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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Ben Bishop Wants To Win, Period

He may be the only person who doesn’t care if he’s in the Vezina Trophy conversation right now. Plus, there’s a new sheriff in #MDK Town, Shane Wright is officially exceptional, and more.

The Dallas Stars are in a great place at the moment, and there is literally no way they’d be there without truly elite goaltending.

But Ben Bishop isn’t counting his Vezina Trophy votes yet – even if others may like to do it for him. Mark Stepneski focused on the Stars’ starter during his latest post:

“Ben Bishop has done everything we could ask of him,” Stars coach Jim Montgomery said after the team picture was taken Friday at American Airlines Center.

”He’s stopped pucks, he’s steered pucks to corners when he can, swallow up the rebounds like he is so good at, and breaking pucks out. Most importantly, I think the team in front of him has been really sound as well. You combine those two things, us playing really well without the puck and him playing at the top of his game, and you give up one goal in three games.”

Bishop and fellow backstop Anton Khudobin have stolen games left and right this season, keeping the Stars in the playoffs hunt while the team offense has been finding itself. But Bishop is quick to credit the team’s improvement in front of the net:

“I think Monty does a good job of preparing us defensively. We don’t really give up too many odd-man rushes,” Bishop said. “We do a good job of keeping guys in front of us. We don’t give up too many of those, and the guys do a good job of blocking out, there aren’t too many rebound goals and second and third chances.

”When you limit the odd-man rush and clean up the front of your net, you are usually successful.”

Mark has more, including practice updates. [Stars Inside Edge]

Stars Stuff

Interesting: The Stars have a chance to win five in a row and beat the Chicago Blackhawks at the same time. What could be better?

Also interesting: Bish is back in NHL.com’s Fantasy Top 50.

Mike Heika reminds Stars Twitter that great players make great plays.

The Stars posted a video from Picture Day.

And the Victory Green gang celebrated International Women’s Day with their own pioneering executive, Alana Matthews.

Around The League(s)

#Kill Shots

  • Aleksander Barkov went H.A.M., recording a five-point night as the Florida Panthers trounced the Minnesota Wild, 6-2. [Litter Box Cats]
  • Is this a playoffs preview? The Winnipeg Jets got eight goals from six players and took the #MDK lead as they annihilated the Carolina Hurricanes, 8-1. [Canes Country]/

Unfortunate news: Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog will be out for the rest of the regular season after Thursday’s game in Dallas.

In the No News Department, the Tampa Bay Lightning are now the first team to punch their postseason ticket.

There is some brilliant hockey hair growing wild in flyover country.

And there’s a new name entering the generational-prospect hunt, as 15-year-old forward Shane Wright is granted exceptional-player status.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

The Texas Stars remind you to enjoy hockey with good boys and girls tomorrow night.

Finally

Sportswriter Dan Jenkins passed away on Thursday at age 90. The Semi-Tough and Dead Solid Perfect author enjoyed a reputation stellar and encompassing and often controversial enough to earn him a New York Times obituary. But he was a Texan through and through – with especially strong ties to his native Fort Worth, where he made his bones covering the TCU Horned Frogs. Rest in peace, sir.

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