The Real Stars Are Back
Yes, they're back. After turning in a rather lackluster 4-4-2
performance in 10 games from 1/10 through 2/7, the Stars have
ripped out an impressive string of 5-0-1 in their last six games.
The reasons for the previous poor performances seem to be due to
burnout more than anything. Dallas had played a pretty grueling
schedule during that time, and since (most) hockey players are mere
humans, there will of course be a time when the team collectively
runs out of gas.
Luckily for the Stars, they found a few good lines after coach
Hitchcock started the line lottery system again in order to find
those winning combinations.
Joe Nieuwendyk's line had faltered after the feisty Pat Verbeek was
pulled off the rotation, but Hitchcock has since reunited that line
with good results. Verbeek turned in some typical gritty
performances, including a great assist and fantastic forechecking
during his 1,200th NHL game.
The newest line to have success was the somewhat unusual combination
of Brent Severyn, Dan Keczmer, and Tony Hrkac. Severyn has played
extremely well with a lot of energy, and has been rewarded with a
goal and two assists after being a healthy scratch for several
months.
Hrkac is playing like he wants to stay with the club, stating that
he is playing the best he can play in order to remain in the lineup
- after also being a healthy scratch more often than not. If he
continues to set up Severyn as well as score like they have been,
that's almost a guarantee. But you never know with Hitchcock. He
changes lines more often than Chicago changes coaches.
The fact that the Severyn line is taking some of the load off of the
still-faltering Nieuwendyk line has meant that the Stars have been
able to win a few of those boring 2-1 stinkers they may have
otherwise lost.
There has been too much pressure on the Modano line lately, despite
the fact that the line has been playing like one of the best trios
in the league.
Brett Hull has turned into a scoring machine lately, and seems to
have scored at least one goal in the last 4-5 games. Of course, the
fact that his father - the great Hall of Famer Bobby Hull - has been
in the Reunion Arena press box for the last few games hasn't hurt.
Who wouldn't want to impress Bobby Hull!?
Hull has scored some goals that just flat out scream. His slap shot
from the side boards near the circle have been just unstoppable.
They seem to pound in behind the net faster than the hapless
netminders can even react. His shot is just plain scary, man. He
currently leads the Stars in goals with 25 - putting him on a 30-35
goal pace. Finally, somebody has past Darryl Sydor's place as the
second-highest scoring Star.
Mike Modano came under fire recently after a particularly poor
performance during the 2-1 win over Florida on 2/17. Hitchcock put
another center in his place (Hrkac?) for a few shifts during that
game in an effort to wake up Modano, who Hitchcock was describing
as "a passenger" during the game.
Mo had said he and his line were just flat out of energy, stating
"when Jere (Lehtinen) says he's tired, you know something is up."
Modano took the criticism to heart, and came back the next game
against Chicago to light up the nets with his second hat trick of
the season and sixth of his career. Hull also scored during this
game.
"You know when you've played bad," said Modano in his defense. "Our
line had to bounce back. But we're not machines. We're human and it
can catch up to you. Our line had an awful game, but that's why you
have 22 players and not just three. It was our turn tonight."
Hitchcock said after the Chicago game that he should have seen that
Modano, Hull and Lehtinen were out of gas against Florida.
"When you're playing over 20 minutes a game like they are, you
forget that people run out of energy," Hitchcock said. "By taking
yesterday off, we were a lot stronger tonight."
That 5-1 win over Chicago really gave the team a boost, and they
turned in another impressive playoff-style performance to tie the
surging Colorado Avalanche 1-1.
Essentially, the team has found the right combo of forwards and has
gotten back on track when it comes to working hard game-in and
game-out. They are showing the signs of once again being cup
contenders.
Other Notes:
*Pat Verbeek was a trooper when asked by Hitchcock to reduce his ice
time so he could rotate in forwards Langenbrunner and Marshall for
more experience before the playoffs begin. Verbeek simply recognized
this as a good chance to play at just about anywhere he's needed on
the team, meaning he pretty well has free reign to get into the
opponent's faces in any way he wants to. This move will be good for
all parties involved, and his lack of bitching when it came to
hurting his individual numbers during a free-agent season won't go
unnoticed.
*Hitchcock plans to begin resting some of the elder veterans on the
team like Carbonneau and Ludwig in order to prep for the upcoming
playoffs. While it's bad they have to, it's good that these players
have a chance to come back fresh when they are needed the most.
*Darryl Sydor suffered a slight tear in the knee after colliding
with a Colorado player during the team's 1-1 tie. It appeared to be
a clean hip check, one Sydor seemed to have not paid attention to.
Normally, a player would try to move laterally to avoid the
collision, but Sydor was carrying the puck and was looking up ice
to make a play while in the neutral zone, about to cross the Avs
blue line. Sydor is expected to make a quick comeback, but
hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come for other Stars
players. (sorry about bringing the injury thing up last issue - I
knew that would jinx the team...DOH!)
*I spoke with GM Bob Gainey about the possibility of a trade, and
the gist of his answer was pretty predictable:
"Nobody wants to give us anything right now. Besides, we've done the
'trade young players for veterans' thing a few times already. But
there are some quality players available right now. Maybe we can pick
up a free agent."
Personally, I am doubtful they will make any moves. But as with the
Todd Harvey for Skrudland-Keane deal with New York, Gainey has
proven he likes to surprise people. He just might still pull one
off. Dallas is still woefully lacking in true left wings.
