Not much new out of morning skate today, as Adam Pardy and Nick Grossman are both in the lineup tonight for the first time as expected and Mark Fistric will sit. Pairs were Souray/Robidas, Grossman/Daley, and Pardy/Goligoski.
Coach Gulutzan said that the focus of the team is on limiting chances against, saying that they're going to wear out their goaltender if they do not. He was asked about his apparent unhappiness with their overall game despite the three wins here at home and maintained what he said on Monday and Thursday night.
"Our game is not completely developed to where we want it to be," said Gulutzan. "The wins are nice [in the short term], but over the long term we want to have success," which is his way of saying that three wins are nice but they want to make sure they keep heading in the right direction.
"We can't have as many pucks on our net and rely on our goalie ever night."
Dallas spent much of the morning sessions working on the power play and penalty kill.
Lines will look much the same for forwards as discussed in the game preview. The fourth line is still being contemplated where Eric Nystrom is concerned but it looks like Jake Dowell and Tom Wandell will play there no matter what and then it will be either Petersen or Nystrom. Notice how everyone is getting rotated out of that fourth line spot but Dowell, who has entrenched himself quite nicely.
With Razor away with Hockey Night in Canada Tonight (the first of many Saturdays without Razor this season) Bob Sturm of Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket fame will be filling in on the TV side and was shadowing Ralph this morning. Should be a nice change up. Mike Modano mentioned on Twitter yesterday that he could possibly be filling in as well as the year goes on.
The Rangers game IS on at the same time tonight but the Stars do a good job of keeping you up to date on it if you want to come on out to the AAC. There are plenty of TV's where you can keep an eye on the action in both locales. Or if you prefer, just escape from the tension with hockey.