Prospects Win; Zubie & Bouch ... again??

Allow me to start off with the best greeting possible: Happy Last Day of Summer before Hockey Begins!

Stars prospects squad just won the Prospects Tourney in Traverse City, Mi - major props to them.  James Neal came away with most points in the tourney (expect to see him a lot in Dallas) with 9 and Brunnstrom, although he started slow, really showed that he has potential to shine.

But what really made me post today was this bit of news posted by both Heika and Keeli over at the Star Telegram:

Sergei Zubov underwent an arthroscopic hip procedure on Thursday. He will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Also, Philippe Boucher is day-to-day with a sore foot.

-- Keeli Garza, Five For Fighting

I'm sorry, what?  Heika reports Zubbie could be out 6-8 weeks on the procedure.  Can anyone tell me exactly what is going on here?  I know, they're both old; I know, this is bound to happen; I know, we'll be fine.  This is not me paniking; this is me being pissed off they waited so long to get on the ice that they both just realized they have issues.

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!!

A Dunk in the Shark Tank

After a rough 45 minutes Dallas finally joined the game with an offensive flurry in the 3rd period of tonights game. While I had a hard time keeping focus when the game started the 3rd I found myself sitting on the edge of my couch, if sitting at all!

Mike Ribeiro worked hard to show Scott and I that we chose the right guy as our Player of the Week with his assist and goal and Boucher made me proud to own his jersey with an AMAZING 3rd period last second (quite literally) goal that looked more like he was trying to hit a fly with a fly swatter then the puck with a stick.

It was great to see Mikey Mo back on in uniform tonight, but I think Tippet made the right move by not putting him on as one of the opening three shooters in the shootout. Scott and I had a few words about that, but Mo's hands were shakey tonight. I think it'll take him a few games to get back to anything close to his former self, but I also think just having him on the ice has got to feel good for our boys.

With that said, the first 2 periods were rough. It seemed like the boys decided "Mike's back, he'll play offense" ... and boy were they wrong. He had to get back, he had to get ice time, to remember the feeling of another player throwing him against the boards. I'm not trying to say bad things about our boy. I'm crazy excited to have him back out there and I think next week he'll be much more agile and his hands will remember the subtle nuances in the wrist flicks etc ... but I'm honest about his performance tonight.

Congratulations Stars, you earned tonights points in that 3rd period and even more, you handed the last team in the league without one, an overtime and shootout loss.

GO STARS GO!

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!!!