The Stars needed a win last night, and got a win last night. Moving on.
Who’s giving odds on the upcoming front office turnover in Edmonton? They’ve now been shutout three consecutive games on home ice. Leave aside all the nonsensical trades and signings and rumors surrounding Nail Yakupov, the Oilers haven’t scored a single goal in three straight home games. Three! Now granted, this third shutout came against the magical wall that is Kari Lehtonen, but they don’t have any such excuse for the other two losses.
So what’s going to happen? Will there be a cleaning of house, just to prove to fans that something is being done to right the ship? Last week we had Florida pull the plug on a season, not long after the Flyers kicked off proceedings, and then yesterday the Buffalo Sabres kept the hockey world waiting with baited breath for half a morning, in order to announce their own belated spring cleaning. Out with the old, in with the… older? Yeah. Buffalo obviously saw how well the Avalanche are doing with Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy running things, and so they went down the list of Sabres alumni and started calling people.
So long Darcy Regier and Ron Rolston. Welcome back Pat LaFontaine and Ted Nolan… to the sinking ship that is the Buffalo Sabres.
Interestingly, LaFontaine has been named ‘Director of Hockey Operations,’ instead of General Manager. And Nolan will be serving as interim head coach. You have to wonder who stipulated that the ‘interim’ be included there… [Die by the Blade]
Anyway, another Stars game day! Hot on the heels of the previous game day! Meaning no interminable wait for another game this time, a veritable overdose of Stars hockey, and oh sweet mother of mercy save us it’s the second leg of a back-to-back.
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Here’s what some other people thought about last night’s game, if you’re in to that kind of thing. [NHL.com] [Sports Illustrated]
Early preview up of tonight’s game. [CBS Sports]
It was Shawn Horcoff’s homecoming last night. Here’s how it went. [Stars Inside Edge] [Sports Day DFW]
Look! Kari Lehtonen is Puck Daddy’s second star! Even if they do try and take away some of his glory by pointing out that he only shutout Edmonton. [Puck Daddy]
What to watch for in the upcoming week, as Dallas continues their swing through the former Northwest Division. [On the Radar]
So this happened last night in the Minnesota/Toronto game. Somewhat uncalled for. [Sporting News]
Story here on a Toronto based youth program that has nurtured talent such as Joel Ward and the Subbans. Plus, the teams are called the Black Aces and the Black Mafia, which is just cool. [The Color of Hockey]
And in closing, we Stars fans aren’t the only ones who think that the Western Conference is just too difficult. Vancouverites are longing for those halcyon days of the Northwest Division… [Pass It to Bulis]