Dallas Stars Friday Links: Mistakes Cost Stars Against the Jets

Dallas had plenty of chances to beat the Winnipeg Jets last night, but mistakes, poor shooting and outstanding saves by Ondrej Paevlec doomed the Stars in a 4-3 loss.

"We had our opportunities, but we gave them their opportunities too and they made the best of it," Jamie Benn said. "That's a tough one. I thought we were going pretty good tonight, actually."

Brett Ritchie had a chance to tie things up with 2 seconds left and the puck on his stick, but the epitome of how the Stars season has gone this year, his shot was wide.

"It was a hard game," coach Lindy Ruff said. "We had an empty net to put it in, we had Jamie Benn's crossbar, you look at the attempts at the end of the night and we're writing the same story again."

More here: (DMN)

Post game quotes: (Ruffed Lines)

Video Analysis

Kari Lehtonen has started 5 of the last 8 games and has provided some quality goaltending during that stretch. including 3 relief appearances when Antti Niemi was pulled. (DMN)

Jumbo Joe Thorton tied Mike Modano on the all time points list.

I bet few Stars fans thought that forward Devin Shore would be one of the few players to play in every game so far. before the season started. Shore is making the most of opportunity this season including 8 points in the las 11 games. (WFAA)

Former goalie Marty Turco gets in on the Burger action:

Checkout some Sled Hockey this weekend:

Texas Stars:

After the trade on Wednesday the Texas Stars made some roster moves yesterday sending defenseman Brandon Anselemini back to Idaho (ECHL) and recalling forward Mike McMurtry who has averaged a point a game in his 5 games in Boise. (100 Degree Hockey)

The first game of the home and home series with in-state rival San Antonio Rampage will be broadcast on FSSW. Don’t adjust your screens that is real pink ice.

Idaho Steelheads:

Steven Meserve continuing his feature on the Stars ECHL affiliate Idaho, has a look at Emergency Backup Goalie (EBUG) Doug Melvin. Every town with a professional team is required to have a EBUG list. (100 Degree Hockey)

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Not only did Blues GM Doug Armstrong fire Head Coach Ken Hitchcock on Wednesday but he also publicly shamed his team for not performing. Currently the Blues are sitting outside of the playoff picture. (THN)

With parity in the league 9 points separate the 11th and 28th place teams, it has put more emphasis on finding a capable backup goalie to stay in contention. (Sportsnet)

Saturday is the date when all goalies in the league must wear the new smaller pants. Not all the goalies are in favor of this move. (Punch Drunk Love)

In honor of Groundhog Day yesterday, not sure what this Phil predicts:

Down goes Brown has his own take on Groundhog Day using Hockey arguments. (Sportsnet)

With the Red Wings 25 year playoff streak all but dead they are currently in 29th place. If they start the rebuild now it could be the year 2020 before they would be competitive again, with their current contracts. (THN)

Last season not one of the 7 Canadian teams made the playoffs. This season it looks like 4 or 5 could make the postseason. (CBC Sports)

Last season ESPN reporter John Buccigross went 14 for 16 including 8-8 in the Western Conference in predicting which teams made the playoffs. With some teams underperforming this year he looks at well his preseason predictions are doing, (ESPN)

Should the NHL do a better job promoting their top players? (Fox Sports)

Avalanche GM Joe Sakic has not liked any of the trade offers he has had so far for Matt Duchene. If he doesn’t find an offer he likes he is willing to wait till the summer to move the forward. (Fanrag Sports)

The NHL, NHL Player Association (NHLPA), International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)and International Olympic Committee (IOC) will all sit down today to discuss if NHL players. will play in the 2018 Olympics.

"The biggest hurdle is I think there's concern among the teams about the ongoing disruption to the season, about a compressed schedule and a whole host of other things," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said at a news conference Saturday in L.A. (ESPN)

The US Sled Team lost their coach:

Finally it looks like Antoine Roussel was destined to be a Dallas Stars player: