Dallas Stars Daily Links: Reinforcements On Their Way, But Slowly

If I heard Daryl Reaugh's stat on last night's broadcast correctly, Dallas Stars offense has scored 33 goals in the past 17 games.

That's not nearly enough.

Fortunately, at least for the prospects of this season, some of the Stars more prolific offensive talents are on their way back to the lineup over the next two weeks.

Defenseman Sheldon Souray, who has missed six games with "splintering" of a bone in his foot, skated on Sunday and is a 50/50 shot to return before Tuesday's game at the Montreal Canadiens. Jamie Benn will not play in that game, but he will make the road trip with the team.

"He's ready as long as we can get him in condition," Gulutzan said (of Souray). "I would say he is 50-50 at best for Montreal, but he is going on the trip."

Stars captain Brenden Morrow and his wonky back/neck/shoulder are apparently in rehab now and could be back by the first week of March.

After the jump, more on the Stars loss to the Nashville Predators, Hockey Day in America and fun with official game clocks.

• Another day, another demoralizing loss on the back end of a back-to-back. The Stars continue saying all the right things, but they haven't backed that up with action as detailed by Mike Heika in this paywalled gamer. [DallasNews.com]
  
• The Stars have been picking up points with some regularity but not nearly enough wins, and it's reaching the point where we can call them slumping. I do love the video still of the two Finnish goalies peering at each other. [ESPN Dallas]
  
• Our friends over at On the Forecheck weren't happy with the third period, but it was still a pretty solid two points for the boys from Nashville. [On The Forecheck]
  
• And the Predators themselves talked about how important that first period lead was. Um, yeah. I think we need to hire the Los Angeles Kings clock guy for the American Airlines Center. [The Tennessean]
  
• It was Hockey Day In America (or if you looked at the games picked for national broadcast, Hockey Day In Traditional Markets, but I digress), and to the Razor boy gives us some mind vitamins on the state of the sport in the States. [Razor with an Edge]
• Speaking of that event, the NHLPA put together a players poll. I didn't go through all the categories to see the runners up, but Benn and Loui Eriksson make an appearance on the underrated list and Souray shows up on the hardest shot. [PlayersPoll.ca]
• Kari Lehtonen is scheduled to be in goal again for Tuesday's game in Montreal. I know at least one center with a scar on his neck and quicksilver hands will be revved up for that one. [DallasNews.com]
• James Neal got his payday in a big way as the Pittsburgh Penguins signed him to a six-year, $5 million per extension. He's still streaky this year (three goals in the last 10 after starting off at a much more torrid pace), but nowhere near the extent that he was last season. I'm also impressed that as a 30-goal guy, he's only even on +/-. But still, good for him. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]
• A cross check to the ear apparently earns you a one-game suspension if you're Warren Peters of the Minnesota Wild. [NHL.com]
  
• Speaking of unfriendly home clock keepers, the New York Rangers beat the clock on the scoreboard but not the official game clock with a buzzer beating goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Somewhere, hockey karma is nodding. [Puck Daddy]
  
• The best way to get Rick Nash to play for your franchise, a theory by Rangers fans. Chant "We don't want you!" at him during the game. Smart people, there. [ESPN New York]
  
• Meet the enemy: The Montreal Canadiens are not playing well at the moment, and they have won only 11 of 32 home games this season after a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday. [Montreal Gazette]
  
• Around the Pacific Divison: The Detroit Red Wings are doing their best Energizer Bunny impression at Joe Louis Arena and kept winning and winning and winning with a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks. And it was Finland-night for the Anaheim Ducks, which goal goals from Teemu Selannne and Nik Hagman to bead the Florida Panthers 2-0. [San Jose Mercury News/Los Angeles Times]
  
• Krys Barch finally got his shot at George Parros in this spin cycle of a fight. [Puck Daddy]
  
• Stephane Robidas talks about this team is trying to take those crucial steps forward despite the fact they seem unable to string a winning streak together.
  

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