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

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.

Star-divide

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!

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Waaaaaaaaaayyyyyy too much analysis

It’s nice to see Skrastins playing such a great role in today’s win. This is how a TEAM works kiddies. When one player, or line, is having an off-night, someone else picks up the slack. And James Neal looking more like the pre-Dorsett Real Deal. Hopefully we can BUILD on this win and keep the W’s rolling our way.

Happy Birthday again Art!

I must have this thing for hockey boys from Whitby with the initials JN.

by Happy Girl on Dec 19, 2009 6:29 PM CST reply actions  

Yes

Uhhh, more opinion, BUDDY!!!!

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by Brandon Bibb on Dec 19, 2009 11:17 PM CST up reply actions  

I’ll take two goals from someone who isn’t known to score. To me, that’s just a sign of a player trying to improve their game and further themselves. Congrats to Karlis and it’s nice to see him finally getting on the board (with goals).

by HarmGsN on Dec 19, 2009 6:37 PM CST reply actions  

I wasn't very impressed with Turco,

but I liked how the team in front of him played. Skrastins was something else, and Neal looks like he’s back to his old self.

I have to applaud B-Rad for his angry tirade, though. He stood up for himself, and he argued. I’m pretty sure I saw him drop a couple of f-bombs. I’m so proud of him!

Let’s (finally) build on a win. Go Stars!

Dallas Stars 4 Life: Stars Blogging From Hockeyville, Iowa

by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Dec 19, 2009 6:40 PM CST reply actions  

I'll have to go back and watch that part of the game now.

I was so busy typing and posting on two chats I didn’t get to pay attention to his tirade after the penalty.

Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.

by Brandon Worley on Dec 19, 2009 6:43 PM CST up reply actions  

He was screaming his head off. I haven’t seen him get that worked up in AGES. He was using a lot of adult language. Ya know, he’s not tough, but he’s not a wimp. He doesn’t go looking for trouble, damn if he’s going to let someone take over liberties.

by schtimpy27 on Dec 19, 2009 7:32 PM CST up reply actions  

Turco made all the hard saves

And missed on some easy plays.

It’s his way.

I’ll take the W.

by Brad Gardner on Dec 19, 2009 10:33 PM CST up reply actions  

TURCO!!!!!!!!!!?????????

I will certainly take the win but I do wish someone would come take Turco AWAY. Too bad there is no one else out there to take the position. Marty sort of plays his own game and you never know what that will be. It seems like he enjoys playing cat and mouse. If we tie or get ahead he always seems to find a way to get the score tied again or, worst of all, get us behind. It would be nice if he would get on the same game page as the rest of the team and try to keep the lead. Ohhhhhhhhh, the last two minutes are always a killer and that’s when he is at his best for losing the lead or allowing a tie. But, enough about Marty. What I want to know is where are all these really good goalies coming from that other teams are finding and why can’t the Stars find, and keep, one of those?

Did Brian Sutherby play today? If so I just didn’t notice but it seems like he has not been very obvious lately. I know he had a “lower body” injury but that seems like some time ago. Am I just not seeing him?

What did everyone think about Maxime Fortunus today?

And last, ROCK ON BRAD!!!!!!!! It was great to see some good hockey emotion from you today.

by StarsRule on Dec 20, 2009 1:30 AM CST reply actions  

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