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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Gurianov Strikes Twice, And The Stars Get Two Points

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

Every time you think the Dallas Stars are out, they keep pulling themselves back in. It doesn’t hurt when one of their best scorers pulls off a brilliant individual performance, and that was the case with Denis Gurianov last night.

Joe Pavelski and Miro Heiskanen threw in goals of their own, and Jake Oettinger stood tall in net. But Gurianov’s three-point night had to have brought a sigh of relief for both him and head coach Rick Bowness. The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks took a fresh look at the Stars’ Stanley Cup playoffs push and once again found light at the end of it:

The win pulled the Stars five points back of fourth-place Nashville with three games in hand on the Predators. Nashville lost 4-1 to Carolina on Thursday night….

The Stars should take advantage of a two-game set against the Blue Jackets, especially with the Predators and Chicago Blackhawks each losing Thursday night. Even with the news that Ben Bishop and Alexander Radulov won’t play the rest of the season, the Stars are still alive in the playoff race.

Of course, the Stars have failed to capitalize on opportunities before, and the challenge they face is still very real – even against teams as depleted as the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings. With their other Russian sniper back on his game, maybe this time it really will be different:

The chance for the Stars to grab a playoff spot has presented itself often this season in the soft middle of the Central Division. Perhaps Thursday’s win means they finally will.

Gurianov had a lot to do with it. He finished with three points (he also assisted on Heiskanen’s goal), his first three-point night since Game 5 of the second round last fall against Colorado. His two goals matched his total from the previous 33 games combined.

Matt has more. [SportsDayDFW]

Stars Stuff

Has Guri found a new gear? Saad Yousuf takes a look at how he came alive in the dirty areas last night.

“‘The last thing a defenseman in this league wants to see is you coming down on them full speed.’” So, is Denis out of the doghouse now?

“Denis kinda went off.” Razor loves him some G, and you should, too.

“We won the game, and we got two points…. Feeling good.” Eyes on the prize, Denny.

Yeah, the second goal was fun and fluky, but the one where Guri collected his own rebound…that’s the one on repeat today.

Around The Leagues

#Disco Heat

  • Vincent Trocheck and Andrei Svechnikov brought two points each as the Carolina Hurricanes snapped back against the Nashville Predators, 4-1. [Canes Country]
  • Victor Hedman played overtime hero as the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Florida Panthers 3-2 in extra minutes. [Raw Charge]
  • And the Red Wings proved they still have fight in them in a 4-1 knocking-back of the Chicago Blackhawks. [Winging It In Motown]/

First it was Nikita Kucherov, and now Steven Stamkos is on long-term injured reserve. For the Bolts, there are cap implications. (There are always cap implications.)

Another season, another Hughes brother expected to go near the top of the NHL Draft. Chris Jurewicz catches up with Jack, Quinn, and this year’s model, Luke.

Patrick Marleau is on the cusp of a milestone that may have seemed unbeatable as recently as a decade ago.

Yes, this is technically an ad, but on the other hand, Andy Moog.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

Hockey tonight, hockey tonight, hockey tonight in the Texas Stars’ barn….

Finally

The slo-mo voiceover really brings out the whole visitor-from-space aspect. Enjoy Roope Hintz all day, every day.

Talking Points