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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Faksa Scores Twice As Stars Lose Preseason Game 2 to the Avs, 4-2

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

It’s never too early to start hating road games in Pepsi Center, apparently. The Colorado Avalanche scored three times in the third period – once in an empty net – to hand the Dallas Stars their first preseason defeat, 4-2. [Stars Inside Edge]

But still there was joy to be had, and it took the form of Radek Faksa – fresh from the World Cup of Hockey and looking none the worse for the apparent concussion he suffered in Toronto. In the second period, StarFox scored twice in three and a half minutes to stamp his name on the game (and trend well into the wee small hours on Twitter).

Indeed, writes Mike Heika, the big two-way center is on the fast track to becoming one of the Stars’ core building blocks:

Faksa was drafted 13th overall in 2012, and while he has always been slated as a defensive-minded center, he has shown the ability to score goals, as well. That’s important, because the Stars value scoring throughout the lineup, and Cody Eakin has shown in recent years that a checking line center can score with 16, 19 and 16 goals. Eakin is not expected to be back until early November after suffering a knee injury in training camp, so Faksa will likely be getting a lot of Eakin’s minutes.

And Faksa says being chosen to play in the World Cup will help him going forward:

“Until I got hurt, it was amazing,” Faksa said of his World Cup experience. “The exhibition games were very intense, good speed. Everything was quick. It was the best players in the world playing in the tournament, so it was a great experience for me as a young guy. I won’t forget it.”

Read more at Mike’s place. (It’s Faksa. You know you want to.) [SportsDayDFW]

Heika also talked with Jason Spezza, who’s dropped a few pounds to make sure he can maintain pace with the Stars’ speedy offense.

And he told participants in his Monday chat that he doubts the Stars have another 109-point season, and yet he still thinks they’ll be a better team. [SportsDayDFW]

Elsewhere in preseason action, former Star Steve Ott got three points and first Star of the Game in the Red Wings’ 5-1 beating of the Bruins.

Speaking of the Wings, they’re all wearing #9 this season.

Milan Lucic got what he went to Edmonton for and played on a line with Connor McDavid. The Oilers still lost, 5-3, to the Canucks. [TSN]

And Andrew Shaw is facing a DoPS hearing after sending Connor Hobbs face-first into the boards during the Canadiens’ 5-2 victory over the Capitals. [Washington Post]

Meanwhile, at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey (Game 2 starts at 7 p.m. Central time tonight):

  • Even in the deep talent pool of Team Canada, Sidney Crosby has set himself apart. [Sportsnet]
  • Zdeno Chara is using his vast experience (and his ability to speak seven languages) to help write the unlikely success story of Team Europe. [Sports Illustrated]
  • And they’re selling souvenir crystal WCH pucks filled with melted water from World Cup ice. For $65. (There is no punch line. This is for real.) [The Hockey News]/

Auston Matthews practiced with the Maple Leafs yesterday, and he broke the glass with a mighty blast. (Among Great Moments in Rookie Training Camp, this is just below “Jack Eichel rips a shot through the net, literally.”) [Puck Daddy]

Here’s the “after” photo:

The free-agency watch has ended for defender Kyle Quincey: He’s signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal with the New Jersey Devils. [NJ.com | Star-Ledger]

And Bruins buyout Dennis Seidenberg has agreed to terms with the New York Islanders. [CBS Boston]

The Allen Americans have released their 2016-17 promotional schedule, and it includes a New Year’s Eve celebration complete with tuxedo-design jerseys.

Finally: @DallasStars is not going to let this go, and you shouldn’t, either. More gravy, please.

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