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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Joel Kiviranta Bounces Back

Show some confidence in the kids, and they’ll have confidence in themselves. Plus, trade-deadline speculation heats up, behind Disney’s deal with the NHL, and more.

Joel Kiviranta has had what we might call a rollercoaster week. After a devastating giveaway that helped seal the Dallas Stars’ loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets last Thursday, he stormed back with a goal and two assists during a 6-1 victory over the surging Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday.

It’s one thing to say you’ll let the kids make mistakes and play through them, and it’s another thing to actually do it. Stars senior staff writer Mike Heika has written a story about how head coach Rick Bowness’ faith in Kiviranta was rewarded with the return of Kivi’s faith in himself:

“Yeah, I had a little chat with him. He was down a little bit, so we had a little chat to pick him up a little bit,” Bowness said. “I think when you sense that your player is not feeling the same thing you are, then you’ve got to talk about it right away. It gives a player an open chance to tell me what he’s thinking, and you’ve got to have those honest conversations. It was a good conversation.”...

“For myself, I was a little kind of lost after those mistakes and I lost my confidence a little bit,” [Kiviranta] said. “It’s so easy to go talk with Rick, and he has good points and he makes you feel like they trust you, and you get a little confidence back.”

Kiviranta’s quick recovery from a bad game also shows how the Stars’ Finnish Mafia takes care of its own. Regular linemate Roope Hintz provides both chemistry and camaraderie:

“He’s a very good player and I really enjoy to play with him,” Kiviranta said.

“It helps a little bit that we speak the same language, but that’s not the biggest thing because during the game there is not too much time to speak Finnish. It feels easy to play with him. I know where he’s going, and he can skate, and he likes to play with the puck, and that’s a perfect center and huge for us.”

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

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