Stars D-man leads the O
This is just typical Dallas Stars stuff, here. After holding out
for a better contract before the beginning of the season, Darryl
Sydor returned to the team like a man on fire. Sydor has been on
the ice for 16 of the Stars' 18 goals to date. And since he usually
mans the point on the power play, its no wonder that he was a part
of 11 of 12 overall power-play goals scored by Dallas.
Sydor scored a goal and assist against Buffalo, two assists against
Chicago at home, an assist against Carolina, a power- play goal and
two assists against Chicago at United Center, two goals and an
assist against Calgary, and an assist against San Jose.
That totals up to 11 points in seven games. Syd led the league in
scoring through October 25, and tied a career-best five-game
scoring streak. All this coming from a player that settled for less
money in order to get a contract signed prior to the team's first
game.
Those stats are a good indication of the work ethic of the typical
Star. And it should come as no surprise that a defenseman leads
this team in scoring, given coach Ken Hitchcock's defense-first
system.
"I'm not doing anything different," Sydor said. "I'm just throwing
the puck down low. I feel confident, and confidence is a big thing
in this game."
Hitchcock blasts team after some poor play
The Stars followed up two early wins with a tie and a loss,
respectively. During both of these games, Dallas appeared a little
overconfident and might have been suffering from Avalanche Disease.
You know - that's when a team gets so good it sits back and just
expects the win to happen. Well, that is just no bueno when it
comes to life in the NHL Chet.
And Dallas' coach, a man known to get very upset when players don't
work their hardest, did just that when the team began taking too
much for granted. When asked how he planned to deal with this
situation, the reply was typical Hitchcock.
"[With] practice, and lots of it," meaning he was going to work the
team hard.
But, the team responded to the challenge and went on to win the next
three games to finish with an overall record of 5- 1-1.
Power-play unit rules the league
Dallas' power-play squad of Modano, Hull, Lehtinen, Zubov, and Sydor
has looked dominant. During the first two games, the special teams
unit had seen plenty of action. And when they managed to set up shop
in the offensive zone, they moved the puck with such precision that
it must have been pretty unnerving to the penalty killers who had the
misfortune of trying to stop them.
With that much of an offensive threat on the ice, the penalty
killers can't do much more than get in the way and hope for the
best. Whenever they would key in on Brett Hull snooping near the
net, either Modano or Lehtinen would get enough ice to jockey for
position and create a scoring chance.
Even if things got broken up down low, it was always a safe bet to
send it up to the point, where Zubov or Sydor were more than
capable of sending the puck back on net, usually with good results.
The Stars overall power-play record of 24.4 percent (through 10/22)
leads the league.
Nieuwendyk Makes Triumphant Return
Dallas center Joe Nieuwendyk returned to the team just as dominant
of a force as he had left it. Nieuwy played his first game back on
Oct. 2 against Phoenix, and scored the game-winner on the power
play in the third period.
Joe was skating as good or better than before he had reconstructive
surgery on both knees, according to teammates. And the fact that he
had a hand in winning his first game back with the team should come
as no surprise.
It may not be too far-fetched to think that the Stars were not
playing their best partially because they were missing Nieuwendyk's
leadership on the ice. Not only does he provide a serious threat
while anchoring the second line, he also serves as a quiet leader
by always working hard and playing smart.
Beware: the Knee Wrecker cometh
Bryan "Puke" Marchment returned to the scene of the crime for the
first time on Oct. 24 at Reunion Arena, this time with the San Jose
Sharks.
Marchment has become one of the most hated men in Dallas since
giving knee injuries to three Dallas players, and the fans made
very sure they let him know it during the first period. They booed
him at very opportunity, and also shouted some very choice words in
unison.
There was a lot of pre-game hype prior to his return, but in the end
no big brawl ever materialized. Dallas' enforcer Brent Severyn only
played one shift before leaving the game due to an ongoing injury.
This negated any opportunity for the two to drop the gloves.
The closest that the fans ever got to drawn blood was when Stars
forward Grant Marshall made a run at Marchment every chance he had.
That included some "smell the glove action" while Marchment was on
his knees. Marshall swatted Marchment twice to the face in an
attempt to get him to retaliate. Marchment declined the invitation.
Stars captain Derian Hatcher also lowered the boom on Marchment,
making sure he knew he was being watched.
The Stars won the game 2-1 after a San Jose goal was called back,
but the best part of the game was when Joe Nieuwendyk was finally
able to extract some sweet revenge against the man that took him
out of last year's playoffs in the first round.
Late in the third period, Nieuwendyk saw Marchment behind the net
and took the opportunity to skate in and run him hard against the
boards.
You'd like to think this might bring some closure to the whole
affair, but be sure that the Stars will continue to keep an eye on
Marchment, and the two teams will square off a few more times this
season.
Take me home
Overall, the team is playing very well. But, they are having trouble
scoring during 5-on-5 play, and Hitchcock has been juggling the lines
in order to get the players to start looking for the goal at even
strength.
The bright spots are that Nieuwendyk is back, and the first line of
Hull-Modano-Lehtinen is easily one of the best, if not the best, in
the league.
If the team sticks to the system, and discovers how to score at even
strength, it appears that Dallas could easily run away with their
division. They have all the pieces in place, it's just time to put
them together.
The Stars face their most serious challenge to date when the
defending champion Detroit Red Wings come to town this Saturday.
The game should serve as a good indication of exactly where this
team is at.
