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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Why Are The Stars So Bad At Keeping A Lead?

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

The Dallas Stars aren’t the only team that tries to turtle while they’re ahead. They’re just worse at it than just about everybody else.

The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks took a hard look at how the Stars have become such dab hands at blowing leads. In the process, he found a series of cheerful factoids that will probably make your day, unless they don’t:

Every team is a worse version of themselves with the lead. Teams tend to sit back more. Opponents ratchet up the desperation. There’s always a push from teams that trail, and every team in the NHL has worse possession figures when leading vs. when tied or trailing. It’s just that Dallas’ are close to the bottom of the league.

For instance, when the Stars are tied or trailing, they are responsible for 53.49% of shot attempts at 5 on 5. When they are leading, the Stars’ share of shot attempts drops to 40.96%. The 12.53% difference between the two is the biggest dropoff in the league.

The consequences are…well, you know:

It’s possible that losses like Tuesday’s vs. Calgary (and December’s in Vegas and January’s in St. Louis) might keep the Stars out of the postseason. That’s six points that the Stars had in their grasp but let slip away. Dallas didn’t even send any of those games into overtime.

Matt has more. [SportsDayDFW]

Stars Stuff

If you’re splitting your viewing between All-Star Weekend and the Winter Olympics tonight, here’s a heads up.

Also, Pavs says hey.

Tim Cowlishaw is no hockey expert, but his 30,000-foot view of the DFW sports scene is often valuable. Here’s his take on the Stars’ playoff chances.

Around The Leagues

You are here, more or less.

And the Beijing Games are already down one Team USA superstar.

But hey, if you’re not big on the Winter Olympics, there’s more All-Star action to be had.

Meanwhile, the Anaheim Ducks have a Little Ball of Hate in their future.

The Chicago Blackhawks management team isn’t even good for a mean smirk anymore. Here’s Josh Beneteau on Rocky Wirtz’s “We’re not going to talk about 2010” rant.

ICYMI, Hawks fan Wally Maz has video of the Wirtz patriarch going off on Chicago sportswriters Mark Lazerus and Phil Thompson.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

Thanks to the weather, the Texas Stars are working remotely this weekend, except where it counts.

Finally

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