Remarks from a Rangers fan - after the Stars dramatic loss to Martin Broduer and John Madden

... because really, those are the two guys that owned the game!  After a game like last night it's hard to find anything worth talking about - I think most fans want to take our referee chants (like A rope, a tree, lets hang the referee) and reword them for ... well ... ANYONE on the Stars.

But as I skimmed through the blogs and news articles on the web I found this great one from the perspective of a Rangers fan who wanted to follow the Avery Circus around the New York area:

What resulted was a clinical dissection of Dallas by Jersey's regimented offense in front of maybe, maybe 7,000 fans. The Dallas Stars that beat the Rangers on Monday were nowhere to be found, as were the Devil fans, who stayed away in droves. On the ice, the Marty Turco that was there to stop every Blueshirt break through the Star defense didn't show up. The Turco who made it to Newark pulled himself grossly out of position twice to allow a pair of amateurish goals on his way to being yanked for a Swedish kid who had 110 minutes of NHL time before taking the Rock ice.

To be fair, Scotty Hockey, the blogger responsible for this well-written description of our boys' (yes, last night they were truly boys) foul attempt to play AHL level hockey, was as mean to the Devils as he was to the Stars; the difference was it seemed his hatred towards the Devils was of a rivalry, and his distasteful words for the Stars were purely driven by their untoward play.

They looked so awkward on the ice last night that each and every one of the contracts should be nullified.  In fact, I have a new way to pay them - purely based on their performance each game:

• Their first goal of the game, a player earns $10,000.  Each goal there-after earns double the previous payment, thus, goal 2 is worth $20,000, goal 3 is worth $40,000 and goal 5 would then be worth $160,000.
• First Assists are worth 25% of that goal's value, second Assists are worth 50% of that.  However, this amount comes out of the player's check who scores the goal.  Thus, the player who scores his 5th goal in a game must pay $40,000 to whomever got the First Assist and $20,000 for the Second Assist.  This still earns the goal scorer $100,000 for that goal; nevermind how much they earned for their first 4.
• Hits would also be worth something, lets say $500 to start, thereafter they can grow exponentially as well.

Goalies are a bit more difficult, they don't make hits, usually don't make assists, and almost never make goals.  Goalies could get paid by ...

• The saves.  Let's say a goalie blocks 30 shots in a game: $1,500 per blocked shot would earn them $45,000 for that game (which, by the way, is worth $3.7mil per year).
• Not all saves are equal though - lets say a save based on a turnover which gives the offense a 2-on-1 advantage: $1,750; 3-on-1 $2,000.  Penalty shot?  $3,000 - and the extra $1,500 comes from the player who is serving the penalty!

This is BY NO MEANS an exact or fully-thought out system, but something like this is SURE to force players to work smarter, not harder; not only that but it will force players who play as abysmal as our boys did last night leave the league if they can't begin to perform - for it's those players who would be paying the other players' salaries.

Do I think this would actually work?  Not likely, but it's something to think about.  Do I want this to happen to the Stars?  No, but I'm at a loss what else could make them pull their heads out of those cavities they've found themselves in and begin playing like the skilled TEAM that they truly are.

Scotty Hockey, thanks for the inspiration to write this column today.  I really wasn't in the mood but the minute I read your post I became filled with such rage at my boys that the above filth just started pouring out.

Hey Stars, how about tonight against the Islanders you actually show up, as the proud NHL players that you are, and just ENJOY yourselves.  We go through this every season - you forget to ENJOY hockey and you go on a skid.  Last March, you forgot, but the minute you remembered you actually made it to the Western Conference Finals.  This October you've forgotten, and now you're risking your chances of ... well ... they say you can't make the playoffs in October, but you can sure make it difficult to do so if you keep this up.

2007 & 2008 at a glance

Before I actually get to the schedule, allow me to reflect a bit, in no great detail, about this years Dallas Stars:

• Marty Turco continued to prove that he is a clutch goalie and that he has it in the playoffs. While he had a rough bout against the Wings, he not only pulled the team 3 rounds deep, he finally got his first win at the Joe ... ever ... in the playoffs.
• The freshmen are AMAZING. Who would have expected a group SO chock full of rookies to make it as far as they did. Barch, Erikson, Grossman, Fistric, Niskanen, Peterson, Stephan ... I know we saw more guys, but these guys really impressed me this season. I can't wait to see what happens with our backup goalie situation next year - and how about Grossman with his first career NHL goal being in the Playoffs ... no ... in the Western Conference Finals??? Nuts I tell ya, nuts!
• Oh captain, my Captain. When the "C" was abruptly and rudely taken from Mike Modano many people questioned the move, and also the choice of Brendan Morrow as the replacement. If there are ANY doubters left, allow us to reflect, without me digging up the stats, how well Morrow did this series. First and foremost, if we had made the finals, he would have, in this bloggers opinion, won the Conn Smyth this year. Second, was there a player with more heart, more drive, and better to model the rest of your team after this series? How about his injuries? (yeah, we'll get to that in a moment). I admit, when I first saw Morrow I questioned him as Captain. I knew there had to be a reason, but I wasn't sold. I will never question him again after this year.
• Shoulder surgery, sports hernia, torn shoulder, bum leg, concussion. And this is just the list of players who PLAYED WITH THESE INJURIES this playoffs; for the Stars. We knew about Boucher, Zubov, Barnes & Fistric, but how about Morrow & Norstrom? That's right, for the entire Playoffs Norstrom did everything he could to ignore a sports hernia; and it was, in my opinion, the most alive he has been as a Dallas Star. As for our Captain, he was "basically laying on one leg" since the final game against the Sharks, not forget the partial tare in his shoulder.
• Mike Smith was an amazing backup goalie; Jussie Jokinen a clutch on the breakaway/Shootout; Jeff Halpern a quiet leader; and we saw all of them leave this year. It was a sad day for everyone, not a single fan I know was happy to see all 3 of these players leave, and I'm certain the team had a rough time of it too. However, Brad Richards and 3 years of contract came to Dallas. This will be HUGE in the coming years as we see some of our vets retire. It was huge in the playoffs as he was tied for second in points and led the lines of not only Mike Modano but also the rookies at different times. B-Rich will be a major player next year, the year after, and going forward.
• Brett Hull and Les Jackson were placed into the first ever co-GM experiment in the history of the NHL. They relieved an unspoken pressure between the players and their concern for job security; they relieved a similar unspoken pressure of Dave Tippet and his team of coaches, who just hadn't proven themselves in the playoffs (don't believe me? Look at San Jose's head coach; oh that's right, they don't have one anymore). They placed a few minor pickups in Iowa; and they tailored the deal that got us Brad Richards without giving up our entire future (can anyone say Marion Hossa to Pittsburgh?). Rumor has it that Tom Hicks is actually trying to convince the two to stick around together another year; wow.
• Fabian Brunnstrom; this years hottest free agent; a supposed #5 overall draft pick, without the draft pick and without the ramp up time in Iowa. Need I say more about next year?

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boy and Girls, it's time to look at 2008/2009. Hold your heads up high because the Dallas Stars were a team to be proud of in 2007/2008 and will be a team to reckon with next year.

GO STARS!
--j

Broduer Done Waisting Tmie

For the past year Martin Broduer has been making suggestions to the NHLPA Competition Committee - something that he has come to see as a waste of his time.

The Competition Committee, formed after the lockout, consists of 5 NHL players, 4 GMs and 1 owner. Its goal is to give suggestions to the NHL to help improve the game. While not all the suggestions fall on deaf ears, Broduer felt that things weren’t working out the way he had hoped. “I just don’t want that responsibility anymore. I thought I would be able to make a difference, but I guess I was wrong.”

I’m intruiged the the suggestion that Marty Turco might be willing to take up the reigns. He’s a good leader and highly outspoken - for now we’ll just have to wait and see.

–the wall
dallasstarsspodcast.com
odd man rush

Not a time to lament the past

it's time for the 'couver fans to gloat. They deserved that win, and we didn't. There were plenty of bad calls against us, heck there were even some bad calls against the Nucks, but the biggest thing is our boys didn't come to this game with the same intensity that they brought to the previous two :(

On the other hand, we saw fairly solid leadership out of Morrow, amazing goal tending out of Turco, and even a strong push by the big E in the post season ... so there is hope for next year.

The question now is who do we let go of this summer. Were Nagy & Nordstrom all they were expected? I'll say I was happy with Nagy's integration before post season, but during post season he and Matty (excepting much of Matty's play last night) were no more than a weak link on the team during this series. What about Anti, Robi, and some of the juniors down in Iowa? I think it will be a very interesting summer, to say the least.

Luckily we have a strong enough set of veteran leadership up top to keep whatever rotation we have over the summer in check come next season.

I'll hold my head up high as a Stars fan though ... When we were down 3 to 1 we had the strongest goalie of the round across all 16 teams, we had a team with more heart and determination than any other, and we fought our way back to Game 7. I say GO STARS GO ... 07/08 is only 5 months away.

What it's going to take...

The first thing that comes to my mind is the boys are going to have to come out to play. They can't win the game if they don't come out to play. Next, goaltending. They can't win a game if they don't keep the puck out of the net, and as long as Marty keeps doing what he has been doing and keeps his mind clear of all the negativity going around, he will "Git er done"! For the final ingredient for what it's going to take, goals. Not just one goal or two goals, but three, four, five...however many we can shove behind Luongo to prove that we have what it takes.

Jokinen didn't make the trip up to Vancouver due to an upper-body injury sustained in Tuesday night's game. Lindros, who has been out with a groin injury, made the trip and may get the nod to play tonight. Will Big E bring enough offense and grit to help the rest of the team to another victory? Let's hope that his presence in front of Luongo will give the screen we will need or the deflection that pushes the puck past the tenacious force in net for the Canucks.

Vancouver knows that this game won't be easy, but I don't think they realize how much emotion the Stars will bring to tonight’s game, Saturday night’s game and Monday night’s game. I am confident I will see the Stars team I saw in Game 1 and in Game 2 where we dominated play, we out shot them, we got pucks past Luongo and we outplayed them. Look out Canucks; the Stars aren't going down that easy. They DO have what it takes!

178:05 minutes of heaven - 1 second of heart break

Mud Bruneteau, Ken Doraty, Keith Primeu, Petr Sykora, Petr Nedved ... what do these 5 people have in common with Henrik Sedin? They all broke thosands of hearts in one simple flick of the wrist - these 6 people are the game winning goal scorers for the longest 6 Stanley Cup playoff games, ever.

Last night Dallas showed just how badly they want this series, last night they fought harder then I've ever seen them fight. In a 3rd period come back with goals by Miettinen (assisted by Hagman & Jokinen) and Nagy (assisted by Miettinnen and Zubov) the Stars just would not give up; the problem was neither would the Canucks.

The anti-Turco crowd will complain that the Stars outplayed, outshot and outlasted the Canucks, that Turco screwed the pooch on this one. They will say if he had done his job we'd have won, and you know they have something of a point, but don't get me wrong, I don't blame him for this loss - the team didn't do what was needed, as a whole. Shots on goal don't mean anything when they're at the chest of the goalie, offensive time on ice don't mean anything when you miss opportunities, and blocked shots don't mean anything when rebounds aren't properly taken care of.

If I did have to blame this on any single thing (besides the ever-so-easy-to-blame Sedin twins, of course) I'd say it was our power play. Twice we had 5 on 3 opportunities, 5 additional times we had 5 on 4 opportunities great than a full minute (only 1 of which w scored on). The Stars have got to figure out how to score more on these opportunities.

But in all seriousness, I've talked to people whose hearts were broken last night, and I agree to a point, it was heartbreaking watching the Stars play almost 140 minutes of hockey to lose, however that wasn't the real overall effect on me. After last nights game I'd do anything to watch Friday's game now - anything for it to be Sunday night to see game 3, Tuesday night for game 4 ... I'm more excited after last nights loss then I think I would have been after a 3 period win. The stars fought hard last night, and showed me that they are serious about this post-season.

I say GO STARS - I say rest up tonight because Friday night is going to be a long ride - If you're in town make sure you come out to Frankie's to watch the game with all the other local fans - and I say BRING IT ON CANUCKS! Worry not Stars Fans, our boys will do it!!!

Smarter Hockey = Winning Games

Did you realize that Dallas has not given up more than one power play goal in a game since before the All Star break? How about only allowing four power play goals in the last 37 attempts by the opponents we have faced since the break? Turco and now more importantly Smitty are a big part of why that number is as low as it is. You would think we would have the top penalty killing unit in the NHL right now and maybe we do, but we still sit 11th overall. And it doesn’t start with goaltending, credit the rest of the team for stepping up to block shots, lift sticks and heavy pressure on the teams who get that man advantage at least twice in a game. Also notice that in the eight games we have played, we have only been penalized the 37 times which comes out less than four per game. Two of the seven contests we only gave up two minors so also credit the team for not taking those mental penalties in the games.

That brings me to my next point which is why I think the Stars are playing better hockey now then they have been all year. Look back at the Anaheim game when Jussi scores the lone goal on the power play, then at the Colorado game when we have seven different goal scorers and eleven different assisters not counting the multi-point players like Halpern, Ribeiro, Boucher and Lehtinen. Then look at the difference between the two teams. I sat and watched the Colorado Anaheim game last night and Colorado won the game 2-0 on 29 shots while Anaheim threw 39 at Budaj and couldn’t get one past, much like the 32 shots thrown at Smitty on Saturday. We know when we play teams like Anaheim that it is going to be a close game. The three games we have played Colorado have also been close but have been higher scoring. We had an offensive rush for the first time in a long time and I hope it continues for the rest of the season. 30+ shots on net, physical precedence, smart passes and great offensive rushes resulting in goals will excel this team to the top and past the first round of the playoffs! Keep it up boys, you’re looking good!!

NHL Ads, New Players and what goalie controversy?

I haven't had time the past 3 weeks to really post as much as I've wanted to. I've had plenty of ideas, but the job that pays the bills has had me too busy to actually make the posts. So here I am with a quick summary of what's been going on in my mind.

NHL Ads
This year the NHL has been pushing their "Just like you, and really good at hockey" campaign. In their troubles they've really come up with some comical ads - here's a couple of the recent ones that have made me laugh (one even includes Marty):

New Player(s)
I say this in the plural form because between contract extensions, injuries & actual new players the team seems to be growing. First and foremost, we obviously have a few guys off injury, namely Modano, making a difference. Second we got a great contract extension, 2 years worth $2m for Mike Smith. Smitty has been great when he's played this year, and now that he's healthy again as well we'll be seeing more of him. I'm glad to see next year we go into the season knowing who our goalies are. Lastly, and certainly not least, we had a trade.

Tippett and Hicks showed their hands early this year, as they have done in the past, and made a trade for the Playoffs ... Mathias Tjarnqvist has played well in the few games he was up in Dallas and shown that he's going to be a worthy player in the NHL. However, it won't be for us. Tjarnqvist was traded to division foe Phoenix for an offensive player who, on his new line with Modano & Lehtinen, is sure to help us get more goals ... and seeing Dallas Sunday with 7 goals? Yeah, I have confidence in the playoffs this year. For those of you concerned, this was the right move for Tjarnqvist too. I don't think he had his heart set to be in Dallas, so I don't think there is any love lost, and in Phoenix he has the chance to become one of the stars on a (going to be) young and growing team. As for the concerns over Nagy, and there are many of them, I say screw it. He has the history of being a +20 goal scorer twice in his career, and with the right team can be again. Jere & Mo are a great combination, and with another goal scorer by their side this line is going to be very dangerous.

Goalie controversy
Bugger off. This is a media story, and only a media story. Marty has a history with this team of being a strong player ... one of the best honestly. He just played 23 straight games before Smitty rescued him in 2 of these last 3 games (some would argue he rescued him in all 3). 23 straight games of 80 to 100 mile an hour pucks flying at his head. We're lucky he took it as well as he did. Yes, Smith has a LOT of promise, but he's still a rookie. He will be here until Marty retires, and then he'll be here after that. This isn't about who is the starter, as Tippett has said, if the playoffs started today against Detroit Turco would be in goal. So big media, stop pestering our boys with your headline news that means nothing. Let them concentrate on playing the game. Cover them, but don't pester them. Goalie controversy ... bah!

Deep in the Heart of Texas

The Stars at Night
are Big and Bright
Deep in the Heart of Texas

This week brings two of my favorite things:

• Time with family
• NHL All-Star Week

Now, I could bore you with details of the first, I could even regurgitate the details of the latter and tell you how great each event is, but to be totally honest with you ... go here if you want to read it, I'm too lazy to retype it all up.

Instead, let me just stick to a couple of events that mean something to me:

NHL All-Star/Leary Firefighters Foundation Benefit Concert
Sunday the 21st, Gilley's, 1135 S. Lamar St., Dallas, 8 pm
It might seem odd to you that I choose to write about this benefit concert considering I'm a software developer and I don't know who the heck the band that's playing is, heck, if I didn't know me so well I'd find it weird. You see, back in Connecticut a few years back I was a volunteer firefighter. I spent a couple nights a week at the house with the rest of the brother hood, sometimes in training, sometimes just ********ting. When Rescue Me came out a few years back we'd spend every Wednesday night in the house together. So, to be 1700 miles away from my old house and see Dennis Leary hosting an event that helps out my former brothers and sisters brings a small tear to my eye. I'm not sure how the rest of the NHL fans feel about this, but NHL you've made this fan even more loyal than before ... if that's possible.

Street All-Star Tournament
Monday the 22nd, Runyon Elementary School, 10750 Cradlerock Drive, Dallas, 10-11 am
The name of this event is a bit of a misnomer actually. What's really happening is a couple of undisclosed members of the All-Star teams will be going to this elementary school and watching the kids play a street tournament. Even though the name is a bit misleading, I like it. It may not mean much to the majority of the fans but think of what it will mean to these kids. The rest of their lives they'll think of the day that these professional hockey players took the time to come watch them. Warms the heart don't it.

"Stick With Reading" Classroom Visit
Tuesday the 23rd, 9-10:30 am
Based on my description of the Street Tournament you shouldn't be surprised my next pick is another event benefiting the kids. Again, a couple of undisclosed All-Star players (presumably Marty Turco will be one) will be visiting an elementary school to make kids smile. Actually this event specifically tells kids to keep reading. Heck, if a guy who takes shots to the face like Turco does tells me to keep reading, I think I might listen!

YoungStars game
Tuesday the 23rd, AAC, 6:30-9pm
Sure there are other things going on during this time at the AAC, but I'm excited to see Jussi Jokinen out on the ice showing off his skills on the YoungStars team to see what he can do when the pressure is off. He's had an off year, at least thats what everyone says when they think about what they'd like to be doing this year, and I think the pressure has really warn him down. However, this event should be good and relaxed, giving him an opportunity to shine. Ok ok, keep your eyes on Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Peter Budaj and Wojtek Wolski too.

55th NHL All-Star Game
Wednesday the 24th, AAC, 7 p.m
Yes, lastly, we find ourselves at the 55th NHL All-Star Game. Also, we find the only event I'll be making. Remember that family thing? Well I'm in Connecticut until Tuesday morning and won't be able to make any of the things I want to ... besides the big one. Dallas has opened it's arms wide to welcome the NHL to town this week and is even more proud to host the game, in which two of it's own players will be playing on home ice. Marty Turco, the goalie everyone thought would make a run for the Vezina Trophey (and isn't doing so horribly he still can't try), as well as Phillipe Boucher, the D-man that came out of nowhere, will both be fighting for the Western Conference in this game. Of note, NHL.com has another article spotlighting Boucher and the rough time his family are having, check it out to see what this man has looked past in order to play as spectacularly as he has done this year. Of course, getting to see some NHL's best players on our home ice all at once is an honor. Come find Scott or myself at the game, in sections 315 and 318, and help us cheer on the Western Conference and our boys on the ice. Lets kick the snot outta those boys from the east!!

Best wishes to everyone, thanks for reading, and GO WESTERN CONFERENCE!!!

Stars @ Canucks

It was truely a great game. I know, "but Jay, it was another 1 goal game!" It was one of the most exciting 1 goal games I've ever seen. First of all, that was a beautiful goal. Stefan's pass up to the break-away Eriksson ... it just couldn't have looked any prettier. That, followed by the shootout? That heart wrenching shootout? Yes, we lost in the end, sure there are shoulda woulda coulda's ... If nothing else, look at the Three Stars of the Game, or at least the first two. Roberto Luongo and Marty Turco. How often do you see the losing goaltender in that list?

I hope you had a chance to watch that game. If not, I hope you have it recorded somewhere or can find it on YouTube or Google (I looked already today, couldn't find it).

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to tonights game vs Edmonton. Mark over at Andrew's Dallas Stars Page has pulled out and put back and pulled out again the big red panic button and if we don't win tonight I think I'll let him hit it. Good news for us? We're a strong team, even with our 4 forwards out, our backups are showing their worth. Also, we haven't lost a game in Edmonton since 2004, so we've got a great streak up there. However, Vancouver just came off their 1000th franchise win and snapped a 4 game losing streak by throwing Florida to the ice 4-1 Tuesday. I guess we'll see.