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Dallas Stars Daily Links: “A Lot at Stake” For Players Who Want to Finish Strong

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

However you feel about #TeamTank, it’s not difficult to understand the rational reasons why some Dallas Stars fans would prefer the team to coast during the last games of this star-crossed 2016-17 season.

Hopefully, #TeamTank understands the rational reasons why the players want to fight all the way to the end.

The Stars held a mid-ice meeting during practice yesterday to discuss how they want to finish up:

“It’s very important,” said Jason Spezza, one of the team’s alternate captains. “We have 14 games left — that’s a lot of hockey. We owe it to ourselves to put forth a better effort than we had [Sunday night]. We know we have to have something to build off, and that there’s a lot at stake for a lot of different guys.”

There’s a case to be made to play for professionalism, too:

…Dallas is hovering near the bottom in goals against per game, penalty kill success and shorthanded goals against. Even if it is a desperation push at the end of the season, just getting some of those numbers up would be a worthwhile endeavor.

“We have 14 games, and we need to do whatever it takes to win those 14 games,” captain Jamie Benn said. “The year is not over yet. We have to play as hard as we can for those 14 games.”

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

The Stars play the Edmonton Oilers tonight at 8 p.m. Central time. Pay attention to the later-than-usual, but-not-as-late-as-usual start time.

Stars alumnus and fan fave Andy Moog will be signing autographs during the official watch party at the Katy Trail Outpost in Plano.

With the Oil looking to lock up their first playoff appearance since 2006, are their days of overpaying in free agency drawing to a close? [Copper & Blue]

Last night, in #MDK-ing:

  • Jake Allen made 38 saves as the St. Louis Blues won their fifth in a row with a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. [St. Louis Game Time]
  • James Neal scored the game-winner in OT as the Nashville Predators downed the flagging Winnipeg Jets 5-4. [On the Forecheck]
  • The Colorado Avalanche, in full “just end this” mode, lost a shutout to the almost-as-worn-out Arizona Coyotes, 1-0. [Five for Howling]
  • WC WILDCARD BONUS: The Calgary Flames beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3 in a shootout and are officially on a historic tear. [Matchsticks and Gasoline] /

Here’s the Western Conference race in a single tweet:

Bob McKenzie reports on the NHL’s college signing season (and St. Lawrence senior blueliner Gavin Bayreuther, who’s attracted the Stars’ attention). [TSN]

Tyler Seguin is donating a ball hockey court for the Boys and Girls Club of Collin County.

Sports Illustrated analyzes one of the sharpest tools of one of the NHL’s most dangerous scorers: Chicago Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin.

Aaron Ekblad is out with a concussion, and the Florida Panthers have called up rookie defenseman MacKenzie Weegar. [Miami Herald]

At The Players’ Tribune: Retired defender and Stanley Cup winner Brent Sopel writes about feeling “stupid” and “useless” all his life, and learning from his daughter’s diagnosis that he, too, has dyslexia and dysgraphia.

The Texas Stars’ playoff hopes have faded with a shootout loss to the San Antonio Rampage.

Finally: Remi Elie and his first NHL goal are the Bud Light Frozen Moment of the Week. Enjoy.

Talking Points