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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Have The Stars Hit Upon A Winning Formula?

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

The Dallas Stars are taking “winning ugly” to a new level.

Stars senior staff writer Mike Heika acknowledges the failures in #fancystats. But he suggests the Victory Green gang has hit upon a different winning formula – a positive attitude that’s evident throughout the lineup:

The Stars have been a different team mentally after the break — more calm, more focused. Players and coaches said they all looked inside during the down time and now believe they have found their groove.

”I think we’re taking ownership of our own games personally, and our game as a whole and as a group,” said captain Jamie Benn. “Early on in this one, it wasn’t pretty. But there were players stepping up in the dressing room and owning up to their poor play and that’s good to see.

“Accountability is great. We’re all backing each other up and finding ways to win games.”

The Stars own third place in the cutthroat Central Division, and it’s going to take a lot of effort to keep it. But head coach Jim Montgomery thinks the team is up to it:

“There’s an incredible difference,” Montgomery said of the transformation during this five-game winning streak. “You just sense it in the room and on the bench. There’s a belief and a trust in each other right now that `we can.’ That attitude of ‘we can’ is beginning to permeate through everybody.”

Mike has more. [Dallas Stars]

Stars Stuff

Matthew DeFranks summed up last night’s game, and it’s just a good thing the Stars won before they started drunk-dialing their exes.

Did Brett Ritchie get what he deserved for that big hit on Alex Goligoski? Sean Shapiro and Owen Newkirk talked it over in their postgame Carcast.

The news isn’t great for Goose at any rate. Hopefully he recovers quickly and well.

I look forward to watching this young prodigy named Hesikanen. If he’s a Calder Trophy front-runner without even playing, I’d say Miro Heiskanen better watch out. (But seriously, check out Sam McCaig’s All-Rookie teams. It’s amazing how well the kids are doing.)

Around The League(s)

It was mostly quiet in #Kill last night, so let’s get to the rest of the headlines….

The Vancouver Canucks lost 2-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers, but their biggest loss could be Alexander Edler – who was stretchered off after a tangle with Jakub Voracek sent him face-first into the ice. [Sportsnet]

Hoping for a TDL deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins? They’re not in the trade market, suggests GM Jim Rutherford. [NHL]

Brian MacLellan, on the other hand, is willing to make a trade or two to get the Washington Capitals back to the Stanley Cup finals.

Presumably, none of them will involve Pheonix Copley. The Caps locked up their rising net star for three years yesterday.

As the sports community celebrates #HockeyIsForEveryone, former semi-pro player Brock McGillis is sharing his stories about how homophobic language mutes that promise.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

How are those Stars prospects marinating? The Texas Stars give you the latest scorecard.

Is Ringo the Ringtail the only mascot with his own video game? (Eat it, Gritty.)

Finally

The UAE women’s team is back in the USA, and giving back to the community. Enjoy.

Talking Points