Dallas Stars @ NY Islanders: Who Starts in Goal For Dallas?

by Brad Gardner on Oct 9, 2010 12:29 AM CDT in Dallas Stars Analysis

The Stars and Devils played a spirited contest tonight in Newark New Jersey, complete with back and forth non-stop action and seven(!) goals, uncharacteristic for the Devils and their hall of fame net minder.

Dallas battled nervousness (whether they'll say it or not) in the first period of this game, surrendering a 2-0 edge to the Devils and nearly a 3-0 margin after Ilya Kovalchuk rang one off the post behind Kari Lehtonen in the first period before Brenden Morrow was able to cut the deficit to one off a brilliant pass from Mike Ribeiro.

The Stars face an interesting situation in Long Island on Saturday, as they have not faced two road opponents (nor a back to back) to start a season in quite some time. A win against the Islanders would start the Stars road season off at 2-0 and leave them with a dynamite shot at improving upon their abysmal 14-20-7 road record of a season ago.

Like so many back to backs last year with Alex Auld and Kari Lehtonen available, the questions becomes: Who will start in goal against the Isles?

The Dallas Morning News reports no such decision has been made yet, but that doesn't stop us from pondering the question at this late hour. Which would you start? Does the win sway you one way or the other?

Personally I go with Kari in this game as well. I want to know where his health truly stands and I know they have FOUR full days off with which to recover after this one before the home opener. Luckily I'm not the coach and I don't have to make these kinds of decisions.

What decision would you make?

Poll

Quick, before we receive official word: Who would you start in goal tomorrow?

Lehtonen. Come on, you can play two quick ones before this 4 day break.

156 votes

Raycroft. Best to be careful with Lehtonen and this first win allows us to do just that.

18 votes

174 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

concerning the rumor that we "can't win 3 in a row"

I would prefer to lose Saturday, and win the home opener in Detroit. The only way that wound gets completely healed is if Dallas destroys the Red Wings. Then there is no fan animosity.

One of the last Matt Niskanen supporters in Dallas....

by RealDealNeal on Oct 9, 2010 1:33 AM CDT reply actions

You mean home opener against Detroit. Having a home opener “in” Detroit wouldn’t be much of a home opener, would it? That, however, is beside the point. If you have fan animosity towards Detroit, then you should park your car on the High-Five and jump off. If you have any fanboy resentment, be mad at Nieuwy. Kari should play, because Raycroft is a garbage netminder. Which is why he’s only ever been the number 2 man.

by 5-Hole on Oct 9, 2010 4:36 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't hate Mo

I dislike his choice of playing for Detroit immensly. All I’m saying is that animostiy such as my own against his playing for Detroit would be negated by the Stars beating Detroit. I apologize for seemingly offending you in missappropriating the usage of “In”, use some common sense…

One of the last Matt Niskanen supporters in Dallas....

by RealDealNeal on Oct 9, 2010 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

lol...

that’s about all I have to say.

The Stars will have a 3 game win streak within their first 6 games. Mark my words!

by Tsudbury on Oct 9, 2010 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions

hey uh 5-hole

make sure you know what your saying before you jump on sumones nutts. Raycroft has been the number one before.

GET OFF NIEUWENDYK'S NUTS

by 8thegreat on Oct 9, 2010 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Anyone who has kept an NHL job for as many years as Raycroft

Is clearly not a garbage goaltender. Geez.

Defending Big D

by Brad Gardner on Oct 9, 2010 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Raycroft

can’t take the risk with kari

by brickwall5 on Oct 9, 2010 2:18 AM CDT reply actions

It's not so much about Kari's health for me..

But just getting Raycroft in for a game. If you don’t do it Saturday, you won’t get him in on Thursday where you want Kari to be the home opener starter.. You could put him in for the game against St. Louis a week from now, but that will be what, two and a half weeks since Andrew last saw game action?

I say put Raycroft in for Saturday and then let Kari take the two games at home next week.

Defending Big D: A Dallas Stars blog on SBN: easy to use, free to join.
@GameTimeArt: Offending and/or boring sports fans one tweet at a time!

by Art Middleton on Oct 9, 2010 2:29 AM CDT reply actions

I say the NHL

needs to stop doing stupid schedules.

But to answer the actual question, I say start Raycroft against the Isles.

by Tyler Bouldin on Oct 9, 2010 3:50 AM CDT reply actions

Lehtonen

Raycroft sucks, so I say put Lehtonen-I don’t wanna lose against the isles or against the wings. So put Lehtonen in both games, he has 4 full days to rest before the Home Opener against Detroit, I’m pretty sure he can handle that. If by the off chance he does start waring in the game against the Isles you can pull him and put Raycroft in (which luckily for us would only give him part of a game to screw things up for us). But we need to know that Kari can handle a back to back if need be.

by Lauren Taylor on Oct 9, 2010 5:16 AM CDT reply actions

Put in Kari.

It’s the beginning of the season, and he should be ready to go. Let him build on everything they accomplished last night against the Devils. His nerves got the best of him at times, but as the game went on he got better.

The only problem is that if you don’t put Raycroft in against the Isles, when do you play him? He’s certainly not going to play against Detroit or any other important West opponents.

I totally just contradicted myself. And I’m ok with that.

Here's to all us girls who love hockey...and the men who play it.

by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Oct 9, 2010 6:20 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Strike While The Iron Is Lukewarm

I say strike while the iron is lukewarm and stick with Lehtonen. Maybe he’ll pick up some momentum from last night’s victory. However, I’d be surprised if they DIDN’T throw Raycroft in against the Isles.

Covering the Inaugural Season of the OKC Barons for The Copper & Blue

by Neal Livingston on Oct 9, 2010 8:09 AM CDT reply actions

There'll be plenty of time to play raycroft later...

Road trips, back to backs… lord knows there’s enough of them this season. If I were the coach, I’d leave it up to Kari. If he feels good and wants another go, I give it to him.

The Stars will have a 3 game win streak within their first 6 games. Mark my words!

by Tsudbury on Oct 9, 2010 8:11 AM CDT reply actions

Lehtonen.

He should play four games in a row. Raycroft can then take two in a row.

by Henri Muroke on Oct 9, 2010 8:19 AM CDT reply actions

Kari.

He faced 30 shots last night which isn’t the most aggressive workout. He also got much stronger as the game went on. Don’t interrupt his momentum and more importantly the team’s momentum by letting Raycroft lose a game for you.

by LilEagle on Oct 9, 2010 9:21 AM CDT reply actions

Go with Lehtonen.

If he can’t do it now, then when?

by Giant Space Ants on Oct 9, 2010 10:28 AM CDT reply actions

Kari

He gets almost a week off.

One of the last Matt Niskanen supporters in Dallas....

by RealDealNeal on Oct 9, 2010 10:40 AM CDT reply actions

lehtonen

You have to play the hot hand. And its a backups job to be ready to after extended rest. As for talk that Raycroft sucks, seriously? Some of you are still hung up on one lousy relief effort in the preseason? Give the guy a break. He should at least get a few preseason starts before you start pulling out the pitchforks, and lighting your torches.

by brendan1 on Oct 9, 2010 12:12 PM CDT via mobile reply actions