Stars Go Off on The Avs..... Score 7 and Defeat Colorado
| 6
|
by user UNT66
On Sunday afternoon at the American Airlines Center, the Dallas Stars defeated the Colorado Avalanche 7-5. With the win, the Stars pulled four points within the Pacific Division Leading Anaheim Ducks and swept the season series with the Avalanche, taking all games against Colorado this season....
On Saturday, the Stars scored one goal vs. the Ducks holding on for the victory. On Sunday, the Stars scored the most goals in a game all season, scoring seven goals and turning around play for a team that had struggled to find offense over the last two and half months. Also, with 7 goals, the Stars scored the most goals at American Airlines Center since November 2005 when they scored nine goals in a blowout of the Chicago Blackhawks.
With 6 even strength goals and 1 power play goal by seven different goal scorers (Daley, Barnes, Lehtinen, Hagman, Lundqvist, Boucher and Halpern marking the scoresheet), the Stars looked to bury the Avalanche. Yet, the Stars nearly let three goal leads disappear twice in the game. Only the Jeff Halpern insurance goal and another Mike Smith relief appearance helped finish off the visitors from Denver.
After Sunday's game, the Stars will prepare for their Valentine's Day encounter with the hated Detroit Red Wings. So, if you're in the doghouse or if your significant other loves hockey, treat them to some good strong hockey..
Notes:
As the Goalie Situation Turns:
In Sunday's game, Marty Turco started for the Stars, but was pulled after giving up one goal in the first period two soft goals in the second, which allowed the Avalanche to pull within one goal of the Stars lead at 4-3.
Mike Smith was halfway by Stars head coach Dave Tippett and he gave up two, but held on for the victory, winning his third straight game.
Now, none of the goaltenders in the game was spectacular, as Colorado pulled their starter Peter Budaj, giving way to the inept Jose Theodore in the second period after Budaj gave up four goals by the middle of the second period. Theodore gave up three goals in relief and was given the loss.
Yet, Smith ends up looking golden as he has helped the Stars endure the recent and troubling inconsistent play of Marty Turco. Right now, Turco can't seem to make key saves when needed and gives up soft goals at the worst times.
Infact, I would not be shocked if Mike Smith is named as the starter against the Detroit Red Wings, as Smith has played well and Turco has struggled with the Red Wings, winning only one time against Detroit in his career.
If Kryptonite is what stymies Superman, Marty Turco struggles with Detroit and could be the main reason why Smith plays on Wednesday.
Garth Brooks Foundation Cashes In.....
Sunday's game was a first for the Garth Brooks Foundation, as both teams contributed money for most of the stats that occurred in the contest.
Normally, the home teams only contributes to his foundation, but Colorado decides to make the game a showcase for the foundation.
Thanks to both teams marking the scoresheet, the foundation collected nearly $25,000 according to my math and the stats in the game. Now, the foundation said that they would triple all the money that would be raised in the game, meaning that the total should be close to $75,000, according to the foundation formula sheet that I received prior to the game.
Now, that's a nice donation from a league and it's players that many people think is dying and no longer relevant.
Stars who went pointless.....
Here are the Stars players who went without a point in Sunday 7-5 win:
Patrik Stefan, Darryl Sydor, Jaroslav Modry and Mike Modano.
Injury Updates:
Antti Miettinen and Eric Lindros were scratched, as Miettinen sat out with a lower body injury and Lindros left the pregame skate early with an undisclosed injury. Thus, the hope of the list of players who are out of the lineup getting smaller seems to be really small.
Hopefully, none of these injuries will force the Stars to make a trade that brings a player that only stays for the rest of the season and upcoming playoffs, then leaves Dallas in the offseason....
NBC Wins....
With the Stars and Avalanche scoring 12 goals in Sunday's game, the entertainment value was gargantuan compared to the snooze fest that occurred when Anaheim and Dallas scored only one goal on Saturday at the AAC.
If the Ducks/Stars game on Saturday was on National TV, that would have been a ratings nightmare and something that would have helped drive viewers into a slumber. In other words, Saturday's game was un-watchable......
Thanks to the 12 goals, the Stars/Avalanche made hockey compelling television that anyone could watch, no matter how many prejudices about stick and puck you had prior to watching the NHL on TV.
JG
