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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Stars Flunk Their “Big Test” Against Predators

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

The Dallas Stars could have made a big statement with a big win – or even a good game – against the Nashville Predators. Two goalies, five surrendered goals, and a whole lot of futility later, they’re back to getting past another tough night.

Fans who have gotten used to the Stars being much stronger at home were stunned at their sudden fecklessness, as recounted by Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News. Head coach Ken Hitchcock seems to put his finger on the difference between the rivals:

“When you play a game that’s, for us, a measuring stick – we wanted to take the next step – I think you look at them and from the goalie out, their best players were their best players,” Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said. “You need your top players to be your top players. If you’re playing good teams, that’s the measuring stick.”

Ben Bishop, a rock in the net during the recent winning streak, was punctured early when Jamie Benn took a foolish penalty. Two more goals and Kari Lehtonen came in, with no better results. Meanwhile, the team made Nashville’s backup look like a Vezina candidate, as they are sometimes liable to do:

Nashville played backup goalie Juuse Saros, and the Stars were foiled by a player who entered with a 1-3-1 record, 3.70 GAA and .870 save percentage. The Stars finished with 11 giveaways, including three by defenseman John Klingberg.

It was the team’s most embarrassing game of the year, and they have used that word a lot this season.

“We didn’t come back in the game, and that’s not like us,” Klingberg said. “I think we had a good pace at the start of the game, but we didn’t win enough battles. It was a good learning lesson that’s for sure.”

There’s more at Mike’s place. [SportsDayDFW]

Mark Stepneski has all the postgame quotes from both teams. [Between the Blue Lines]

More Stars

File under: Hitch-isms.

Even in the loss, Jamie Oleksiak managed a Gordie Howe hat trick.

In better news, Marc Methot could be ready to skate again this week. He’s still recovering from arthroscopic surgery that took place on Nov. 10.

Mark your calendars: The Stars’ First Responders Night takes place Friday, Dec. 29 – with the North Texas Fire vs. Police All-Stars Game taking place after Stars vs. Blues.

The Stars come in at No. 13 in Forbes’ 2017 NHL franchise valuations, which now feature four teams worth an estimated 10 figures.

Around the league(s)

Last Night, In #Death

The Stars failed to pick up two points on the idle Chicago Blackhawks last night, and the rest of the Bloody Central was a busy, back-and-forth affair:

  • Nathan MacKinnon scored two goals, but Jack Eichel, Evander Kane and Ryan O’Reilly had the last word as the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Colorado Avalanche, 4-2. [Die By The Blade]
  • Marian Gaborik scored his 400th NHL goal and Anze Kopitar earned his 500th NHL assist as the Los Angeles Kings trounced the Minnesota Wild, 5-2, to establish the longest active NHL winning streak (six). [Hockey Wilderness]
  • Not even a Jordie Benn goal could overcome a Brayden Schenn hat trick as the St. Louis Blues snapped the Montreal Canadiens’ five-game winning streak, 4-3. [St. Louis Game Time]
  • And the now-former division leaders, the Winnipeg Jets, lost a shocker to the Detroit Red Wings, 5-1. [Winging It In Motown]/

Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom recorded the first shutout of his 115-start NHL career with a 30-save victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Former Stars (and current San Jose Sharks) blueliner Brenden Dillon is the latest player to hit the league doghouse. The West Texas Pump Jack has been suspended one game for slashing Madison Bowey during the Sharks’ 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Monday.

Team Finland has selected the camp roster for its U20 national squad, and to the shock of absolutely no one, Stars ultraprospect Miro Heiskanen appears almost immediately.

Fellow up-and-comers Jake Oettinger and Riley Tufte have been named to Team USA’s preliminary roster for the 2018 World Junior Championships.

Ryan Kennedy names 10 NHL prospects who should be coming in hot for the tournament, scheduled for Dec. 26, 2017 – Jan. 5, 2018. [The Hockey News]

Meanwhile, the National Olympic Committee of Russia has been banned officially from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, due to doping scandals involving its athletes. The IOC states that “clean individual athletes” may be allowed to compete, but not under their nation’s flag.

IIHF President Rene Fasel, who made a statement last week that the ban would put “the health of hockey at risk,” is withholding comment for now.

In the women’s game, Hockey Canada is up two wins over Team USA in pre-Olympic exhibition play in Winnipeg.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

Sheldon Dries scored twice, Jason Dickinson sent the game to OT, and in the end the Texas Stars defeated the Iowa Wild 5-4.

Here’s a video of the ever-trustworthy Travis Morin being OT hero:

Finally

Razor gets the last word: a fond farewell to the Golden Laces Winning Streak. Enjoy.

Talking Points