Dallas Stars -.5 -125
I got burned by this team two nights ago and in tonight’s case I choose to have a short memory. My only hope is that the Stars do not. This time when they get out to a early lead I trust that they won’t make the same mistake twice.
But then I read the Dallas News and I see…."You guys keep bringing it up, (the 3-0 collapse to San Jose), but we've forgotten about it," right wing Rob DiMaio said. "We have to get past it, and we have. This is a veteran team, and we'll respond. It's hockey. It just happens."
Unfortunately the story goes on to show how this is the fourth time this year the Stars have allowed their opponent to tie the game in the final minute. In the prior three games they went on to have a less than stellar performance in their next game. Apparently the hangover effect had something to do with the subsequent loses the very next game. At least that’s what the reporter speculates. So as I said before I hope the Stars have a selective memory and use the 3-3 collapse to the Sharks as a rallying cry and not as a crying towel.
We’ve all heard, (and seen), to death the Todd Bertuzzi/Steve Moore fiasco. Sports shows that won’t give hockey two minutes out of their normal agenda all seem to re-play this low light at every opportunity and bring up the burning question that all inquiring minds want to know…”What in heaven’s name is wrong with this sport?” The answer of course is the only time you hear or see anything about the game of hockey from these “sports” shows in when there’s blood on the ice. Hockey’s version of chumming for sharks. Sharks?……sorry I got off the original point here….
However the loss of Todd Bertuzzi leaves this Canuck team with a tremendous loss and one that can’t be replaced with the couple of ordinary fill ins they picked up before the draft. The bottom line is this team is not the same and has lost a major component of what made this squad a success.
Now they travel to Dallas who, dare I say again, one of the most dominant home teams in the entire NHL. The subject came up earlier this year regarding the variance in ice surfaces throughout the NHL and how they created a strong advantage or disadvantage. Tonight is a perfect example of that. Vancouver owns a smooth as glass, fast, and blemish free rink. Much like a Augusta green at the Masters. Dallas owns the Oak Hill rough at last year‘s U.S. Open. Okay I promise no more analogies…at least for tonight.
Additional garbage….The Stars match up well with the Canucks beating them 7 out of the last 10 meetings, and that's with Bertuzzi. Vancouver played their own version of the two point give away last Tuesday as well when Nashville scored the tying goal with 22 seconds left in the game. Dallas trails Vancouver by three points in the west playoff mix but really this game has much more important consequences for the Stars as believe it or not are only six points ahead of the Kings and from not making the post season at all. The tie with the Sharks on Tuesday extended Dallas’ home unbeaten streak to 15 games, (11-0-4), and outscoring their opponents by a 51-23 margin.
NHL single unit plays………88-55-7.…..+ 33.27
Unit and a half plays………..13-5-1.…… + 10.845
NHL total to Date…………...101-60-8.……+ 44.115
I got burned by this team two nights ago and in tonight’s case I choose to have a short memory. My only hope is that the Stars do not. This time when they get out to a early lead I trust that they won’t make the same mistake twice.
But then I read the Dallas News and I see…."You guys keep bringing it up, (the 3-0 collapse to San Jose), but we've forgotten about it," right wing Rob DiMaio said. "We have to get past it, and we have. This is a veteran team, and we'll respond. It's hockey. It just happens."
Unfortunately the story goes on to show how this is the fourth time this year the Stars have allowed their opponent to tie the game in the final minute. In the prior three games they went on to have a less than stellar performance in their next game. Apparently the hangover effect had something to do with the subsequent loses the very next game. At least that’s what the reporter speculates. So as I said before I hope the Stars have a selective memory and use the 3-3 collapse to the Sharks as a rallying cry and not as a crying towel.
We’ve all heard, (and seen), to death the Todd Bertuzzi/Steve Moore fiasco. Sports shows that won’t give hockey two minutes out of their normal agenda all seem to re-play this low light at every opportunity and bring up the burning question that all inquiring minds want to know…”What in heaven’s name is wrong with this sport?” The answer of course is the only time you hear or see anything about the game of hockey from these “sports” shows in when there’s blood on the ice. Hockey’s version of chumming for sharks. Sharks?……sorry I got off the original point here….
However the loss of Todd Bertuzzi leaves this Canuck team with a tremendous loss and one that can’t be replaced with the couple of ordinary fill ins they picked up before the draft. The bottom line is this team is not the same and has lost a major component of what made this squad a success.
Now they travel to Dallas who, dare I say again, one of the most dominant home teams in the entire NHL. The subject came up earlier this year regarding the variance in ice surfaces throughout the NHL and how they created a strong advantage or disadvantage. Tonight is a perfect example of that. Vancouver owns a smooth as glass, fast, and blemish free rink. Much like a Augusta green at the Masters. Dallas owns the Oak Hill rough at last year‘s U.S. Open. Okay I promise no more analogies…at least for tonight.
Additional garbage….The Stars match up well with the Canucks beating them 7 out of the last 10 meetings, and that's with Bertuzzi. Vancouver played their own version of the two point give away last Tuesday as well when Nashville scored the tying goal with 22 seconds left in the game. Dallas trails Vancouver by three points in the west playoff mix but really this game has much more important consequences for the Stars as believe it or not are only six points ahead of the Kings and from not making the post season at all. The tie with the Sharks on Tuesday extended Dallas’ home unbeaten streak to 15 games, (11-0-4), and outscoring their opponents by a 51-23 margin.
NHL single unit plays………88-55-7.…..+ 33.27
Unit and a half plays………..13-5-1.…… + 10.845
NHL total to Date…………...101-60-8.……+ 44.115
