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Dallas Stars Daily Links: 1-0 Shutout of Sharks Shows the Stars Still Have Something to Prove

Playoffs or not, there’s work to do. Plus, Tyler Seguin’s community service, and The Rappelling Dog in AAC.

By Kathleen Tibbetts

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NHL: San Jose Sharks at Dallas Stars Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Stars avenged last week’s 5-1 road loss to the San Jose Sharks with all deliberate speed, as it were: shutting down the Sharks’ offense and staying sharp in their own end to win 1-0 in the first of two games in the AAC this week.

Stars fans may have asked themselves where this performance came from, and why it showed up now. Well, hey, so did Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News:

It was an intriguing performance for the 29-33-10 Stars, who'd allowed 22 goals in their previous five games. Was this a display of the pride needed to finish the season on a strong note? Or was it a sign that had this defensive play been enacted a couple of months back, the season could have been different?

Missing Jason Spezza with a back injury, the Stars are thin in the forward group. But a hard-fought game in which Dallas was able to get only 20 shots on goal seemed the perfect strategy against the deliberate Sharks.

Kari Lehtonen stopped all 30 of the shots he faced, but he also pointed out how the team in front of him contributed:

"It's been a tough year. So after a game like this, it feels especially good," Lehtonen said. "Just the way we played the whole 60 minutes. It was really cool. Guys were blocking shots and getting all the rebounds. They were making simple plays, not turning the puck over like we've had in the past, so that was nice."

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

Elsewhere in Heika, he gave this practice update on Antoine Roussel and Mattias Janmark.

Julie Dobbs offered a look at Military Appreciation Night in the AAC.

A member of a suicide-prevention group for vets, 22 Kill, brought the ceremonial first puck in the maximum awesome way:

And Sean Shapiro has more of what you came for, which is a service dog rappelling from the rafters.

Razor loves it when a fellow goalie has a good night.

Kari’s second Military Appreciation Night shutout no doubt boosted the benefit-auction value of his second camo-themed helmet. He credits Patrick Sharp hitting him in the mask during practice with “[waking] the beast.” [Wrong Side of the Red Line]

With their third straight loss, did the Sharks open the door for the rest of the Pacific Division?

Elsewhere in the #MDK, Ryan Ellis potted two goals as the Nashville Predators defeated the Arizona Coyotes 3-1. [On the Forecheck]

Cam Talbot, who has probably been the real key to the Edmonton Oilers’ rising fortunes this season, shut out the Los Angeles Kings 2-0. [USA Today]

When the puck does go in: Alex Prewitt of Sports Illustrated examines how netminders reset themselves after a goal against.

The playoffs-contending Calgary Flames will have to do without star rookie Matthew Tkachuk for two games: He picked up a suspension for elbowing the Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty. [ESPN]

USA Hockey and the U.S. Women’s National Team appear to be making progress in their current dispute over equitable support.

The legendary Bobby Orr celebrated his 69th birthday yesterday, and NHL.com used the occasion to share his entry among the 100 Greatest Players of All Time.

ICYMI: Here’s how Tyler Seguin spent his weekend.

Corey Pronman is bemused and intrigued by this Julius Honka person.

Finally: Shane Hudella of the military kids’ sports organization United Heroes League offers a Stars military-night tribute of his own. Enjoy.