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Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Stars Are (Nearly) 100 Percent Healthy Again

Tanner Kero, in concussion protocol, is the only Star not skating, reports Matthew DeFranks. Plus, COVID is in, the Winter Olympics may be out, and more.

The Dallas Stars have avoided the Omicron variant and other COVID-related woes this season, so far. But injury and illness have still thrown a few spanners in the works.

Now, though, they’re on the mend and nearly at full strength. Tanner Kero, who’s in concussion protocol at home, was the only Star who didn’t skate at Monday practice as Joel Kiviranta returned to the ice for the first time since December 11.

The non-COVID illness that felled so many Stars was a different coronavirus: a common cold, as The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks reports:

As for the cold that made its way through the Stars’ dressing room, Bowness believes the Stars are nearly through it. The non-COVID-related illness forced six different players to miss games in the last month: Andrej Sekera (Nov. 20), John Klingberg (Dec. 2), Michael Raffl (Dec. 6), Roope Hintz (Dec. 11 and 14), Alexander Radulov (Dec. 14) and Miro Heiskanen (Dec. 18).

“That cold knocked the heck out of us for a week to 10 days,” Bowness said. “It went through the room and then it came back. There’s no question that hurts. Right now, we’re feeling better. There’s more energy, I can see it. When the players are coming off the ice after shifts, they’re recovering quicker. I can see that.

The Victory Green Gang still has to deal with the persistent pandemic in the form of postponements and travel restrictions, with Wednesday’s Winnipeg Jets game the first casualty:

Canadiens-Islanders and Ducks-Oilers were postponed on Sunday as the NHL paused cross-border travel. Colorado’s shutdown pushed back Avalanche-Red Wings, and Columbus’ shutdown did the same for Blue Jackets-Sabres.

The Stars do not have any players in COVID-19 protocol. Only one player all season has been placed in COVID-19 protocol, as Jani Hakanpää was sidelined for three days in late October for a false positive.

Matt has more. [SportsDayDFW]

Stars Stuff

You can’t outrun a pandemic (and you can’t fake your way out of it, either).

In better news, Tanner Kero is now recovering at home.

Around The Leagues

In On The #Kill Taker

It was a big night for Paul Stastny as the Winnipeg Jets beat the St. Louis Blues, 4-2.

The only other Sunday-night Central Division matchup, Nashville Predators - Carolina Hurricanes, was a COVID casualty.

The Associated Press has more on the cross-border travel situation, as well as the postponements that have hit the Detroit Red Wings.

With a formal announcement expected soon, the stage is set for NHL administration to cancel the Winter Olympics participation it didn’t really want in the first place.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park – And Beautiful Boise

The Texas Stars, and Captain Curt, brought the holiday cheer with a 3-2 win over the Rockford IceHogs on Saturday night.

And Matt Jurusik earned back-to-back shutouts as the Idaho Steelheads blanked the Rapid City Rush 3-0.

Finally

Winter break time is ice hockey time. Enjoy.

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