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Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Stars Can Still Find Scoring When It Matters

The solutions to the Stars’ goals issue are probably on the team already, writes Mike Heika. Plus, tributes to Kobe, big moments from the AHL All-Star Game, and more.

There’s nothing quite like Jamie Benn in Sochi Mode. With two goals in a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, including the overtime game-winner, The Captain showed once again that the Benn who can take over a game and bring home the W is still there.

And that highlights a simple fact about the Dallas Stars as a team: Their current issue with scoring goals almost certainly has an in-house solution. Stars senior staff writer Mike Heika examined the case in his postgame column:

There is a belief that Tyler Seguin and Benn and [Joe] Pavelski and [Denis] Gurianov and Roope Hintz and [Jason] Dickinson and Radek Faksa have the ability to score. There is a belief, as fans ponder just what offensive talent might be available before the Feb. 24 trade deadline, that there are plenty of scorers right here.

Seguin had 40 goals two years ago. Benn had 36 that season. [Alexander] Radulov tallied 29 last year. Pavelski had 38. Heck, [Mattias] Janmark had 19 two seasons ago, Faksa had 17, and Blake Comeau had 13. Now, some of that was on different teams and all of it was with different coaches, but there is history there.

And Benn certainly knows how to lead the way – especially if Beast Mode keeps coming back at opportune times:

“Great athletes have the mental skills,” Stars interim coach Rick Bowness said of Benn’s calm at key moments. “A lot of guys would get there and their mind would be going a million miles an hour, but great athletes have the ability to slow the game down in their mind and take what’s there.

”I think Jamie did a great job of being composed on both goals and hanging on to it until just the right second before putting it behind him. That’s a mental skill. The physical skill you can see, but the mental side of that, being able to calm the brain down and slow it down so that the hands can work at the right time, that’s what makes special athletes.”

There’s more at Mike’s place. [Dallas Stars]

Stars Stuff

Sean Shapiro offers an appreciation of Beast Mode Benn in his postgame 20/20.

The Texas Rangers were super-stoked to be at last night’s game.

And the Stars were stoked right back.

The Captain scored twice, but this beauty from Denis Gurianov got national love, too.

ICYMI, The Captain hit a big milestone last night...

...and so did Tyler Seguin.

Around The League(s)

In On The #Kill Taker

  • The St. Louis Blues couldn’t solve Thatcher Demko, who stopped 36 shots in a 3-1 Vancouver Canucks victory. [Nucks Misconduct]/

The NHL is as stunned as the rest of us over the death of Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others. The Great One helps lead off this compendium. [NHL]

The Stars offered their own tribute last night.

Before their 4-2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks, the San Jose Sharks paid tribute to some other California heroes as well.

At age 40, Patrick Marleau appears to be wearing exceedingly well.

How hard can the rest of the season be? The NHL.com Fantasy staff has done the sums.

When the Stars waived forward Gemel Smith, it triggered a spiral of depression that nearly derailed his career. Then Boston Bruins teammate Patrice Bergeron stepped in.

Which players are you keeping an eye on because of the AHL All-Star Game? Steven Ellis can suggest a few.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

Forward Joel L’Esperance scored two goals in three games as the Texas Stars’ All-Star rep – including this one from his favorite spot.

He helped take the Central Division to the final game, but the Atlantic came away with the overall victory.

ICYMI, Martin Frk of the Ontario Reign thrilled the crowd with a record-breaking performance in the skills contest. (Zdeno who?)

Finally

That’s it. That’s the tweet. Enjoy.

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