Bryzgalov Shines, Auld Stumbles As Stars Fall To Coyotes 4-2

by Brandon Worley on Jan 31, 2010 7:41 PM CST in Game Recaps Comment 22 comments

Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, of Russia, deflects a shot with his arm in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

about 1 month ago: Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, of Russia, deflects a shot with his arm in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

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The Dallas Stars waited 20 minutes before finally waking up and deciding to compete, but by then it was already too late. The Coyotes grabbed an early 1-0 lead and the Stars were never able to tie it, despite a spirited effort in the second and third periods. To add to the mounting frustrations of a long season, the Stars were given a taste of exactly what this team has been lacking: solid goaltending that steals a win on the road.

Ilya Byrzgalov, as he always is against the Stars, was absolutely amazing as he withstood 21 third period shots by the Stars to help his team hold on to the lead. The line combination of Brenden Morrow, Jamie Benn and Steve Ott once again shined, and even Fabian Brunnstrom stepped his game up to get a big goal late in the game to get the Stars within 3-2.

Yet an absolutely horrendous goal allowed by Alex Auld just seconds later negated any momentum the Stars had built. When your team has played as hard as they did in the third just to get within one game, allowing a goal off a slap shot from just inside the blue line is unacceptable.

Let's not pin the entire loss on Auld; defensive mistakes and a lackluster start didn't help matters. Yet the truth remains that all season long when this team has needed their goaltenders to make that one big save, they have not risen to the challenge. Whether it is Auld or Marty Turco in net, the Stars have struggled all season long with this one major aspect of successful hockey.

Notes on the game from Stars PR after the jump:

Stats and Stuff:
• The loss snapped the Stars' home winning streak at five games. Dallas is 8-2-0 in their last 10 at American Airlines Center. The Stars have registered at least one point in 15 of their last 18 games at American Airlines Center (13-3-2), and in 19 of their last 23 (15-4-4).
• Steve Ott scored his 11th goal of the season. He has 1-1-2 points in his last two games.
• Toby Petersen earned his second assist in as many games. It was his third assist of the season.
• Trevor Daley's assist gives him points in three of the last six games (2-1-3).
• Fabian Brunnstrom scored his second goal of the season.
• Brenden Morrow registered his 15th assist of the season.
• Alex Auld picked up his second assist of the season and second in his last three games. Dallas' goaltenders have combined for five assists this season, the most in the league (Colorado/Carolina have four).
• THREE STARS OF THE GAME: 1) Shane Doan, 2) Peter Mueller, 3) Ilya Bryzgalov

Schedule:
• The Dallas Stars will not practice on Monday. The Stars will have morning skate on Tuesday at American Airlines Center at 10:30 am; media availability at approximately 11:00 a.m.

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Comments

the Stars goaltending sucks more than my love life

and that’s saying a lot.

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

by Happy Girl on Jan 31, 2010 7:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I have no comment on this game.

"It would've been a huge momentum boost if we had beaten the St. Mary's School for the Blessed, Blind, Deaf and Dumb."

Hockey nut since the night of 5/2/08. What a night it was.

by Pat Iversen on Jan 31, 2010 7:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

blah. go get the wild.

"They’ve taken the Illini to the woodshed."
-Steve Lavin on Mizzou v. Illinois

by Mizzou12 on Jan 31, 2010 7:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

the goaltending

is horrible I don’t know why people keep make excuses for Auld. He isn’t a starting goalie, and I don’t know why people on here keep take up for the guy.

by Jamian B on Jan 31, 2010 7:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think it's more....

How the team seems to play better in front of him.

But tonight it didn’t matter one bit.

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

by Brandon Worley on Jan 31, 2010 7:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

AMEN!!!

Finally another fan with some sense…

What can I say… Besides bad. Everyone who commented on my post a couple games ago about Turco letting in easy and devastating goals. How about Auld letting one in 10 seconds after we score a huge goal to cut the lead to one?!? Just when the crowd was going to get into the game… Auld dissappoints! Oh and did I mention Crawford couldn’t rally a team to save his life.

by jdmhonda05 on Jan 31, 2010 8:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well

at least someone agrees with me. People on here keep saying play Auld more well we have, and I don’t see much of a difference. Yes Turco has been inconsistent ths year. Yes Turco has faults, but give me Marty anyday over Auld. What people fail to realize is Auld has had opportunities over his career to step and become the guy, but the fact of the matter is he isn’t. He’s a nice # 2 who can give you 12-17 starts a year, and fill in when your goalie get’s chased. This team ain’t making the playoffs with Auld. If you believe we will your are truly delusional.

by Jamian B on Feb 1, 2010 1:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Couldn’t have said it better myself

by jdmhonda05 on Feb 1, 2010 3:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This was a good chance

to grab 2 points instead another loss.

by Jamian B on Jan 31, 2010 7:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

when do we play edmonton again

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

by Happy Girl on Jan 31, 2010 7:49 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

+1

"They’ve taken the Illini to the woodshed."
-Steve Lavin on Mizzou v. Illinois

by Mizzou12 on Jan 31, 2010 7:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey do we have our Stars anonymous radio support group this Wednesday night?

I’m HG and I’m a Stars fan

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

by Happy Girl on Jan 31, 2010 8:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sure thing.

And we’ll have Greg Wyshynski on with us!

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

by Brandon Worley on Jan 31, 2010 8:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok, if I was star-struck for Heika, I'm not sure what I'm gonna be for Puck Daddy.

Don’t expect me to be coherent.

Supporting your local ice troll, 24/7/365

by laughs2loud on Jan 31, 2010 8:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok, well. I guess I'll be watching a lot of this on fast forward.

Sigh.

Supporting your local ice troll, 24/7/365

by laughs2loud on Jan 31, 2010 8:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You just can't coach around mediocrity

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

by Happy Girl on Jan 31, 2010 8:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

do you think if we tried to send Auld and Turco down to Texas anyone would claim them off waivers?

LOL – I am kidding – kind of

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

by Happy Girl on Jan 31, 2010 8:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

perhaps

So before we hang Auld on a cross…lets remind ourselves that he is a back up….always has and always will be. We all wanted him to replace Marty Turco, but that’s because those of us on this site are at times overly optimistic when it comes to our beloved Stars. Auld was Auld tonight, nothing more nothing less.

My concern was the serious defensive lapses by our VETERAN D-men. If they can’t hold it together we need to go ahead and get this fire sale started.

Not to be a total pessimist…but I was really pumped by Benn pouring himself out and his wingers played great too!!! (I wonder though if Benn doesn’t occasionally get thrown out of the faceoff circle on purpose? I would too if Ott was on my right wing.)

I feel very satisfied with the offensive effort despite the result.

by KingPodda on Jan 31, 2010 8:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I posted an article last week about the differences in how the team played with Auld and Turco in net.

Many dismissed it, based on the stats and went with feel instead.

The truth is, no matter who was in net, the Stars’ numbers were horrendous. Absolutely horrendous.

The defense and goaltending is atrocious right now, there’s no two ways around it.

But I agree, at least the forwards are starting to show that fire and intensity we’ve needed all season long.

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

by Brandon Worley on Jan 31, 2010 8:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I obviously haven't seen the game yet but I've felt all along that this "new system" is asking too much from a

very young d-corp that doesn’t have strong enough goaltending to back it up.

Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest.

Supporting your local ice troll, 24/7/365

by laughs2loud on Jan 31, 2010 8:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i agree

Brandon, I liked that article and I think we are on the same page here. I think goaltending has let us down…I just don’t think Auld has. He plays like an NHL back up which is in keeping with my expectations. Point is I don’t feel let down by him, or even that he is off his game. I just don’t think we can rely on him night after night after night and be disappointed when a few easy shots go in….cause that happens to all back ups.

Personally I’d like to see the stars resign Auld. I feel good with him as a back up. But if people want to place high expectations on him, then they are going to be disappointed.

I feel a debt of gratitude to Turco, I remember the playoff series where he got 3 shut outs and we still lost. I know there were a number of times over the years he gave the Stars every chance to win a game and they would blow it. But things are different now and its time for a respectful parting of ways. Turco and this system aren’t working and one of them needs to go….at this point I am fine with either one.

by KingPodda on Feb 1, 2010 12:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Still think it's coaching

Believe me, I am NOT one of those guys who wants to throw out the coach every time things go South but I can’t help but feel that a good coach INSPIRES their players. They have looked dull and uninterested much of the season and it just seems like they’ve lost repsect for each other and confidence in the system.

I’m not one bit sure about Charlie Huddy and I never once felt that we got the best coach available. I do think that he adjusts lines well and has some good plays, but that’s about as far as I’ll take that.

I’m wondering if the best thing he can do at this point is yell at everyone until they hate him and start bonding together against him. The whole “Keeping positive” thing is just not working for them.

I like what Razor brought up the other day about Colorado’s style- the “Meritocracy” where you play the guys who play well. I think that’s an excellent idea and it shows you who WANTS to play for their spot.

But we’ll see how the next road trip goes…

by jabudi on Feb 1, 2010 7:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs