and/or Krys Barch tonight against the Kings.

The Los Angeles Kings:

It appears the Kings are for real. They are a team with intense resolve and concentration, who have gone 10-1-3 in one-goal games this season and who have perfected the art of finding any way to win. They aren't dominating by any stretch of the imagination, but they are extremely tough to beat.

The Kings are riding a three game winning streak and have won five of their last six. They are a hungry team that are sniffing the Sharks for first in the division, and will provide a tough for for the Stars tonight.

Los Angeles has won both game against the Stars this season, yet these two teams haven't played since October 22. You'd like to think that the Stars have grown and changed since then, but the Stars are still dealing with the same issues they had to start the season.

The lone exception would be the the Stars' penalty kill, which has improved to 14th in the NHL and 7th on the road. If there is one area of the game the Stars have to opportunity to take advantage of some of the Kings' shortcomings, it's going to come on special teams. L.A. is just 28th in the league in penalty kill percentage and are facing a Stars team that has started to become dangerous with the man advantage.

Despite the fact that the Kings have had a leg up on the Stars the past few seasons, the Stars showed last night they have the personnel and ability to skate with any team in the NHL.

Yet this game is being played at the Staples Center tonight, so all bets are off.

Key Injuries:

Dallas: None.

Los Angeles: LW Ryan Smyth (upper body), RW Brandon Segal (knee) and C Andrei Loktionov (shoulder) are out.

Stargazing: Stars Win again in San Jose, 3-2 in Shootout

Brad G — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:11:38 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sakuma - AP

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Stargazing is a daily assortment of Dallas Stars and Texas Stars news, and whatever other random ramblings are bouncing around inside our heads.

The Dallas Stars may have finally found a cure for their shootout woes. All they need to do is trail San Jose, in San Jose in the third period, get the game tied, and then send a defenseman out there to score the game winner in the skills competition. So they've done twice now, with Robidas and Niskanen earning the extra point in both trips to the Shark Tank.

That formula may need some work if they're to continue improving their shootout record on a regular basis, but another piece of the Stars game last night might translate a little better from day-to-day: Take 44 shots on goal. Dallas failed in Anaheim to sustain offensive pressure through three periods, or even for two. In San Jose, they took 14, 16, and 13 shots on goal respectively in each period, making Nabokov work all night long. 44 might be a lofty goal, but the mid thirties night in and night out will net positive results over time.

The power play connected once last night, but I thought it could have been better, particularly on the 5 on 3. Other opportunities presented themselves in big moments and they couldn't take advantage, but answered with a perfect penalty kill against a very dangerous Shark power play that features Thornton and Heatley.

If the Stars can't find a way to score more than two goals in regulation, that is how good Marty Turco needs to be for this team to make the playoffs, and he was very good last night. That Blake goal was a little disheartening, but like Razor said, it was on end and squeezed through him "like a wet bar of soap." Marty stood tall in the third, overtime and the shootout.

With the two points, the Stars held on to their eight place seeding in the West.

Follow the jump for plenty of quotes and analysis from another big win at HP Pavilion...

Mike Heika recaps the action after a very late night in San Jose...

The Stars are still learning about themselves 31 games into the season, and Friday was a great lesson for a lot of players.

Dallas was coming off two games in which it had blown leads, and players were doing some soul-searching for two days before Friday's game with the San Jose Sharks.

On one side, players like Steve Ott, Brenden Morrow and Stephane Robidas answered with aggressive physical games. On another side, players like Mike Ribeiro, Trevor Daley and Brad Richards answered with aggressive offensive games. And goalie Marty Turco answered with calm and poise.

The result was a 3-2 shootout win against the best team in the Pacific Division, and a bit of a statement for a team that was pondering its identity.

As I said last night, I think the fan base really enjoys wins over the Sharks, and for good reason, but a regulation win over the Kings tonight would mean so much more in the long run of this season.

You might be amused to see the Shark fan saying the same kinds of things that we've been saying recently...

In the Sharks last seven games, they've been to the shootout three times. Now, we can bitch and moan about the shootout as much as we want, but fact of the matter is that it's a part of the game. No if's and's or but's about it. It's unavoidable.

What should be avoidable, though, is going to the shootout. The fact that the Sharks have led late in the third period in both of the shootout losses is troubling. Aside from the miraculous comeback in Edmonton, the Sharks have shat the bed twice and had to settle the score in the crapshoot. Blech. (I can also bitch because I was at the Tank live earlier this year to watch the Sharks do practically the same thing against the Stars. Deja vu... terrible feeling, terrible TV show, terrible movie.)

Two poor games does not a season make, but I haven't been happy with what I've seen the last week or so. The Sharks need to realize that it's up to them to force the opposition to play their game for 60 minutes. They played well in the first 20 last night, and then let the Stars dictate the game. From here on out, it should be an end to end battle.

But let's be realistic here. The Shark fan has nothing to worry about. Honestly, the grumblings coming from a minor hiccup in their season make me roll my eyes just a tiny bit, because quite obviously, the Sharks are a very good team, and they'll be fine.

The Mercury news brings you some amusing quotes from the Sharks coach on the shootout...

For 10 rounds, the Sharks and Dallas Stars sent skaters out in a one-on-one skill test, and for 10 rounds, only one shooter on each team could put the puck past San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabokov or Dallas goalie Marty Turco.

"You start looking around," Sharks captain Rob Blake said. "Who's next? 11? It's getting down there."

"It's a little bit typical of the night," said McLellan, who is on record as a foe of the shootout when it comes to deciding games. "I think Marty Turco poke-checked guys four or five times in a row, and yet we get the puck in close. If you're on the bench watching, you should figure it out eventually."

Similarly, and I'm no hockey player, I was wondering when the Sharks would stop trying to beat Nabokov low over and over again. Matt Niskanen answered the call.

NHL.com brings you Matt Niskanen:

Niskanen, a defenseman who had never taken a shootout attempt, scored in the 11th round to give the Dallas Stars a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks.

Niskanen ripped a wrist shot past Evgeni Nabokov after he and Dallas' Marty Turco had stopped nine of the first 10 shots in the shootout. Turco then gave Dallas the extra point by stopping Marc-Edouard Vlasic's wrist shot.

''We were starting to run out of guys,'' Niskanen said. ''We were starting to look down at the end of the bench. (Nabokov) was coming out pretty far and so I put a move on him and got very lucky. It the first time I've ever done it. I came at him with a lot of speed and snapped it. As defensemen, we always joke around that we'll be the last used in a shootout.''

Interesting that you have to have 10 shooters just to get to Jamie Benn on Marc Crawfords' bench...

Quotes:

Marc Crawford:

''That shootout was pretty special, it was the longest one I've ever been involved in,'' Dallas coach Marc Crawford said. ''It's not very often that the shootout ends up being the story of the game. ... Marty did such a good job in the shootout and you have to praise Nabokov because he was equally as good. But we found a way to solve him with a great shot from Niskanen.''

``This is a great building with a lot of energy, and I think that helps you,'' said Stars coach Marc Crawford. ``It brings energy to your game.''

``I liked the way we played today,'' Crawford said. ``We played a strong game and we stuck with it. We talked about that before the game. We played 60 minutes, and that's a huge step in the right direction. But I think we're capable of being even better than that. There's another level that we can get to, and we need to keep striving to make those improvements.''

Marty Turco:

``It was a good win for us, and an answer game, I guess you could say,'' said Turco, who had 33 saves in regulation and stopped 10 of 11 shooters in the shootout. ``I just think we all did whatever we could to be better. That was the thinking.''

``You have to be able to forget and move forward,'' Turco said. ``If you have a bad goal, you just have to let it go behind you. I think was I able to do that, and it's important for me to continue to do that.''

``They're all huge,'' said Turco, who might get the game off while Alex Auld plays. ``This was big, but now we have to keep playing winning hockey and go to Los Angeles and try to win there. We need to do this for more than just one game. That would be a big step in the right direction.''

Niskanen:

``As defensemen, we always joke, `Hey, we're next,' when it goes five or six ,'' Niskanen said. ``I just saw he was coming out and being aggressive, so I wanted to shoot quickly and pick a spot.''

There was much debate the last few days about Marty Turco. Did the soft goal he let in Tuesday that allowed Anaheim to tie the score with 1:02 remaining in regulation deserve extreme criticism, or had Turco done so much before that shot that he deserved a break?

Bottom line, when a goalie lets in a goal that he shouldn't have, the entire team slumps its shoulders. One great save doesn't lift a team that way. Three don't. Five don't. It might take 10 or 20 great saves to really get a team fired up and going.

But all you have to do is let one puck slip between your pads late in a period, as Turco did Friday against the San Jose Sharks, and it can change an entire game.

Timing is everything with goalies. They control a lot of the arena's energy and the game's pace.

It's a lesson Turco has learned throughout his career and one he will be studying even more intensely now.

Dallas was also happy to get Karlis Skrastins back in the lineup last night:

"He's an important part of our team, and we're happy to get him back," Stars coach Marc Crawford said, alluding to his defenseman's expected return tonight against the San Jose Sharks. "Karlis has this great ability to get in the middle of the other team and mess up what they are trying to do, and that's a great talent to have on defense."

Skrastins, who signed with the Stars in the summer as a free agent, said his ability to get in the way is part experience and part luck. He said during the course of 707 career games, he's learned how to anticipate the play.

"I think some of it is being able to read the play and just being in position, and some of it is that I just get in the way," he said. "I don't try to block shots all of the time. I just try to read the play. But a lot of times, I end up there and have a chance to block the puck very easily. It's just reacting to the puck being there."

The Stars continue their road trip in Los Angeles tonight at 9:30pm CST, on FSN+ (Verizon customers like me, you're out of luck there)