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Dallas Stars Daily Links: One-Point Game Keeps Stars In First Wild-Card Spot

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

Sometimes, you’ll take the loser point. Last night, the Dallas Stars fought the Tampa Bay Lightning – arguably the NHL’s best team – to a standstill. The 5-4 overtime loss yielded just enough to keep the team in the Western Conference’s first wild-card spot.

On a night when former Bolt Ben Bishop noticeably struggled and gave up more than one soft goal, the Stars’ offense came through, just like old times:

Stars coach Ken Hitchcock shuffled his lines again and asked for more balance in his scoring. While Tyler Seguin scored twice and added an assist, Brett Ritchie and Mattias Janmark also scored goals and Jason Dickinson had the first assist of his NHL career.

“We are just going to have to have flexibility throughout our lineup,” Hitchcock said. “That’s just the way it is at this time of year. We are going to have to do the same thing.

A game like this also reminds that Bishop built his cachet as a rock-steady playoffs goalie in Tampa Bay’s Stanley Cup fights of years past, as Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News writes:

“That was everything. It was where I became a starter, going to the finals, it was a great experience and I took a lot with me,” Bishop said of his time with the Lightning.

”You just were in every scenario. Being up 3-0, being down 2-3, playing a couple of Game 7s.You were able to put that in your bank and learn from it. I think I gained a great deal of maturity by becoming a No.1 goalie who was counted on in the playoffs.”

Mike has more. [SportsDayDFW]

More Stars

Hitch was pleased with how the Stars fought back from a two-goal deficit, and he hopes that point will come in handy.

Ritchie grabbed his first goal since January and spoke with the media after overtime.

Seguin would like for the team to do more puck possession.

Let’s give Bish credit for the good saves – like this one, sans stick, on J.T. Miller:

You probably won’t soon forget this highlight: Janmark brought the equalizer (and the Enya) with nine seconds left in regulation.

The Stars are back at practice this afternoon, as Mark Stepneski confirms. He also brings all the postgame quotes here. [Between the Blue Lines]

Around the League(s)

All That #Murder You Done

  • Viktor Arvidsson scored twice and David Poile became the winningest GM in NHL history as the Nashville Predators took out the Edmonton Oilers 4-2. [On The Forecheck]
  • Former Star Kevin Connauton seems to have the Minnesota Wild’s number, and his one-timer raised the tally as the Arizona Coyotes took a 5-3 win at home. [Hockey Wilderness]
  • Joe Pavelski got two goals, and the San Jose Sharks got payback for last Friday’s loss in United Center, as they rolled over the Chicago Blackhawks 7-2. [NHL on NBC]/

The rich do get richer: 18-year-old Preds ultra-prospect Eeli Tolvanen confirms that he will sign with the NHL team as soon as his KHL team, Jokerit, exits the 2018 playoffs.

Points are pretty and goals are great, but which NHL players are providing the most bang for the offensive buck? Jared Clinton names 10, only one of whom plays in the Central Division. [The Hockey News]

Seattle wants an NHL franchise. A lot. And during yesterday’s season-ticket launch, it showed how much, with 25,000 deposits in the first hour of sales.

Keep your eye on the ball, literally – and never doubt that the endgame includes the restoration of the Seattle Supersonics.

With Pacific Northwest fans going full shock-and-awe on advance sales, Ryan Kennedy’s mock expansion draft is especially well timed. I’m not so sure the Stars would leave Janny unprotected, but hey, it’s not my mentions that are about to get slaughtered.

The Washington Capitals and the Toronto Maple Leafs meet in the 2018 Stadium Series on Saturday at the U.S. Naval Academy. Caps forward T.J. Oshie has a great story about how his two grandfathers met during their Navy service.

The U.S. national women’s hockey team, fresh off their gold-medal performance in the Winter Olympics, will be on hand for a second-intermission salute during the game.

Meanwhile, check out this super-nifty video of the ice build at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

And say a fond goodbye to Satchel Price, who’s resigned as site manager of DBD’s Chicago sibling, Second City Hockey. Soon, you can look for his work in The Chicago Sun-Times.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

The Texas Stars have posted the February 2018 development report, and all that movement is pretty impressive when you see it in one place.

Finally

From a Brett Hull snow racer to Jaromir Jagr peanut butter, the BarDown staff rounds up some of the oddest NHL endorsements ever. Enjoy.

Talking Points