Stars Fall To Penguins....
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by user UNT66
On Friday night, Dallas Stars fans anxiously anticipated the first regular season game of Sidney Crosby at American Airlines Center. Yet, Penguins Forward Mark Recchi stole the show, scoring two goals and Erik Christensen scored the shootout winner, giving the Pittsburgh Penguins a 4-3 shootout victory at American Airlines Center over the Dallas Stars.
With the NHL schedule continued to be un-balanced next year, emphasizing divisional rivalries, Friday night's game with the Penguins was a rarity and could have the last time you will see Crosby in Dallas for a few years.
With the possibility of seeing the NHL's top point scorer and leading assist man, Stars fan flocked to the AAC to see the player who wanted to redeem himself after going scoreless in Wednesday's All-Star Game. Versus the Stars, Crosby recorded two assists and showed skills of a player that is well beyond his 19 years of age.
Yet, a historic night for Recchi, who recorded his 500th NHL Career Goal and became a big part of how the Penguins were able to take two points at American Airlines Center. As good as Sidney Crosby is, Recchi makes Crosby a better player by still providing offense and mentoring to a player that the sky's the limit.
For the Stars, this game was a mixed blessing:
-They failed to win a shootout for the second time this season, having all three of their shooters miss the target and Marty Turco allowing one goal. As good as the one point in the standings were to the Stars, they simply gave away a point when they led 3-2 in the middle of the third period, allowing the Penguins to tie the game on Recchi's second tally of the night on a power play goal.
-Five players came back from injuries on Friday Night, leaving only Mike Modano, Matthew Barnaby and Brenden Morrow as the only players on Injured Reserve. Thus, only Loui Eriksson and Krys Barch were the only recent roster callups that saw playing time for the big club at the AAC.
-Philippe Boucher, one of those players who was injured before the All-Star Break, continued his outstanding play, recording another multi-point game with two assists. So far, Boucher has the be considered as your team MVP.
On Sunday, the Stars look to get back on the winning track as they face Anaheim at the Honda Center.
JG
