Dallas Stars Daily Links: Victory Is Sweet, Yet Goals Still Elusive in 3-1 Win Over the Avs

Once again, the Dallas Stars came away with something to show for their dominant play as they downed the Colorado Avalanche 3-1. And once again, it took many, many chances – including Esa Lindell’s shot on an empty net – to collect those three goals.

For a team with so much forward firepower, it has to be frustrating for actual scoring to be so hard-won. (For context, Avs netminder Semyon Varlamov had a .943 SV% on 36 shots.) But “I think the goals will come,” said center Jason Spezza, as the players become more comfortably and fully committed to their system:

"Scoring goals in this league, you have to learn to have a little composure in front of the net," [Spezza] said. "We're a little more rushed right now because we are trying to do everything so hard and so right. I think our intentions are in the right place, but our execution isn't."

Coach Ken Hitchcock says the team knows what it has to do, and last night they did it:

"The bottom line is if you're going to have success in the league, at some period of time, you've got to outwork the goalie," [Hitchcock] said. "Doesn't matter who's playing, I mean, we've just got to every night take it personally that we're going to outwork the other team's goaltender."

There’s more at Mike’s place. [SportsDayDFW]

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More Stars

Hey, Tyler Seguin, you’ve just earned your first Gordie Howe hat trick! What will you do next? (As it turns out, he’ll get someone to tell him what it is.)

In case you still can’t believe you saw Seguin fight anyone, let alone a former teammate, here’s a GIF that proves it.

As he did with “The Breakfast Club” a couple of years ago, Mike uses “The Sandlot” to examine the post-hype anxiety of Stars fans, and how that movie may help us find a way to enjoy what unfolds.

Around the league(s)

Last night, in other #MurderDeathKill Division action:

• The Winnipeg Jets stormed to a 2-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. [Canes Country]
• Andrei Vasilevskiy earned a .966 SV% and led the Tampa Bay Lightning to a win against St. Louis Blues, 2-1 [Raw Charge]
• The Minnesota Wild blew a two-goal lead, twice, and dropped their home opener in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets, 5-4. [Hockey Wilderness]
• And Brandon Saad scored the GWG in OT as the Chicago Blackhawks took down the Nashville Predators, 2-1. [Second City Hockey]

Former Star and current Washington Capitals 1D Matt Niskanen is on LTIR after an apparent injury to his left hand – possibly the product of a slashing by Jimmy Hayes – during Friday night’s 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils. [Washington Post]

At least his captain, Alex Ovechkin, is on an actual scoring rampage.

Heika has written a nice article on former Star Patrik Nemeth and his fresh start with the Avs. [SportsDayDFW]

And I’ll just leave this here because, well.

Defenseman Mark Streit, waived by the Montreal Canadiens on Friday, has refused assignment to the Laval Rocket and is now “weighing his options.”

Mark your calendars: The U.S. Women’s National Team meets Hockey Canada for a 2018 Winter Olympics warmup at Boston University, Wednesday, Oct. 25.

Texas Stars and AHL action

After three straight wins to open the season, the Texas Stars took their first L in the second half of a back-to-back against the San Diego Gulls, 5-1.

Max French, come on down! The rookie forward has been called up from the Idaho Steelheads and will report to Cedar Park.

Craig Cunningham is a real-life hero for many, and the Tucson Roadrunners will honor their first captain by retiring his number on Friday, Oct. 27.

Finally

The Vegas Golden Knights unveiled their new mascot, who is a Gila monster named Chance. It probably could have gone better. Enjoy.