Game 5: Calgary Flames at Dallas Stars

October 13, 2007 at 10:50 am · Filed under Uncategorized

Last night was a disappointing game.  The crowd was decent sized again last night, but still no where near full which is disappointing again.  The game as a whole felt like another game from last year of keep getting a lead only to squander it.  That goal by Hagman was a BULLET.  Hagman is the leading scorer now with 5 goals in 5 games.  As well, Modano finally got on the goal sheet this year.

One item I forgot to point out to those of you that haven’t been to a Stars game this season, a new addition to the national anthem has been introduced.  That being yelling out JUSSI! during the “You See” part of the first line.  Not sure if that was being done at the end of last season or not, but I know it wasn’t done last time I was there late in the season last year.

Overall, I’m not sure if this team will be consistent enough to go deep in the playoffs.  I’m hopeful to at least get past the first round, but I’m not quite sure if that’s even going to happen.

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Game 4: Los Angeles Kings at Dallas Stars

October 10, 2007 at 11:20 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

Just got back from the game tonight and it was a great one.  Niklas Hagman netted the first 2 goals including the first being a breakaway shorthanded goal.  Miettinen, Lundqvist, and Ribeiro joined the score sheet to win 5-1.  Nice to see Ribeiro back in the lineup.  Hagman kept trying for the hat trick, but just couldn’t turn it.

Attendance was a little disappointing given that it was the second game of the season, but then again, it’s a Wednesday night and I’m sure that hurts attendance to some degree.

One bit of discouraging news I got when getting there was Mike Smith was scratched from the lineup and Tobias Stephen was on the bench.  Turns out he’s got a bruised arm and has been put on the injured reserve.

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Monday October 8th Wrap Up

October 8, 2007 at 8:44 pm · Filed under Matt Niskanen, Mike Ribeiro

Well quarter close is pretty well wrapping up and back to the normal grind.  Stars have started the season with only 1 win in 3 tries with loses to the Avs and Preds and a win vs the Bruins.  However, the Stars look to turn it around this week with 2 home games vs the Kings and Flames, both of which I’ll be at.

Myers has a brief piece hitting on the Stars ineffective power play hurting them in Nashville.  As well, mentions Tippett is pleased with the instigator line, or as Razor dubbed them in the Bruins game, the meat grinder line, of Ott, Winchester, and Barch.  Finally, has a quick note that Mike Ribeiro is getting better, but probably won’t be ready for Wednesday’s game.

Heika has a piece about Matt Niskanen’s impressive play thus far.  So impressive in fact that Nolan Baumgartner has been sent down to Iowa instead of Niskanen as plans had been laid in the preseason for when Grossman returned from injury.  Niskanen has looked good in his time on the ice thus far and has earned his shot to stick around.

Not a whole lot else out there today for the Stars.

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Game 3: Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators

October 6, 2007 at 7:03 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

Woohoo, my long 60 hour work week is over.  Just got home from work and throwing up a quick game thread.  Expect the old style reports again tomorrow.

Stars with a good 4-1 win last night and looking to expand upon that tonight with a return to Nashville.  2nd time to go back there since Modano’s booing on the night he broke the American goals record.

Go get ‘em Stars!

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Game 2: Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars, FSSW, 7:30 PM

October 5, 2007 at 7:41 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

The game is just about to get underway in Dallas. The Stars will be hoping for a better effort in the first two periods today than they had in Colorado Wednesday giving up 4 goals in the first 2 periods before finally deciding to show up.

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Game 1: Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche, Wed 8:30 - Versus

October 2, 2007 at 8:07 pm · Filed under Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars

Game 1 is finally here. After months of waiting after a first round exit in game 7 vs the Canucks, the Stars start anew and looking to do better this year. This is the time of year that hope springs eternal and everyone is a contender.

As for this game, the Stars look to repeat their performance in last year’s opener where they beat the Avalanche 3-2. The Avalanche are similar to past year’s teams. Old faces still are there including Joe Sakic, Milan Hejduk, and Andrew Brunette. Once among our most hated rivals, this matchup has weakened a bit in the last few years. However, that is mainly due to the Stars impotence in the post-season in recent years.

Last season, Joe Sakic led the team in goals and assists with 36 and 64 respectively to put together another 100 point season. Hejduk finished right behind Sakic with 35 goals and Paul Stastny and Brunette accounted for 28 and 27. All 4 still are featured on the roster.

Peter Budaj is still around in net who put together a 31-16-6-3 record last year with a 2.68 GAA and .905 save%.

On defense, Liles is still present on the defense, as is 220 pound Kurt Sauer.

Overall, it should be a good matchup as Stars/Avalanche always seems to be. I definitely hope for that to be the case. Unfortunately I won’t get to see the game since I don’t get Versus at my apartment. I may head somewhere to see part of it if I get the chance, depends how long of a workday it is tomorrow.

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Tuesday October 2nd

October 2, 2007 at 8:07 pm · Filed under Antti Miettinen, Junior Lessard, Mike Modano

Quick wrap up, then a preview of tomorrow night’s season opener.

Myers focuses yet again on Antti Miettinen. I bet you can guess the premise of the article. Yep, it’s about Miettinen wanting to have a better season than last year.

Tim Cowlishaw proves his hatred of hockey with an oh so great article about how Modano breaking the record will be one of the few good moments of this season.

Mike Heika though talks about how the Stars need to get off to a good start again this year and how starting 11-2 last year helped set up the season for coasting into the playoffs.

The Stars made their final cuts today to get down to the 23 required for opening night. Junior Lessard was in the last round of cuts. Technically the roster is still at 28, but 5 are starting on the injured reserve.

Forwards: Krys Barch, Stu Barnes, Loui Eriksson, Todd Fedoruk, Niklas Hagman, Jeff Halpern, Jussi Jokinen, Jere Lehtinen, Joel Lundqvist, Antti Miettinen, Mike Modano (A), Brenden Morrow (C), Steve Ott, Brad Winchester

Defense: Nolan Baumgartner, Philippe Boucher, Trevor Daley, Matt Niskanen, Mattias Norstrom, Stephane Robidas, Sergei Zubov (A)

Goalies: Mike Smith, Marty Turco

Injured Reserve: Aaron Gagnon (F), Vojtech Polak (F), Mike Ribeiro (F), Francis Wathier (F), Niklas Grossman (D)

My guess on the injured reserve is that Ribeiro and Grossman are the only that don’t get sent down when healthy. Heading down when they’re activated will likely be Todd Fedoruk and Matt Niskanen.

Overall, it’s interesting to see Winchester on the roster. He got lots of press in the preseason and obviously impressed the team and earns his shot on the roster. Same can be said for Fedoruk and Niskanen.

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Have no fear…

October 1, 2007 at 11:10 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

I have not forgotten about this.  Things have been hectic at work with quarter close and long work week.  I’ll get a preview and game thread up tomorrow night for Wednesday’s season opener.

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Thursday Sept 27 Wrapup

September 27, 2007 at 11:09 pm · Filed under Mattias Norstrom, Stu Barnes

Tracey Myers has an article up about Mattias Norstrom being a leader on the team despite no letters on the chest.

In other news, Mike Heika reports about Stu Barnes return to the lineup. A healthy Barnes is something this team needs if it has any ideas to go far this year.

Heika also takes a quick look at the Pacific division along with the rest of the league.

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Wednesday September 26 Wrapup

September 26, 2007 at 10:43 pm · Filed under Joel Lundqvist

One week from now, the Stars will be in the 3rd period wrapping up their first game of the season.  Hockey is finally almost here.

Tracey Myers tonight talks about the checking line wanting to step up with goals.  The story pretty much talks about Joel Lundqvist stepping up starting with the last postseason and showing an impressive scoring touch in preseason.  We can only hope it translates to the regular season.

Mike Heika wakes from his slumber with a wrap up of the Stars preseason win in Denver last night. Mike Smith had a strong game with 31 saves.  And the Stars successfully killed 8 of 10 power plays.

Foxsports.com has their pacific division preview up today. Has Anaheim winning the division again, Sharks coming second, and Stars in third.  Pretty good preview overall highlighting the offensive woes, and the defensive strengths.

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