Stargazing: It's The Playoffs Tonight for Ducks and Stars

by Brad Gardner on Mar 23, 2011 2:44 PM CDT in Dallas Stars News

Some more good news this afternoon, so to speak, as Dallas Stars coach Marc Crawford has told ESPN (LeBrun) that Nick Grossman's injury could keep him out as little as a week to 10 days from now, which is better than we've been speculating, if true. That would get Grossman back potentially for the last three games of the season, if there is still reason to rush him, that is.

Meanwhile, we're all waiting anxiously for puck drop tonight and one can only imagine that the players are having a hard time with the usual pre-game naps today. It's that time of year. Here's a little reading to help pass the time including good signs from Scott Glennie.

Let us also look to the Texas Stars for inspiration, who last night got a win every bit as big as the one Dallas is hoping to get today. They did it, as Stephen tells us here, with goaltending and SPECIAL TEAMS play. I remember special teams play...

The game tonight is getting a little national attention, as it should. Pierre LeBrun spoke with coach this morning on the phone and has a good read on the importance of the outcome. [ESPN]
Ray Emery is back in the NHL and is off to a fantastic start with the Ducks going 2-0 with a .972 save percentage and a GAA of 0.87 in three games. He is 1-1 in his career against Dallas with a .926 SV%. [OC Register]
The national media is fawning all over Corey Perry these days. [USA Today]
The walls are closing in around the Calgary Flames. Are the Stars next? [Toronto Sun]
The Texas Stars' Josh Fisher writes a good piece on the young goaltending duo in Cedar Park as they head toward a playoff spot. [theahl.com]
The Stars ECHL affiliate Steelheads have sent defenseman Guillaume Monast to the Texas Stars. [ECHL]
Encouraging signs from Canadian Juniors as Scott Glennie has had a marvelous season even though Brayden Schenn, who many thought to be a crutch for Glennie, was traded away earlier in the year. Brandon is heading to the playoffs with Glennie leading the way. [Brandon Sun.com] Interesting that they talk about him as a center.
Heika has some good reading on the Ducks tonight at his DMN blog. [DMN]

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Good news on Grossman.

We need his steady presence on the blue-line now more than ever.

Twitter: @ShuFu7_11
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by ShuFu 7-11 on Mar 23, 2011 2:48 PM CDT reply actions

It's weird because he didn't tell the Dallas media that after skate.

But…still sounds like good news to me that he told ESPN.

Defending Big D

by Brad Gardner on Mar 23, 2011 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Completely unrelated to this post, but

Did any of you guys see that crazy save by Jonathan Quick? I clicked back to the 5 second mark probably 10 times watching it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4CP72FLS4s4

by Travis Drybread on Mar 23, 2011 4:07 PM CDT reply actions

did he catch that with the top of his stick?

or did it really just bounce away that hard?

by PSyCo2012 on Mar 23, 2011 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions

It just hits the ice, and turns.

I guess whatever it hit going through Quick put enough english on it for it to make a right turn upon hitting the ice. I’m guessing that it clipped the underside of his stick, but it’s hard to tell.

by Travis Drybread on Mar 23, 2011 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Reminds me of that near-goal in Phoenix 3 weeks ago

Barely rolled wide of the Coyotes net at the last second of the period, with Phoenix on the PP. Not a save, but looked the puck behaved similarly.

by Breg on Mar 23, 2011 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Just as inspiration as we go into the most important stretch in 3 years...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSd8CqBEbcY

Makes me wanna cheer harder….Let’s get it done, Stars!!

by coolcolin09 on Mar 23, 2011 4:11 PM CDT reply actions

Never saw that one before.

Nice.

by Travis Drybread on Mar 23, 2011 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions

i have a little situation

I cannot tell if I should skip intramurals and go to the stars game tonight. both games decide playoff fate. what would y’all do?

by avfcfan89 on Mar 23, 2011 4:33 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

flip a coin

by Travis Drybread on Mar 23, 2011 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions

oh good thinking

the most unbiased way to settle something.

by avfcfan89 on Mar 23, 2011 4:36 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Aaaand now I'm not going to the game.

Friend we were going with got laid off and doesn’t want to go, so we’re going to go get drunk instead.

by Sugaa on Mar 23, 2011 4:40 PM CDT reply actions

That's easy. Get drunk at the game!

by iHorses on Mar 23, 2011 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions

You could, but that's an expensive option.

by Travis Drybread on Mar 23, 2011 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Really like this quote on Glennie:

“It was almost like a passing of the torch. Scottie really flourished afterward, realizing this was his last opportunity in junior to make his mark and we’ve really seen solid play out of him,” said McCrimmon. “He really finished strong. He finished ninth in the league in scoring and we’ve really seen a lot of maturity in his game.”

There’s lots of talk in that article about his leadership of the team as they head into the playoffs as well. Looks like he may have turned that corner.

Defending Big D - Dallas Stars news & analysis
Proud member of the Joe Nieuwendyk support team.

by Brandon Worley on Mar 23, 2011 5:00 PM CDT reply actions