Dallas Stars Daily Links: Stars Struggling To Address Lack Of Energy From Some

by Erin Bolen on Feb 13, 2012 6:00 AM CST in Dallas Stars Daily Links

While for the most part, the compete issues that have plagued the Dallas Stars on and off throughout the season weren't there against the Los Angeles Kings, a few players still stuck out to Glen Gulutzan.

And like any parent disappointed in a misbehaving child, he started sending the worst offenders to time out.

When asked about getting his players ready for games, especially big ones against teams in the playoff race, this is what he had to say.

"You’ve got to maybe take away ice time from guys who aren’t ready, and we tried to do that a little bit tonight. We had a few guys that were going and chugging. We need everybody going. We’ve done everything from no practices to practices to conserve energy, but at this time of the year you have to play a certain way. Guys have to be prepared to go. There’s no excuses for it. If we have to go in there and amp them up every night for games like this it will be tough."

If you look at the Stars individual time on ice from the game, you can kind of pick out who he might be referencing (hint: look at the defensemen).

After the jump, more on the Stars loss to the Kings, Steve Ott uses his Twitter powers for awesome and the always fun lacrosse-style goal.

Dallas_stars_news_and_notes_medium_medium_medium

Turnovers, though not as numerous as in some recent games, still managed to be the defining factor of Sunday's game. [ESPN Dallas]
I usually like Rick Gosselin's stuff, even when I can only ready two and a half paragraphs of it. But from the headline of this paywalled column, I can guess that he's asking for Steve Ott to be the guy who makes the difference for this team down the stretch. [DallasNews.com]
Most of the Los Angeles media (including the venerable Los Angeles Times) no longer travels with the Kings or Ducks, so coverage from their perspective is... limited. The best local stuff I could find game from the very solid L.A. Kings Insider. If you want quotes from the players, they're also available in separate entries. [LA Kings Insider]
Twitter can be used for both good and evil. Ott used it for greatness after the game to introduce us to a teenaged Mike Ribeiro and his mustache. [Twitter]
The interesting thing about these special teams stats to me was that this is the first time in a while that both the power play and the penalty kill have combined for such issues. Usually it's been one or the other. [The Hockey Writers]
Another defenseman is off the trade and free agent market as the Edmonton Oilers have reportedly agreed to a one-year, $1.5-ish million extension with veteran headhunt...er, defensive specialist Andy Sutton. [Edmonton Journal]
I had such high hopes for Brendan Shanahan, and he occasionally still dishes out a fair suspension. But Larry Brooks of the New York post is right that he's really started to try and find ways out of suspending guys for clearly illegal hits rather than just giving them the games they deserve. [New York Post]
Meet the enemy: If you're a pessimist, and judging by our game threads, many of you are, you'd say the fact that the Detroit Red Wings could set the NHL record for consecutive home victories against the Stars on Tuesday would be a bad prognostic sign. An optimist would say they're due for a home loss right about now, right? Right? [New York Times]
Around the Pacific Division: The St. Louis Blues got an assist from their special teams and from the return of Andy McDonald from a concussion as they defeated the San Jose Sharks 3-0. And the Anaheim Ducks got a hat trick from Corey Perry to lead them to a 5-3 win over Columbus Blue Jackets. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Los Angeles Times]
There are a few lacrosse-style goals in the minors each season, but few done with the slickness of this beauty from the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL. [Puck Daddy]
Glen Gulutzan talks slow starts, a sense of urgency and everything else that's been ailing the Dallas Stars recently in his post-game comments.

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Comments

Heh, Ott with a funny one. =)

Detroit looks just perfect right now. Not good.

Trevor Daley is my cup of tea.

by Henri Muroke on Feb 13, 2012 7:17 AM CST reply actions

Looks like Grossman had a nice bit of break time during the 3rd.

by Travis Drybread on Feb 13, 2012 8:07 AM CST reply actions

List of Turnover differential

Here is a list of giveaway vs takeaway differential from worst to best. Draw your own conclusions:

Nicklas Grossman 21
Brenden Morrow 18
Philip Larsen 16
Mike Ribeiro 13
Alex Goligoski 12
Stephane Robidas 8
Mark Fistric 7
Sheldon Souray 6
Trevor Daley 5
Jake Dowell 2
Adam Pardy 2
Jamie Benn 0
Jordie Benn 0
Matt Fraser 0
Francis Wathier 0
Michael Ryder -1
Toby Petersen -2
Eric Nystrom -3
Steve Ott -4
Loui Eriksson -5
Adam Burish -7
Tomas Vincour -7
Tom Wandell -15
Vernon Fiddler -15
Radek Dvorak -17

by roofit on Feb 13, 2012 11:00 AM CST up reply actions

Defensemen will always, always be at the top of the list.

Especially given the nature of how they distribute the puck and play in their own end.

Also, giveaways and takeways are such a subjective number from rink to rink it’s tough to really accurately see what he true numbers are.

The trends are important, however.

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by Brandon Worley on Feb 13, 2012 11:25 AM CST up reply actions

The distribution within the team is meaningful

because they were all judged by the same off ice official though.

Two that surprise me. 1) How bad Larsen is with so few played games. Though I know a lot of that is adjusting to the higher level of the competition in the NHL. 2) How few Daley has for the amount of minutes he plays.

For purposes of this discussion I would rather just look at giveaways and not the net.

by 1paniolo on Feb 13, 2012 11:45 AM CST up reply actions

Great job identifying Grossman...

As the weakest link. Can we now sit him and play Fistric more?!? He’ll, I’m even willing to give Pardy a second chance.

by fivefourfighting on Feb 13, 2012 8:19 AM CST via iPhone app reply actions

No Pardy, please.

Even with Grossman at his worst and Pardy at his best, Grossman > Pardy.

by WingnutInStarsCountry on Feb 13, 2012 9:06 AM CST up reply actions

Fistric's toi took a big hit in the 3rd too

But since Gully complimented him in the post game I think that had more to do with trying to keep some consistency in the pairs. Had to be weird for Daley moving to his natural left side … it’s been years since he played on that side!

Goose with 26 minutes! … course his was the point killing giveaway, or more realistically lost puck battle.

by 1paniolo on Feb 13, 2012 9:20 AM CST up reply actions

It is getting depressing...but still I'm hopeful

The way I look at it, the Stars are in the business lately of helping other teams break streaks. We helped LA get out of their 1-goal funk and now we have a chance to help Detroit get out of their home winning streak. Please?

by RB16 on Feb 13, 2012 9:07 AM CST reply actions

I agree

I think they will be pumped to deny the Wings a record. … at least I hope so after two losses in a row!

by 1paniolo on Feb 13, 2012 9:22 AM CST up reply actions

Anyone for Detroit injured?

Dallas is also good at getting opponents’ guys back from injury.

by Chubbs78750 on Feb 13, 2012 1:05 PM CST up reply actions

They need a lengthy winning streak badly.

Of course the team knows that so it will be up to them to motivate themselves.

"The Dallas Cowboys announced they have released Jerry Jones."

by T-rom on Feb 13, 2012 9:25 AM CST via iPhone app reply actions

every team has to's.

Ours just seem to find there way into the back of our net more often. Also, the compete level was not there for much of this game. I think everyone had the same thought watching the last 2 minutes. Why don’t we play that way all the time. Oh well, there’s always the next game.

Its supranatural, you know, a higher level than supernatural

by Bayouboy99 on Feb 13, 2012 9:52 AM CST via iPhone app reply actions

"Oh well, there’s always the next game."

Yes, I was saying the same thing… but several games ago. Time will be running out soon for the Stars if they keep on postponing the level of urgency they should have been playing with for a while now.

by MurrayW on Feb 13, 2012 10:02 AM CST up reply actions

that last part what dripping

If thats still the mantra this late in the season. Gulp!! I personally hate that saying. Such a lame excuse

Its supranatural, you know, a higher level than supernatural

by Bayouboy99 on Feb 13, 2012 8:30 PM CST via iPhone app up reply actions

This 'There's always the next game' attitude

is what is doing them in.

Last year they finally found a sense of urgency in mid March and it was too late. This year looks like more of the same. I am so sick of ’there’s always the next game’

by cms1171 on Feb 13, 2012 10:17 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah, but . . .

Our TOs come, it seems, every time we try to exit our own zone!

How can one forechecker corral 3 of our guys and make them cough it up so oftern??

by Cowpokealong on Feb 13, 2012 11:14 AM CST up reply actions

I was there Last Nite..

The whole team was coasting pretty much except for a few: Benn, Eriksson, Dvorak, Ryder, Goose, Burish.. That’s it. These guys were the only ones moving their legs. Ribs got hit good in the first, but he was slow before that and it made him slower. Lazy perimeter defense, always cycling down low, no puck possession, no crisp passing-in fact too many missed passes, the fore check was absent most of the night, hits came in the middle against the wall, no back check, no energy. :( My GF who is barely learning about hockey made a comment to me, they are playing so sluggish. So there! It was that obvious. :( There was a point where the team got steam rolling and that’s when Eriksson scored that first one. If we could play like that we would be a force. After the Ryder goal, and they tied, they got lazy again and sure enough….. The power play was absent completely. It’s like L.A. were on the PP or they would hold us hostage behind our net with one guy until we barely got it out of our zone. The very last when we pulled our goalie we had possession but they were waiting for the perfect shot and time was winding. We just wanted them to shoot the puck at least and the rebound would have yielded something but it was all passing around and that was it. I love my Stars, and we can’t win them all but I just wish they’d move those legs more and shoot. OH, and can we have someone park in front of the opposing team’s crease for a change!? Go Stars!

by ilickbaby on Feb 13, 2012 10:22 AM CST reply actions

What it boils down to is were 3 points out of the playoffs and 5 out of the lottery

the question is whether we go on a losing streak and end up in that bottom zone or a winning streak and end up in the playoffs

This week Tuesday @ Detroit, Thursday vs Flames, Saturday @ Phoenix, Sunday vs Predators.
Following week Tuesday @Montreal, Thursday @ Chicago, Friday vs Wild and Sunday vs Canucks.

These next 8 games are more or less going to decide whether we are in or out… The thing i don’t want to happen is to go 50-50 and be in the same barely out of the lottery and barely out of the playoffs scenario that will give us another mid round draft pick and no real “hope” going forward,

we have alot of quality prospects coming up to texas next year but IMO we need one more “star” gamebreaker player for this core to win another cup, i think this year or the next year would be the year to acquire that player high in the draft because our veterans still hold value and we do still have some good older but not “veteran” players to keep the ship somewhat steady.

by can we get hatcher back on Feb 13, 2012 10:35 AM CST reply actions

yep

I hate this in between mess. Either tank the season for draft picks or string some wins together! These last 2 big games against Phoenix and LA were just bad. Both were on their 2nd night of a b2b, and both Stars were at home and rested. I guess other teams on the bubble are thhaving the same discussions we are though (Chicago, Minnesota, Colorado). I guess we’ll have more of an idea around the trade deadline…

by rpm0003 on Feb 13, 2012 10:50 AM CST up reply actions

This is tough.

Of course I want my team to succeed but I don’t want them to end up in that terrible middle ground where they overlook chances to improve the team for the future b/c they have a slim chance of getting in as the 8th seed. If we get a high pick I hope Joe uses it on a center.

"The Dallas Cowboys announced they have released Jerry Jones."

by T-rom on Feb 13, 2012 10:54 AM CST via iPhone app up reply actions

i really just want the Best player available if we got a top 5 pick

by can we get hatcher back on Feb 13, 2012 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

I agree w/ ilickbaby, but would add Vern.

Went to the game against the Wild, and Fiddler always seemed to be pickin’ ‘em up and puttin’ ’em down. He always looks to be the hardest worker.

This squad really blurs the line between a mentally soft team, or just a team that lacks enough talent to consistently win. Don’t know which.

"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 Feb 13, 2012 10:38 AM CST reply actions

Ribero impressed me

I thought he was the most dangerous Star on the ice last night. Playing on a bad wheel that got dinged again in the first. He still had several good scoring chances and was involved in both our goals. And he had 3 hits and was 50% on the dot.

by 1paniolo on Feb 13, 2012 10:48 AM CST reply actions

I've always wondered

why there aren’t more lacrosse style goals. I guess less time to try it in the NHL but there are definitely times it could be done. I saw Mike Legg, famous for doing it at Michigan, do it in Lubbock.

by StarzenheimerSchmidt on Feb 13, 2012 10:57 AM CST reply actions

Too fast and too much D-man and Goalie Skill in the NHL

It takes longer to do that than try a normal play. Most likely, by the time the guy could get the puck up off the ice he’d be flat on his back.

Plus, if you have guys looking for it to happen it is easy to defend. I was playing a couple year ago and there was some college kid trying to be a a hot shot against us old guys and wrap it around. All I had to do was pop his stick up and the puck flew off. I’m older and slower but he kept practicing picking it up every time the puck came to him so it was easy to read.

by RB16 on Feb 13, 2012 11:17 AM CST up reply actions

Not to mention the abuse you would take.

NHL defense men and goalies do not like to be shown up. Remember the grief Ribero took for some of his shootout moves? You try one of those lacrosse shots in the NHL and tree trunks like Murray and Chara would be making it a point to make you sorry you ever considered it.

by 1paniolo on Feb 13, 2012 11:51 AM CST up reply actions

I'm wondering if anyone on the coaching staff has suggested to the PP guys that . . .

they consider shooting at the net . . . just maybe out of DESPERATION . . . and see what might happen?

It is my considered, yet humble, opinion that one rarely scores after two minutes of simply passing the puck around the zone looking for the perfect setup. I mean, sometimes, if you send the puck in the direction of the net (preferably the opponents net), you just never know, it just might hit something and deflect in.
Do we, at this point, really care if it is a highlight goal or just one ugly, magical, lucky, miracle bounce that lands in the net somehow? I don’t!!

by Cowpokealong on Feb 13, 2012 11:28 AM CST reply actions

I hear what you are saying

and I am yelling SHOOT at my TV when the pp is winding down without much/any action. But I was shocked a while back by Josh’s pp analysis that showed a avg NHL team gets under 2 shots on goal for every 2 minutes of pp time. Stunned actually. Now I’m sure shot attempts are a lot higher, but under 2 on goal for every full pp you are on? Wow.

by 1paniolo on Feb 13, 2012 11:57 AM CST up reply actions

What are we looking at for attendance in the AAC?

I thought the price reductions would fill the place up, but each of my last three games it is half to 2/3 full. We need to turn this ship around quick or we will be looking at another year of no playoffs and that will just make me want to kick things. Miracle at the Joe, all-in tomorrow?

by HockeyRulez on Feb 13, 2012 12:28 PM CST reply actions