Dallas Stars Daily Links: Loui Eriksson the Latest Victim of a Dirty Hit

It's all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. Or until about a dozen people get hurt.

Brendan Shanahan has been kept busy so far this season. He wrapped up the fairly open and shut case of Ryan Garbutt yesterday, 5 games if you please, and will be immediately presented a hearing with John Scott for this hit on Loui Eriksson. A day in the life of the NHL Department of Player Safety. Bad enough watching Dustin Penner being helped off the ice after the Garbutt hit, or Niklas Kronwall after being taken out by Cody McLeod, but Loui Eriksson? This time it's personal.

The suspension to John Scott should be a lengthy one. 8-10 games in the press box, where he will arguably help his team more than he has in the 7 games he's played this season. Ahh, the uselessness of an anachronistic enforcer...

In other news, after all the line shuffling in practice this week due to maintenance days, and suspension hearings, and the simple need to try something new, it appears that very little new will in fact be tried. Shame, as I was really hoping Kari would be next to get a crack on the top line. Instead it seems the only unknown as far as the forward lines are concerned is whether Cole will play or if there'll be a call up. As far as the defense though, is Kevin Connauton finally gonna get some NHL minutes? [Stars Inside Edge]

The Flames are playing the final game of a five-game road trip that sees them take on all five former members of the old Pacific Division. And while they came away with a 3-2 win in Los Angeles, the other three games went against them, dropping their record to 4-3-2.

* * *

Stars v Flames. Tonight. Get excited. [Sports Day DFW] [Stars Inside Edge]

Here's hoping a healthy scratch this season has the same effect on Alex Goligoski as it did last year. [Sports Day DFW]

Perspective. What a lovely thing. Josh Bogorad with his expectations for the Stars, and why we don't need to give up on them just yet. [On the Radar]

Antoine Roussel garnering attention over in his homeland, both for being one of a very small number of Frenchmen to play in the NHL, and for his 'coups de poings,' as they say. (en francais) [Metro News]

It only took about a month for the obvious to finally be stated. Cory Schneider is taking over the reins from Martin Brodeur as the Devils' starter. [Puck Daddy]

Mike Ribeiro finding a home in the desert. [Arizona Sports]

I can't help it. I'm following the 'Fancy Stats v Maple Leafs' debate like a soap opera. Apparently though I'm not the only one. [The Globe and Mail]