Stars Destroy Coyotes 6-0
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by user UNT66
On Tuesday Night at The American Airlines Center, the Dallas Stars defeated the Phoenix Coyotes 6-0. With the win, the Stars finished the season series with the Coyotes, winning 7 of the 8 game against their divisional opponents. Also, The Stars moved up to the 5th seed in the Western Conference Standings and if the playoffs started today, Dallas would start the first round versus Detroit, a team both Dave Tippett and Marty Turco has struggled with the Red Wings throughout their careers.
Mike Ribeiro, a deserving first star of the game, book-ending the scoring along with Jere Lehtinen, Mike Modano, Ladislav Nagy and Loui Eriksson marking the scoresheet for Dallas on a night where the only visible sign of any effort from Phoenix was in drawing penalties and looking to drop the gloves against the home team in the final period of the contest.
Lost in the offensive explosion and the Coyotes Conga Line to the Penalty Box was the play of Marty Turco, stopping 21 shots and earning his 6th Shutout of the season.
Yet, this game was entertaining as Dallas didn't allow the Coyotes to dictate any play after the 1st period. In Saturday's game, the Stars had to rally for a 3-0 deficit to win in a shootout in order to claim any points in the standings. On Tuesday, Phoenix tried to jump start their game in the first period, but the Stars beat them to the first goal and the route was on after they grabbed the lead in the game.
After Tuesday's victory, the Stars will attempt to take out the Central Division's finest, skating against Phoenix at the Joe Louis Arena on Friday night and then looking for the Big Payback against those thugs from Nashville in Music City USA on Saturday Night.
Notes:
Numbers from Tuesday's game can be Fun......
Jere Lehtinen, #26 for the Stars, scored His 26th Goal of the Season at the 13:13 mark of the 2nd period
Marty Turco earned his 3rd Career Shutout of the Coyotes and his 30th Career NHL Shutout
With A Multi-Point Performance vs. Phoenix, Mike Modano needs only 11 points to overtake Phil Housley to become the Greatest U.S. Born Point Scorer In NHL History.
The One Phoenix Highlight:
In a 6-0 thrashing, positivity tends to be surpressed. Yet, a great moment occurred after the game when Mike Modano and Phoenix's Jeremy Roenick, two of the best American Born Players in NHL History talked about the upcoming passing of Phil Housley and shared in a few pictures that will be headed to U.S. Hockey.
It's a shame that Roenick hasn't made the Goal Scoring and Point Races more competitive, as it would have made a great story. Yet, Roenick sits third in both categories and doesn't look to seriously challenge any of those records.
Boucher's Not With The Team:
Philippe Boucher has been granted a leave from the team, due to personal reasons, as his dad, Jean Claude finally passed away, losing his battle to Cancer on Sunday.
For all that Boucher has gone through with his family, he has been nominated by the Local Hockey Writers as the Masterton Trophy Candidate For The Stars.... Hopefully, he will receive this award as he is having the best season of his professional hockey career while dealing with some serious family issues.
On another note, Phoenix Hockey Writers nominated Owen Nolan For The Masterton, an award meant for the players that perservered and rose above to have a great season.
Question: What has Nolan Persevered? His Own Team.....
Other Injury Concerns:
Stephane Robidas is still out of the active lineup, dealing with Post Concussion Syndrome and Darryl Sydor suffered a hand injury during the last road trip.
For a team that activated Steve Ott From The IR on Monday, it seems that when the Stars made one positive step, they take two steps back in the injury department.
Hopefully, the team will look healthier as the playoffs starts in less then two weeks....
JG
