Dallas Stars Ups & Downs: Week 13

by Taylor Baird on Jan 4, 2012 3:00 PM CST in Dallas Stars Ups & Downs

Another week of inconsistency for the Dallas Stars, as they went 1-2 in the past week once again. With an ugly loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Dallas Stars really brought it to the Boston Bruins on New Year's Eve in front of a soldout crowd at the American Airlines Center. They followed that amazing win with a high-scoring affair against the Detroit Red Wings that saw a lot of emotion and drive to even up but fall just short. This week's ups & downs after the jump. Agree or disagree on any? Let's talk about it in the comments.

Richard BACHMAN

0gp

Comments: Bachman won the backup goaltender spot with his play in November on callup, and with Lehtonen returning from injury and trying to get on a roll again, has not played in the past week. It's typical that the backup hasn't played a game when the Stars played 3 games in 6 nights.

Jamie BENN 3gp, 1-4-5, -2
Comments: Jamie Benn is everywhere when he's playing on the ice, and has easily been the best player for the Stars in the Bruins and Red Wings games this past week. Not surprisingly, Benn had no points in the game against the Blue Jackets and the Stars lost in fairly brutal fashion that night.

Jordie BENN 1 gp, 0-1-1, Even
Comments: It was only the first game of his NHL career, and Jordie Benn made it count. He scored an assist, his first point of his NHL career. At the end of the game with an empty net, he was on the ice paired with Alex Goligoski looking for the tying goal. Looked fairly well defensively. Overall, you have to be pleased with that performance in his first outing.

Adam BURISH 3 gp, 0-1-1, +3
Comments: Seemed as though he was going to get a goal in the game last night. Has been driving the net and making his fourth line minutes count lately.

Trevor DALEY 3gp, 1-3-4, -2
Comments: Leads defensemen in scoring over the past month or so. Scoring depth from the blueline is always a plus.

Jake DOWELL 1gp, 0-0-0, +1
Comments: In the one game he played, he had a fight against the Boston Bruins for 5 PIM and ended the game with a +1.

Radek DVORAK 3gp, 0-1-1, -5
Comments: Dvorak and his linemates have gotten scorched on goals against this past week, struggling with some line matchups at home.

Loui ERIKSSON 3gp, 2-1-3, Even
Comments: Another week, another point per game average from Loui Eriksson. Hit his knee in the game last night, so that's something to keep an eye on as the week progresses, hopefully it won't impede his production.

Vernon FIDDLER 3gp, 1-0-1, -3
Comments: Was the Stars' best player in the loss against the Blue Jackets, but he and his linemates have struggled defensively over the past two games.

Mark FISTRIC 3gp, 0-0-0, Even
Comments: Has seen his minutes increase a bit with the injuries the Stars have on the blueline, and surprisingly has finished all three games at even. Considering the Stars have given up 3-2-5 goals against in those three games, it's pretty solid to be at even if you're on the D-corps.

Alex GOLIGOSKI 3gp, 0-2-2, -4
Comments: The powerplay finally clicked for two PPGs against the Bruins, helped in good part by Alex Goligoski spending almost the entire time out on the powerplay. Has had some goals scored against with him getting tougher matchups with Sheldon Souray and Stephane Robidas out with injuries.

Nicklas GROSSMAN 3gp, 0-1-1, Even
Comments: Has struggled at times with big defensive minutes being played with Souray and Robidas out.

Philip LARSEN 2gp, 0-0-0, Even
Comments: Was doing okay until a hit in the Bruins game took him out of the game. His return is unknown as of now, but hopefully he won't be out too long.

Kari LEHTONEN 3gp, 1-2-0, .877 SV%, 10 GA
Comments: In his first game back from injury, looked a little bit rusty in his first few shifts. Made some big stops in the game against the Bruins for the win, and again made big stops to keep the Stars in it on their comeback attempt against the Red Wings. Hopefully finding his groove again, as his save percentage and GAA are well lower than Stars fans are used to seeing from the big guy in the pipes.

Brenden MORROW 3 gp, 0-0-0, -2
Comments: Hasn't been scoring and hasn't been driving to the net as much as usual. Struggling to find offense this past week.

Eric NYSTROM 3gp, 0-0-0, -2
Comments: Was often put on the ice against the Zetterberg line last night versus the Red Wings, and Nystrom's line was scored on three different times during the game. Very rough outing for that trio, who have also cooled off offensively in the two games prior as well.

Steve OTT 3gp, 0-0-0, -3
Comments: Did not do much on the scoresheet, but played well in other areas of his game. Was an ASTOUNDING 73.3% in faceoffs versus the Bruins, and an abysmal 36.4% against the Blue Jackets. It is true that you don't win games if you never have puck possession, and when your top faceoff guy has an off night, it will often show.

Adam PARDY 3gp, 0-0-0, -2
Comments: With the D pairings shuffled a bit due to injuries on the blueline, Pardy's game suffered without Mark Fistric as his wingman. Had a near-goal in the game last night versus the Red Wings.

Toby PETERSEN 2gp, 0-0-0, Even
Comments: With injuries being the name of the game these days, was in two games to help out on the powerplay. Saw only 3:48 of ice time in the game versus the Red Wings, with Jamie Benn often taking Petersen's spot at center being double-shifted with Tom Wandell and Adam Burish on the fourth line.

Mike RIBEIRO 3gp, 0-0-0, -2
Comments: No scoring for Ribeiro in the past week, in the Stars lost two of their three games. Surely there is a correlation there.

Stephane ROBIDAS 0gp
Comments: Was placed on IR last week, but is apparently skating this week. Possible he could return in the next week, which would help a depleted blueline.

Michael RYDER 3gp, 3-1-4, +1
Comments: More goals for the sniping Michael Ryder. Even scored a goal against his old team the Bruins on New Year's Eve.

Sheldon SOURAY 0gp
Comments: That booming shot from the blueline is sorely missed on a defense corps that is hurting depthwise.

Tomas VINCOUR 0gp, 0-0-0, Even
Comments: Still out with an MCL sprain.

Tom WANDELL 3gp, 1-2-3, +2
Comments: Has had two great games, and was rewarded for it by being out on the ice when the net was empty last night when the Stars were trying to score the tying goal agains the Red Wings. Has looked hungry on the puck, and is starting to use his speed in a fashion that is leading to better scoring chances. This is much better than his overskating tendencies earlier in the season. The question is whether he can keep this level of play consistently.

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Comments

I honestly can't see how Ryder isn't considered outstanding

I know he pooped his coverage on Hudler’s goal against Detroit, but what a pick up.

and TREVOR DALEY!?!? Ignoring the minus-2, arguably D-man of the year so far. As much as Souray has the points I think this guy has been fantastic (probs not worth the contract though :P)

So with healthy D:

Robi – Souray
Goose – Larsen
Dillon – Benn… ;)

Tonight's forecast... a freeze!!!
James Neal - 45 points. Alex Goligoski - 46 points. Nieuwendyk lost?

by Great British Stars Fan on Jan 4, 2012 3:06 PM CST reply actions

Of course Dillon just go assigned to the AHL

Of course!

Tonight's forecast... a freeze!!!
James Neal - 45 points. Alex Goligoski - 46 points. Nieuwendyk lost?

by Great British Stars Fan on Jan 4, 2012 3:11 PM CST up reply actions

I agree

Ryder is definitely playing well right now. Already about to break his goal total for all of last season, in half the games. I’d say he’s (for the most part) taking advantage of being in a top-six position again.

And yeah Daley’s been pretty good this year, pretty consistent. Seems he’s making good decisions in both ends, and of course his skating is such an asset. (I wish he’d shoot for rebounds more; can’t remember exactly, but last night he was in with Benn and Ryder – I think? – on a three on two… and he wrists it into the stomach of Howard. Shoot lower!).

by rev0lver19 on Jan 4, 2012 3:16 PM CST up reply actions