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The Dallas Stars know what’s wrong with their game right now. They just have to find a way to fix it, and maybe hope the hockey gods get over whatever it is that’s ticking them off.
In their final appearance at Joe Louis Arena, the guys in green gave up two power-play goals and failed to convert a 5-on-3 during a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Former Star Steve Ott scored the empty-net goal that ended a frantic extra-man rally in the final minutes, one which had already been stifled adequately by Petr Mrazek and his .971 save percentage.
"Our execution on the special teams wasn't good enough," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said of the inability to beat Detroit goalie Petr Mrazek, who had 34 saves. "We missed the net too many times. We had a couple of good looks, and he made some good saves, but you've got to get the job done."
There were good things about the Stars’ play last night. The increasingly indispensable Esa Lindell scored on the first shift, and the Stars’ newly Ruffled lineup looked sharp during the first period – until that first penalty, on Stephen Johns, let the Wings tie the game on the power play.
Asked if he thought the changes worked, Ruff said: "I thought our game tonight was a lot better. It wasn't as reckless, it wasn't as careless. We're going to win a lot of games if we play like that."
Asked if that means he might stick with those six defensemen Thursday at Pittsburgh, Ruff said no, that he would re-evaluate Wednesday.
There’s always more at Mike’s place. [SportsDayDFW]
As of this writing, there has been no update on that third-period injury that left No. 28 face-down, bleeding and clearly dazed.
Stephen Johns going off the ice, got cut in a collision with Henrik Zetterberg.
— Mark Stepneski (@StarsInsideEdge) November 30, 2016
So let’s get back to the good things about last night in Detroit – and Dave Strader’s brief return was one of the best. [SportsDayDFW]
Dave Strader (@TheVoiceDS) is in Detroit with the team, and he spent the morning catching up with Dallas Stars players and coaches. pic.twitter.com/F3G1PNIxg5
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) November 29, 2016
The joy was contagious as he said hello to some old friends.
Awesome to see @TheVoiceDS back in the booth at JLA. pic.twitter.com/Td9IZcK1JV
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) November 30, 2016
Seeing this guy made a 3-1 loss, and the final trip to the antiquated Joe, palatable.#DaveStrader#screwcancer pic.twitter.com/eyWiXcx4Wf
— Daryl Reaugh (@Razor5Hole) November 30, 2016
Did it ever feel great to be back in the booth with Razor! Can't wait to be strong enough to call a game. @Razor5Hole https://t.co/DZZZNA0uNs
— Dave Strader (@TheVoiceDS) November 30, 2016
Dave caught up with Razor during the pregame show, and @DallasStars was kind enough to share the segment on social media.
"I can't believe in just one short year, the relationship that the Dallas Stars fans have developed with me." @TheVoiceDS pic.twitter.com/7NC7u6dk1v
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) November 30, 2016
And as it turns out, Dave the Former Wings Announcer isn’t the only Stars broadcaster who’s been responsible for some good memories in the Joe.
Joe Louis Arena & I have a tenuous history. That said, I still love this image of @Razor5Hole doing his game prep: pic.twitter.com/yUbU7b2JEC
— Trey Hill (@squarerootof9) November 29, 2016
Heika’s postgame Cold Facts point out why the Stars “are the epitome of a .500 team” at the moment. [SportsDayDFW]
On a happier note, Canadian Olympic superstar Penny Oleksiak shared a little game-recognizes-game about her brother Jamie’s performance in St. Louis.
In case you missed my brother breaking ankles @jamieoleksiak #dangles https://t.co/QuXL60EqLE
— Penny Oleksiak (@OleksiakPenny) November 29, 2016
Last night, on the #Death front:
- Loui Eriksson scored, and so of course the Vancouver Canucks defeated the Minnesota Wild, 5-4. [Hockey Wilderness]
- Patrik Laine scored, and so of course the Winnipeg Jets beat the New Jersey Devils, 3-2. [Arctic Ice Hockey]
- Artemi Panarin scored, and so of course the Chicago Blackhawks won a shootout against the Florida Panthers, 2-1. [Second City Hockey]
- And Austin Watson earned a Gordie Howe hat trick, so of course the Nashville Predators won against the Colorado Avalanche, 5-3. [On the Forecheck]
Mrazek wasn’t even the best goalie in the NHL last night: That distinction probably belonged to Steve Mason and his 45 – that’s a 40 (as in a four and a zero) plus a 5 – stops to boost the Philadelphia Flyers to victory over the Boston Bruins.
Steve Mason the difference maker in Flyers' 3-2 shootout win vs. Bruins https://t.co/r0n2JiKwtq
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) November 30, 2016
The Battle of the Network Hockey Messiahs has ended for the season, and Auston Matthews’ Maple Leafs have swept Connor McDavid’s Oilers.
Matthews and McDavid both score but Leafs come out on top with 4-2 win over Oilers. TOR sweeps season series. #NHL https://t.co/d6zG6Gyx8e pic.twitter.com/3NWvU2uqAT
— SportsCentre (@SportsCentre) November 30, 2016
Elsewhere, former Blackhawks agitator Andrew Shaw is up to his old tricks with the Canadiens. (NSFW, if you work with lip readers.)
Andrew Shaw earned an ejection for a heated meltdown (and choice words) in the penalty box: https://t.co/JJerdNJN7B pic.twitter.com/OdvetuCMgj
— SB Nation NHL (@SBNationNHL) November 30, 2016
In happier news, Brent Burns reached a new milestone in doing Brent Burns things.
Most regular-season overtime goals by a defenseman, NHL history:
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 30, 2016
13 – Scott Niedermayer
9 – Mike Green
9 – @Burnzie88
(via @EliasSports) pic.twitter.com/L1RknKyj9g
And so it begins: Hockey Canada has announced its selection-camp roster for the 2017 World Juniors. [The Canadian Press]
Elliotte Friedman writes that “[p]layers understand change…when you are losing,” and then tries to figure out the Florida Panthers’ firing of Gerard Gallant, in his latest 30 Thoughts. [Sportsnet]
Also at Sportsnet: Current Star Tyler Seguin and former Stars Jason Demers and Kris Russell make appearances in the latest Down Goes Brown, as differing illustrations of the seven best kinds of NHL contracts. [Sportsnet]
More great stuff from The Players’ Tribune, as Oliver Ekman-Larsson writes about sharing the ice with his hockey idol, Nicklas Lidström, and the NHL’s current embarrassment of Swedish defensemen riches (John Klingberg, he’s looking at you).
"Have you heard of this app, Tinder?"
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) November 24, 2016
Welcome to hockey in the desert with @OEL_23. https://t.co/ELqhZJ3xIM
And speaking of Connor McDavid (which we were, up there, somewhere), he took time out from being Edmonton Jesus to make a 10-year-old fan’s day.
Connor McDavid helped to turn a terminally ill young fan's first day of chemotherapy into the "best day ever." https://t.co/pCiAxUXJ9Z pic.twitter.com/fgZvxlcLlJ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 30, 2016
Former Star Travis Moen has officially announced his retirement at age 34.
ICYMI: @32trapper joined @stevekouleas on #NHL Game Day to discuss his 12 seasons in the league and much more!https://t.co/VNmVhuhvff pic.twitter.com/jRdYZDdx0p
— SiriusXM NHL Network (@SiriusXMNHL) November 29, 2016
The NHL Players’ Association has posted a great summary of his career.
After a #StanleyCup with the @AnaheimDucks & ending 12 @NHL seasons with the @DallasStars, @32Trapper retires today: https://t.co/kuHLLLkAox pic.twitter.com/cRhD1nVMfr
— NHLPA (@NHLPA) November 29, 2016
Congrats on a great career, @32trapper! pic.twitter.com/XOmiU7uAVE
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) November 29, 2016
What a great human being. Really enjoyed getting to know @32trapper. Always good for a story and a laugh... Stanley Cup champ also! https://t.co/6VwJbWrAFm
— Owen Newkirk (@OwenNewkirk) November 29, 2016
Congrats on a great career and all the best in your next chapter, @32trapper! #Warrior pic.twitter.com/tfOBomh7SX
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 29, 2016
Never forget: @32Trapper not only has a Stanley Cup, he has a Stanley Cup-winning goal.* All the best, Travis.
Congrats on a great career, @32trapper! Best of luck in retirement! pic.twitter.com/JQtGzM3n2Q
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) November 29, 2016
* Officially, which is the best kind of having one.
Finally: Movember ends today, and it’s time to pick your favorite NHL ’stache. No Stephen Johns or Loui Eriksson in the CBC’s admittedly incomplete roundup, but you can always add them in the comments. Enjoy.
#movember is wrapping up so before you head to the barber for a clean shave, check out the best staches in the @NHL https://t.co/XdYOXc5kWE pic.twitter.com/2IarGjxC9y
— HockeyNightInCanada (@hockeynight) November 29, 2016