Dallas Stars Daily Links: Getting To Know Anton Khudobin

The Dallas Stars’ longest road trip of the season to date has given fans their first really good look at Anton Khudobin in Victory Green. The netminder has contributed mightily to the team’s recent road momentum and helped them pull out a crucial point in last night’s frenetic 2-1 overtime loss to his former squad, the Boston Bruins.

Sean Shapiro wrote about Khudobin for The Athletic DFW. And he reveals that the guy with a Harry Potter character airbrushed on his mask has his own way of being “goalie-weird”:

We often think of the weird goalies as the ones who are quiet and reclusive, particularly on game day. The ones who give off the eccentric mastermind vibe — you get out of their way and don’t want to mess with their mojo.

Khudobin is on the opposite end of the spectrum. He’s the talker, the comedian, and sometimes a self-appointed assistant coach that never shuts up. It’s a trait that both endears him to his teammates and provides some comedic relief.

“I talk to a lot of goalies, like you said, they like to be in their own zone,” Khudobin said. “So they can sit there and relax and do whatever. I’m kind of the opposite way, I like to be with the guys. Even if I’m not playing, I want to be chatting with our guys and our staff and chatting with forwards. Defenseman. I can help them.”

Goalie coach Jeff Reese says that’s just one reason why Dobby’s style works so well:

“Obviously that’s great for his teammates, but another thing that does is keeps him involved if he has to go into the game,” Reese said. “He’s not just sitting there looking around twiddling his thumbs. I think it’s good, that’s all part of bringing energy to the team. I don’t go into the locker room, but he’s probably talking in between periods, too.”

There’s more under the paywall. [The Athletic DFW]

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Stars Stories

No rest for the weary – the Stars take on the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight at 6 p.m. Central time. Here’s where you can tune in.

Dallas Stars

Sean also brings you the last word from Dobby after last night’s game:

The team was understandably unhappy about the penalties that helped wreck their evening.

Jim Montgomery shared his thoughts after the loss.

Mike Heika points to the importance of defensive depth in hard-fought games like the one in Boston. [Dallas Stars]

What do you call a point you get for losing in OT? A point.

Around the League(s)

It was otherwise quiet on the #MurderDeathKill front last night, so let’s get to the other headlines:

November (a.k.a. Movember) is also Hockey Fights Cancer month, and Brian Boyle has started it off with a leap from the Marshall stack with flashbangs going off around him.

Pekka Rinne’s two-year, two-way extension with the Nashville Predators is that rare win that benefits both him and his heir apparent, Juuse Saros.

Also at THN: Yanni Gourde’s new contract is a fall feel-good story, but was it wise for the Tampa Bay Lightning to do his deal before they locked up Brayden Point?

DoPS has thrown the book at Brendan Lemieux for a check to Vincent Trocheck’s head during the Winnipeg Jets - Florida Panthers Global Series.

Or, what happens when Matt Duchene blurts out “I haven’t paid attention in three weeks” in a grainy webcam video.

Tyler tipped you off to Whiteboard Willie’s new head-coaching gig yesterday. The former Texas Stars bench boss lays out a new road map for the floundering Los Angeles Kings.

The NHL is feeling the fallout from New Jersey’s legalization of sports betting.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

Goalies Colton Point and Philippe Desrosiers are trading places as the Texas Stars announce a few roster changes. [Texas Stars]

Austin Metro fans, here’s your chance to hang out with Ondrej Vala and Benjamin Gleason.

Finally

A friendly reminder to check before you wreck on those icy Canadian roads. Enjoy.