Dallas Stars fans will get a look at every player on the active roster this homestand, at least those who started the homestand of the active roster, after today's 7 p.m. game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
That's because defenseman Adam Pardy, who was signed as a free agent this offseason, will be in the lineup tonight after dealing with a rib injury for the first four games. He will likely replace Mark Fistric in the lineup, and to make room for Pardy on the active roster, youngster Philip Larsen was sent to the Texas Stars on Friday.
While Pardy will definitely be in the lineup this evening, the status of Eric Nystrom is more unclear, with coach Glen Gulutzan saying there's about a 70 percent chance he will play.
"I think there's a pretty good chance,'' Gulutzan said. "I know he's champing at the bit and we just want to make sure that he's up to speed so we can put him in a position to succeed when he gets out there. I think there's a good chance.''
After the jump, a closer look at Nystrom, scouting the slow-starting Columbus Blue Jackets and a couple potentially serious injuries in the Western Conference.
- A fairly nice look at Eric Nystrom, why he is no longer with the Minnesota Wild and what he might bring to the Stars this year. Also, at the end, is a brief note about who will be filling in for Daryl Reaugh tonight, as the Razor is off calling Hockey Night in Canada. [ESPN Dallas]
- Heika also profiles Nystrom, but his story is behind a paywall. [DallasNews.com]
- Not that I want the NBA lockout to continue to spin towards season-ending Armageddon, but it appears the lack of Houston Rockets games might provide an unexpected bonus for Stars fans on the Gulf Coast. Without the normal slate of Rockets games to round out the programing, Fox Sports Houston might be showing more Stars games for the time being. [Houston Chronicle]
- This Canucks blog has a couple notes on the Stars, and I link it because it's the first non-Dallas mention I've seen of the performance of defenseman Sheldon Souray early in the season. They also make a comparison for Kari Lehtonen that, if it holds true, I think will please most Stars fans. [Canucks Hockey Blog]
- Steve Ott has taken over the spokesStar role for the Stick with Reading program. I enjoyed the gallery, where you get to see just how short Toby Petersen actually is and I think also catch a glimpse of Ott's daughter. [DallasStars.com]
- Okay, we can all agree we've talked enough about attendance. But Puck Daddy (via some very good work by The Tennessean) takes a look at one of the plans the Nashville Predators are using to drive attendance, one the Stars have used in the recent past, giving away free tickets. And a former member of the Stars brass is behind Nashville's new approach. [Puck Daddy]
- Scouting the enemy, part the first: Here are the game notes from the local newspaper, which focuses on the role recently-promoted Alexandre Giroux might play on the team's top lines. [Puck-Rakers Blog]
- Scouting the enemy, part the second: Our friends over at The Cannon talk about why they're not panicking after an 0-3-1 start and address the implications of the Jackets recent demotion of Cam Atkinson. [The Cannon]
- Around the Pacific Division: Only two NHL games on the docket Friday night (what is the deal with this early-season schedule?), but one involved two of the Stars more hated division companions. The Anaheim Ducks shutout the San Jose Sharks 1-0 in the Ducks home opener. [NHL.com]
- In not-so-fun news from that game, Ducks forward Jason Blake had to have surgery after suffering a serious cut to his left forearm somewhere near the wrist. Brenden Morrow and Mike Modano can both attest to how tough skate lacerations to the wrist are, and Blake has enough health problems already after being diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia a few years back. [Los Angeles Times]
- In a what appears to be a little bit of a teammate-induced injury, St. Louis Blues forward Andy McDonald has been sent back home with concussion-like symptoms. [StLToday.com]