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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Stars Drop Preseason Game 3 to the Blues

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

The Dallas Stars have begun as they left off from last season: see-sawing back and forth with the St. Louis Blues. Jason Spezza scored on the power play, but the team allowed three PP goals coming back during a 4-1 loss in Scottrade Center.

Spezza also won 55% of his face-offs, but the team averaged an underwhelming 44% on the dot with Justin Dowling, Adam Cracknell and Gemel Smith centering the lower lines.

The team will practice in Frisco today before traveling to London, Ontario, to play the first of two preseason games against the Florida Panthers at 2 p.m. Central time on Sunday.

Mark Stepneski has more. [Stars Inside Edge]

There wasn’t any live video from the game, but you can still catch some highlights:

Speznasty discussed building chemistry with new linemate Jiri Hudler.

And Lindy Ruff talked about using the preseason as a testing ground for the Stars’ retooling of their penalty kill.

Jim Nill talked about the surgery, stem-cell treatment and rehab Mattias Janmark will undertake, as well as the condition at the root of his injury, osteochondritis dissecans.

He couldn’t leave you with that worried sadface, so he brought this, too.

And if Patrick Sharp’s goofy dadface doesn’t make you smile, maybe this will: He’s pitching in with the Dallas Stars Rookies Programs and their free hockey day for girls.

Time is running out to lock down your fantasy-league team, and Matt Larkin has ranked the top 200 players. Find out where he put “fantasy pool behemoth” Jamie Benn, and which Stars prospect made the bubble list. [The Hockey News]

Hockey players are hockey fans, too. After a foot injury that took him out of the World Cup of Hockey finals, Team Europe’s Marián Gáborik unleashed a tweet storm during his squad’s loss to the overdog Canadians. [Puck Daddy]

Other people have problems too, you know. San Jose Sharks prospect Timo Meier won’t be doing any forwarding in the NHL or AHL for four weeks due to illness.

Meanwhile, the Blues have lost forward Jaden Schwartz again – this time for at least four weeks, to a broken left elbow suffered in Thursday practice. [FOX 2 St. Louis]

But there may some good news for the Senators: Clarke MacArthur is “encouraged” by his progress after his latest concussion and is planning to return soon. (He’s also absolved the unfortunate Patrick Sieloff, calling that training-camp hit “a hockey play.”) [NHL on NBC]

Whoa, the Eastern Conference has gotten really competitive. Stephen Whyno takes a look at how and why.

Can 37-year-old Marián Hossa possibly finish out the last five years of his Blackhawks contract? Maybe he’s taking a page from The Jaromir Jagr Guide to Old-Man Strength.

Former Star Trevor Daley skated Wednesday for the first time since missing the Stanley Cup finals with a broken ankle. It was a good night.

And prospect G Tristan Jarry may have Pens fans sleeping just a little bit better over losing Matt Murray to a broken right hand. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

The Anaheim Ducks may be moving a “significant contract” to an unnamed Eastern Conference team. Could it be Cam Fowler’s?

Meanwhile, Ryan Lambert examines three unsigned RFA defensemen and what they may be worth: Hampus Lindholm, Jacob Trouba and Rasmus Ristolainen. [Puck Daddy]

Finally: Kunlun, China just got their own KHL franchise – but they’re still getting the hang of quaint hockeying customs like the ceremonial puck drop. The best part about this is that just when you think it’s over, THERE’S MORE. Enjoy.

Talking Points