OK, your usually trusty Dallas correspondent missed two issues - and
to the staff of LCS, the readers, and, most importantly, to the
Stars - I humbly apologize and generally whimper and slobber at
your feet, begging for forgiveness. There. Now that that's out of
the way - here's the Big Shoooow!
Will the Real Dallas Stars Please Step Forward!?
OK? OK OK- ya knew it had to happen sooner or later. After that
whole "turn and burn" thing, it looks like Dallas flat ran out of
gas. After going on a 14-game unbeaten streak, the Stars have only
mustered an average-sounding 5-4-2 record in their last 11 games.
Yeah, to some teams that is a good record. But, the watermark is
much higher this year in Dallas. The Stars set out on a pace that
would eclipse even last year's heroics, so Stars fans expect
nothing less than perfect Stars hockey from their team. Guess what,
Kenny? They aren't getting it. Well, not exactly.
There are a few reasons why Dallas may be floundering, and the top
two are age and goaltending. The Stars are the oldest team in the
league. Brett Hull, Ed Belfour, Craig Ludwig, Guy Carbonneau, Brian
Skrudland, and Joe Nieuwendyk are not exactly spring chickens
anymore. You get the idea.
It has been said that the Stars have to rest their veterans in order
to maintain stamina for the entire regular season, to avoid burnout.
While that is true, consider this: Dallas had to play only one game
in 10 days recently - the 3-0 shutout Colorado handed the Stars.
Did they come out flyin' and hittin'? Well, yes, but only in the
first five minutes, and even then it wasn't exactly playoff
intensity out there. The Stars were flat. They weren't playing
well.
What's the point? Well, lemme see, you've had 3-4 days rest in a
row. You've had the best two practices your coach has seen
recently. You only have one game to play in the next eight days.
You are slipping in the standings. What do you do? Come out flat
and play a lackluster defensive snoozer, and get shutout 3-0? I
don't think that's what they had in mind, Jack.
Eddie Belfour was the first to admit it wasn't his best game. But ya
know what? I am getting pretty tired of hearing him say that. What's
the problem, Eddie? You need to do better! The questions concerning
Belfour's ability to win the Cup are still very much in force.
So, because the team has lost some of that killer instinct to win
big every single game, they are slipping fast in the standings. At
one point Dallas easily had a 4-6 game lead on the rest of the
league.
Now, not only has that points lead evaporated, but several teams are
poised to blow out the Stars and take firm hold as the league's
number one team. Dallas has already lost that distinction by
default.
And, even more scary than that is the resurging Colorado Avalanche.
They may soon be top gun in the West. And, whether Brett Hull was
the difference to get the Cup or not, if the Avs (and Patrick Roy)
continue to play the way they have been, Dallas will NOT make it
past the Western Conference Finals. The Avs will see to that. They
are a better team on paper that is finally living up to that
billing.
Sure, when it comes right down to it, this isn't exactly a major
disaster. But ya know what? It should be in the Stars' locker room.
Time to slap dem boys back in da face and commence to playin' some
right-good hockey again!
Dallas will turn it around, and will make it deep in the playoffs.
But now, that whole cup thing may never see the light of day in Big
D. Time will tell.
Other Notes:
* The ice at Reunion Arena is sooo bad (how bad is it?) that an
opposing player was recently quoted as saying skating in Reunion
Arena was "like skating in grass." It's getting to the point of
being ridiculous. You can actually see, if you look hard, the puck
just flat-out stopping dead on the ice as players try to carry it
up the ice!! This is happening an average of 3-5 times per game,
and has already led to a goal from a turnover. That whole "Andy
Moog" corner (the corner of the boards near the Zam door that
always bounces pucks back out into the slot) and now this ice
problem! The Stars' barn sucks, OK? We all just can't wait for the
new arena. The boys in the front office have promised that they are
taking every plan and precaution to insure the ice at the new barn
will be good. I hope it is, for the player's sakes!
* The Stars have been very lucky when it comes to injuries. Of
course, that will all end now that I've mentioned it! (you're
welcome, guys, glad to help out!) The only drawback currently is
that Joe Nieuwendyk has not been 100% since his two knee surgeries.
He has had tendonitis in one of the knees, and may never be the
same player again. THANK YOU, BRYAN "PUKE" MARCHMENT! Anyway, Joe
has begun to get more physical lately, which is a good sign. Let's
hope he fully recovers. He will be very much needed in April.
