Game 11: Dallas Stars @ St. Louis Blues
Saturday, October 24 2009 · 7:00 p.m. CT
Scottrade Center - St. Louis, Missouri
TV: My27 | Radio: 1310 The Ticket
A bit of an unconventional game thread tonight, because I wanted to combine the GDT with some news.
More after the jump.
First of all, Marty Turco will be in net for the Stars tonight and Ty Conklin will be in for the Blues.
Second, Matt Niskanen will not be playing tonight. Neither Mike Modano nor Jere Lehtinen made the trip to St. Louis, so they won't be playing. Lehtinen is not progressing at all with his intercostal muscle injury, and there is still no telling when he might return.
This is the last game in a busy stretch for the Stars, who will have three games off before playing Wednesday. The hope is that Modano and Niskanen are ready to play then.
Projected lines (based on lines used before the Ott and Richards injuries):
Morrow - Ribeiro - Benn
Neal - Richards - Erksson
Ott - Wandell - Brunnstrom
Barch - Sutherby - Petersen
Things to watch for:
- A backed down defense: We've seen a trend start to develop with these Stars. The defense has been good to great in open ice defense, rarely allowing forwards to to get by them through the neutral zone. Yet when the play gets close to the net, the defense backs off and an open road is paved for a clean skate to the goal. The majority of goals allowed this season have been from within five feet of the net, and the defensemen seem almost tentative to get physical and control their territory around their net.
- Get some shots!! The Stars have been stymied lately and haven't peppered the opposing goaltender like we'd expect such them to. Expect Crawford to put the fear into these forwards to make sure the get the shot on net.
- Turco. He's played better as of late, but needs to continue to improve. Slowly he's returned to near the form we expect him to be at.
I won't be able to join in the game thread tonight, and will be watching on DVR later. Go Stars!!!!!!!!!