Dallas Stars Daily Links: Stars Finally Play Well In Front Of Andrew Raycroft

by Erin Bolen on Nov 29, 2011 6:03 AM CST in Dallas Stars Daily Links

Andrew Raycroft entered the Dallas Stars game against the Colorado Avalanche with an 0-5-0 record, but some of the fault had to go to the team in front of him.

Outside of the 1-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings early in the season, the Stars hadn't played all that well in front of their backup netminder, often struggling in the second game of back-to-backs.

That all changed in Monday's 3-1 win at Colorado, the first game since starter Kari Lehtonen went down with a group injury. Sure, Raycroft played as well as he had all season, but the team in front of also stepped up to the occasion, cleaning up rebounds and keeping the Avalanche's dangerous first line mostly contained.

Michael Ryder, who was the offensive star of the night with the game-winner and an empty-net goal, admitted as such afterwards.

``It seemed like when he came in there we never played our best games. You need two goalies during the season to help you win. He's been there for us, supporting us even though he doesn't play as much as Kari. We need him now and we showed him that really want to play for him."

After the jump, more on the Stars win over the Avalanche, the genesis of hockey rumors and 80s hockey hair metal. Yes, you read that right.

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Much of the post-game focus was, understandably, on the play of Andrew Raycroft, who looked as good as he has all season. [ESPN Dallas]
And this paywalled gamer talks about just how many nerves his performance soothed, at least for the short term. [DallasNews.com]
The Avalanche hit the Josh Lile bat-signal while talking about despite the relatively high shot totals, they're not getting enough from the dangerous areas of the ice. [Denver Post]
Our friends at Mile High Hockey offer their always fun and oft-commented take on the game. For a ton of fun with .gifs, check out the game thread as well. [Mile High Hockey]
So you know how beat writers are supposed to provide an informed-but-objective perspective on the teams they cover? Adrian Dater tests that notion with this blog for the Denver Post. There is a difference in reasonably taking a team to task and whining about "not hard enough to play against." A lot of it is in the tone, and this comes off as fannish rather than informed. [All Things Avs]
I assume this was a game-will-bust-deadline-filler story, and I also assume it will be going behind the DMN's paywall as soon as they realize they've left it free. But until then, you too can enjoy the call for the veterans to step up in the wake of the injuries that have hit every area of the team. [DallasNews.com]
With all the call-ups to Dallas because of the recent rash of injuries, the Texas Stars are in a bit of a tough spot as well. To help fill some of the holes, they brought up goalie Jimmy Spratt and forward Michael Neal from Idaho. [Hundred Degree Hockey]
Okay, here is how rumors get started. A "throw-$#%)-against-the-wall" columnist talks about how Jarome Iginla to the Stars might be a possibility given his ties to new owner Tom Gaglardi. Rest of hockey media throng turns it into this. [The Sporting News]
Some prospect news for those of you who follow development closely. Lurch lookalike Jamie Oleksiak has been invited to Canada's World Juniors selection camp while Brett Ritchie, who is currently sidelined with a hip flexor injury, was not. [ESPN Dallas]
Also, Stars prospect and former podcast guest Reilly Smith was named the CCHA player of the week. Does this mean we're good luck, and if so, can someone tell all the players so we can bring you more exclusive goodness? [MURedHawks.com]
Around the Pacific Division, the games: The San Jose Sharks apparently took a mental vacation instead of playing a hockey game Monday in a 2-0 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. [San Jose Mercury News]
Around the Pacific Division, the angst: There were two coaches fired in the NHL on Monday. Surprisingly, the Anaheim Ducks were not among them (for the record, it was the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes). But our friends at Anaheim Calling have a list of all the things that have sucked for the Ducks as of late. [Anaheim Calling]
Um, I don't even know. It involves hair metal, headbands and bad lip-syncing from the Adirondak Phantoms. Just watch. And why can't this happen with NHL teams? [YouTube]
A very sweaty Raycroft gives some quick quotes to the media after the game.

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… hell yes, I’m glad I’m not some ESPN stooge, who might make more money than me, but spends his/her entire day preening around the athletic arena, microphone in hand, makeup case in hand, hair spray in hand, ready to ask an inane, suckup, kiss-butt question to a player that, at the end of the day, at the end of this life, at the end of this universe, HAS ABSOLUTELY NO RESONATING IMPACT ON THE MEMORIES OF ITS VIEWING AUDIENCE, AND ABSOLUTELY NO LASTING IMPACT ON ANYTHING REMOTELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ART CALLED “JOURNALISM” WHICH YOU FALSELY ATTACH YOURSELVES TO."

I think that’s all the extra info we need about Masterdater.

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"You guys are talking about living forever like it’s a real thing, but I bust out a man shoving his head into a vagina, and it’s srs time?"
--iorange555 8/23/2011

by Josh Lile on Nov 29, 2011 7:06 AM CST reply actions

Love this website....

But do we really need to constant whining about the DMN paywall? Either you want to pay for the product they provide or you dont.

by Gregory Smith on Nov 29, 2011 8:01 AM CST reply actions

It's not whining...

It just let’s people know before they click on it, that they probably won’t be able to read it.

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

by Tsudbury on Nov 29, 2011 8:11 AM CST up reply actions

Its whining when it is mentioned every single time a link is posted.

Go back and read the comments w/ the links.

by Gregory Smith on Nov 29, 2011 8:26 AM CST up reply actions

I don't see any whining.

Except you here whining about whining.

by Sugaa on Nov 29, 2011 8:28 AM CST up reply actions

I guess he's talking about the "did they accidentally leave it free" one.

But they do that a lot… they post an article, and then a while later, decide it should be paywalled. I don’t see it as whining at all. Just points out the ridiculousness that is the DMN right now.

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

by Tsudbury on Nov 29, 2011 8:59 AM CST up reply actions

I've long thought most DMN content

was barely passable when it was free, especially with the gaudy maze of popup ads and other trash you are forced to endure.

by William Shatner on Nov 29, 2011 9:47 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

I don't understand why you feel so strongly about one line you seen pertaining to a link that actually delivers relevant information.

Talk about nitpicking. Try not to be so sensitive.

Avery would have loved to play with the Rangers this year...but he got STUCK ON AN OIL RIG. -- John Tortorella. (Well, not really)

by EagleBelf on Nov 29, 2011 9:37 AM CST up reply actions

Im not sensitive....

I just notice every time a DMN link is posted there is a snarky comment along with it about the paywall. Everyone knows there is a paywall, either you pay for the content or you dont. If complaining about the paywall gets mentioned once, ok, if it gets mentioned, in a tone that is sarcastic/whiny every single time, then it comes across as whiny. It gets old.

by Gregory Smith on Nov 29, 2011 9:43 AM CST up reply actions

It doesn't sound snarky to me.

I think you’re reading into the tone a little bit. The assumption that the story will go behind the paywall is based on experience. Every time they mention it they’re not doing a “womp womp” sound afterward. The reason they mention it every time is because you aren’t the only one reading these. They have new readers to consider. If it may be available to read now and perhaps it won’t be later, then that’s worth mentioning.

Avery would have loved to play with the Rangers this year...but he got STUCK ON AN OIL RIG. -- John Tortorella. (Well, not really)

by EagleBelf on Nov 29, 2011 9:56 AM CST up reply actions

Gotcha.

by Gregory Smith on Nov 29, 2011 10:05 AM CST up reply actions

Time to change your sig again.

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

by Tsudbury on Nov 29, 2011 11:06 AM CST up reply actions

No Trevor! NO!

I’m still holding out hope… … …I mean, confident he will be sent right back down again. It’s just a matter of time.

…I should though you’re right. I’m just waiting for inspiration to strike.

Avery would have loved to play with the Rangers this year...but he got STUCK ON AN OIL RIG. -- John Tortorella. (Well, not really)

by EagleBelf on Nov 29, 2011 11:21 AM CST up reply actions

Well, if you want to stay on the avery train...

“Eric Nystrom — The only good thing Avery has done for the Stars.”

Or something like that.

Otherwise, just pick something that makes fun of Worley some more.

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

by Tsudbury on Nov 29, 2011 11:48 AM CST up reply actions

FWIW, it's not intented to be a whine

But as a PSA since not all DMN stories are behind a paywall. A lot of times I’ll link things that are part of Heika’s blog and free, and I want people to know if they need a subscription or not before they click on the link and get their hopes up to read something that the might not have access to.

There are only so many ways to say “paywalled story” though, so sometimes I’ll just write something offhanded that might come across like a complaint, and something I legitimately wish it was outside the paywall because it’s a subject I’m interested in, and I’ll write that. But I know the root cause of that problem is that I’m cheap, not that they have the system in place.

Honestly, a lot of the comments are just stream of consciousness first-take ramblings as well. The story that’s likely in question was labeled as a subscriber content story but when I clicked on it, the whole thing popped up, so I just added that so people might give it a shot in the morning but not be shocked if it was still paywalled.

Follow me on Twitter @ErinB_DBD

by Erin Bolen on Nov 29, 2011 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

I trade for a vet line Iginla would make sense if we needed an extra boost for a playoff run or for a couple of years.

But this team is building for the future and Joe is smart enough to know not to trade away some prospects for a player like Iginla who is good of course but is starting to get up there in age.

by T-rom on Nov 29, 2011 8:10 AM CST reply actions

I don't really see what the Stars would want to give up

Some Flames fans are calling for a combination of (not all) Benn, Loui, Jack, Jamie 1st or 2nd rounders (yeah, good luck with that). The only prospect I would be comfortable giving up on right now is Glennie. Trading away high picks goes against Joe’s entire team building philiosophy as well.

by LilEagle on Nov 29, 2011 10:22 AM CST up reply actions

I guess that's the question

What’s a “getting up there” veteran forward worth in a year where he’s floundering? I don’t know that there’s many guys I’d be willing to give up on the chance that Iginla is not going to continue to suck.

Avery would have loved to play with the Rangers this year...but he got STUCK ON AN OIL RIG. -- John Tortorella. (Well, not really)

by EagleBelf on Nov 29, 2011 10:51 AM CST up reply actions