Dallas Stars Daily Links: No Sidney Crosby For Tonight's Game Against Pittsburgh

by Erin Bolen on Nov 11, 2011 6:01 AM CST in Dallas Stars Daily Links

There has been intense media speculation that Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby would play in his first game since January tonight against the Dallas Stars.

But Penguins coach Dan Bylsma announced Thursday that the concussed captain is still sidelined, at least for this weekend.

Coach Dan Bylsma said Thursday afternoon Crosby will not play Friday or Saturday and that his status remains uncertain. Crosby hasn't played since being diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms in early January.

"He's had a good week of practice and is progressing, but he will not be playing this weekend," Bylsma said.

Anyone shocked? No? Bueller?

Well even without Crosby's return, there are plenty of compelling reasons to watch tonight's game, not the least of which is the first meeting of Alex Goligoski, James Neal and Matt Niskanen since the trade at the end of last season. Plus there's that whole "The Stars take on the top teams in the East to see how they stack up" angle. You know, not that that matters.

After the jump, more on today's game, pictures from the Stars go-karting adventure and jerseys that summon the spirit of "The Little Mermaid."

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Kari Lehtonen will start in net for the Stars tonight, according to coach Glen Gulutzan. I assume, as does Mike Heika, that this means Andrew Raycroft will get the start against the Detroit Red Wings. [DallasNews.com]
Poor Matt Niskanen. James Neal and Alex Goligoski get to talk about what playing against their former teams will mean to them, but all Niskanen gets is a throwaway mention. I'd joke about how that is proportional to his importance to the Stars defense when he was here, but that would be mean of me, and I made a New Years Resolution to let his play speak for itself without my commentary on it. [ESPN Dallas]
Even the NHL is getting in on the action for tonight's game. It's only like two paragraphs, but I can't remember the last time a Stars game got top play in terms of "game of the night" type of talk. [NHL.com]
There isn't any video, at least that I can find, of the Stars adventures at the go-kart track. However, the behind-the-scenes camera guy took loads and loads of photos, which reveal things like Team Sweden walked away as the winner. [DallasStars.com]
If you have a friend who isn't quite sold on the team yet, have them read this article by Mike Heika, who lays out five reasons why this is a team anyone can get behind. [DallasNews.com]
The Stars and Kari Lehtonen get some positive attention, at least in terms of fantasy hockey, in this weekly column from CBC. [CBC.ca]
I thought this was an interesting piece about the possible under-reporting of concussions in hockey. For a while, I thought it might be a little bit of semantics (what does it matter if they call it concussion-like symptoms rather than a concussion?) but there is an interesting point to be made about willful ignorance of possible consequences if the injury isn't properly labeled. [New York Times]
Meet the enemy, part the first: Instead of Crosby back in the lineup, Pittsburgh will feature Eric Tangradi, who has been tearing it up in Wilkes-Barre. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]
Meet the enemy, part the second: Okay, like all the other Penguins news is about the non-return of Sidney Crosby. So I bring you this little roster move from a few days ago when the Penguins acquired a fourth-round pick from the woeful Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Mark Letestu. [The Hockey Writers]
Around the Pacific Division, the winner: The San Jose Sharks used a three-goal outburst in the second period, two of those from Patrick Marleau, to defeat the Minnesota Wild 3-1. [Yahoo]
Around the Pacific Division, the losers: The Phoenix Coyotes got themselves another loser point after coming back to tie their game against the Montreal Canadiens in the third period before losing 3-2 on a Josh Gorges overtime goal. The Los Angeles Kings were the only team in the "no points for you" category as they allowed three goals in the first period of a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. [Yahoo/Yahoo]
The hockey jerseys you really want to laugh at even if that makes you feel like a horrible person. [Puck Daddy]
Alex Goligoski talks trade, Green Bay Packers and Dallas as a hockey market on the eve of his return to Pittsburgh.

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I mentioned this to my roommate last night..

Goose looks a bit like Ben Affleck.

cantbeunseen.jpg

by viralphrame on Nov 11, 2011 7:00 AM CST reply actions

For those of you in Houston, or other awkward areas where you might have to watch HS football instead of the game...

It’s been picked up on NHL network tonight.

No guarantee on which feed you’ll get (Like we really need to guess whether they’ll pick the Stars over any team in the East?), but it’s on TV nonetheless.

"He punched the highlights out of her hair.... He punched the HIGHLIGHTS out of her hair!!!" -- Young Neil

by Tsudbury on Nov 11, 2011 7:43 AM CST reply actions

Ribs looks lovely in pink.

by Sugaa on Nov 11, 2011 8:26 AM CST reply actions

its only seems fair...

I mean if we are keeping Ott out its only fair they should return the favor and sit Crosby. That basically evens things up right?

by KingPodda on Nov 11, 2011 8:42 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

Really bummed about

Kari being in net tonight. Detroit must die – and I fear another Raycroft meltdown. The Pitt game is for show. Detroit is the statement game to me.

"Goaltenders are 3 sandwiches shy of a picnic. From the moment primitive man lurched erect, he survived on the principle that when something hard and potentially lethal comes toward you at great velocity, get the hell out of it's path." - Jim Taylor

by Netminder#20 on Nov 11, 2011 9:40 AM CST reply actions

I actually disagree a bit on this, after I thought about it the other day.

When we played the Caps and beat them soundly, we grabbed more than the national media’s attention. We grabbed the casual fan’s attention as well. Thanks to the National media that we hate on, people in Dallas know how “incredible” the caps and Pens are. If we beat both of them, I guarantee you we are going to start bringing in a lot more fans.

In that respect, this game is far more important than the Detroit one will be.

(Besides that, the Detroit team is inferior to ours, and I think we stand a good chance of getting Raycroft’s first W tomorrow.)

"He punched the highlights out of her hair.... He punched the HIGHLIGHTS out of her hair!!!" -- Young Neil

by Tsudbury on Nov 11, 2011 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

That, and as of late...

…we’ve generally been much more effective against Detroit than in decades past.

Our GM,
who art in the front office,
on Conn Smythe be they name.

by ex_seraphim (Angelou del Angel) on Nov 11, 2011 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

Kennedy

No Crosby but it’s possible Tyler Kennedy could be in the line-up tonight for the Penguins, following being out on IR with concussion like symptoms for a while. He’ll be a game time decision.
Not the same caliber as Crosby of course, but a feisty little player.

Am really looking forward to the game. Let’s go Stars!

Twitter: @murrayvwhite

by MurrayW on Nov 11, 2011 10:35 AM CST reply actions

Goalie Situation

I was actually very much for Raycroft vs Pens and Kari vs Wings, but I read a post from a fan in the first portal who convinced me. Thought was that Coach G is sending a message that we believe our backup can play against a West Team like Detroit and since The Pitts top of East he wants to see how our team fares on a head to head. In any case, it will come down to minimizing our penalties, and getting physical. If we can park in front of their net throughout, then we can pull this out. Our defense is going to have to be flawless in positioning. Unfortunately I won’t be able to watch this on TV :( but I will be following on AM radio. So…..

Boom boom Dallas! boom boom Stars! boom boom Dallas! boom boom Stars! Go Stars Go!!! Beat the Pens!!

by ilickbaby on Nov 11, 2011 11:40 AM CST reply actions