Stars Go Into Survival Mode
With several players shuffling in and out of the lineup due to
"player physical problems (PPP)" coach Ken Hitchcock has simplified
his goals for his team. He wants them doing nothing more than
playing a smart, defensive game (meaning a boring 2-1 game) for the
rest of the season until the playoffs, and staying as healthy and
rested as possible.
He has also begun to recognize that he has to rest some of the
workhorses so they can be fresh enough to get the postseason off to
a good start. Hitchcock said he plans to rest Modano, Lehtinen,
Carbonneau, Ludwig, and maybe even the feisty Pat Verbeek.
It's just a matter of keeping players focused, not having anything
to do with their performance or ice time. This is a pretty good
move, considering the Stars have had to make several last-minute
deals to bolster the troops for the big show in April-May, due to
that damn, nagging PPP problem.
The Stars aren't concentrating on anything else other than making a
run for the Cup. The back office is trying feverishly to supply a
few last-minute additions to the team, and the players themselves
are pretty much writing off the rest of the regular season, come
what may.
It doesn't really matter even if Dallas does lose more than half of
the games left, which they won't. They still have 98 points, which is
still much more than any other team. The Stars were the first team to
clinch a playoff berth.
The President's Trophy means nothing. The Western Conference
Championship means nothing. Only one thing will satiate this team -
the only goal they have been going for during the last three
seasons.
Only this time, most everyone agrees they can do it. Except Detroit,
that is. The Red Wings snapped up Chris Chelios! Man - what is this
weird, twisted world coming to - when the Hawks deal Chelios!
As well as picking up Wendel Clark, just to rub Dallas' noses in it
(Dallas has been tagged together with Clark's name for some time
now).
It's obvious the Wings are trying to make a contender out of their
sagging team. Guess what? It ain't happening this time, guys.
While Dallas isn't gonna have an easy time of it this playoff
season, they still are gonna get farther than Scotty Bowman's Red
Raiders. But, it probably won't be as easy to make it past the
second round as it was last season.
Although Joe Nieuwendyk is on a personal scoring tear, his line's
production is down. Other than Modano's line - the only other
production has been coming from Tony Hrkac's line. Man, I am sure
glad they brought that dude back. He is a sleeper of a player - he
isn't flashy, but man can he produce!
Anyway, the point is Dallas' offense has found a way to win most
nights, but they have gotten too many of their points from just a
few players. They are inconsistent on the power play, which can be
a death knell, as they found out last season against Detroit. And
on that note:
Hitchcock Demands More From Zubov
Yep, Old Zubie has been coasting this year. Maybe it had something
to do with all that pressure on him to run the power play. Maybe he
is just chumping out.
When Zubov hasn't been scoring, he has also been making some
stupid-ass boneheaded plays with the puck lately. What's up Zubie,
are you just too rich and fat these days?
Asked if he was satisfied with Zubov's play, coach Hitchcock said,
"No. He has to be a better player for us. He hasn't been effective
on the power play. He's just been OK."
That might even be being nice to the guy. He's a better player than
that. He has to play better if Dallas is to have a chance for the
Cup.
Hoguie's In Da House
Dallas dealt d-man Sergey Gusev to Tampa Bay for Benny Hogue and a
draft pick. Hogue was dealt to Tampa Bay in order to make room for
some new prospects to make a spot for themselves, something that
has yet to happen. So, rather than letting Benny flounder in
Boltsville for another few games - the Stars reacquired a player
who knew the team and the system well.
More importantly, Hogue is a natural left wing, and has played very
well for Dallas in the past. He had a run- in with coach Hitchcock
before, but both men say they are over that now.
"Benoit will add depth and experience to our group of forwards," GM
Bob Gainey said. "He will be a valuable addition to our team as we
enter the stretch run of the season and the playoffs."
Hogue, 32, had 11 goals and 14 assists in 62 games this season with
the Lightning. He was third on the team in goals and points. He
signed with the Lightning as a free agent last summer after playing
two-plus seasons with the Stars.
Hogue has 208 goals and 293 assists in 732 career games with the
Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, Stars and
Lightning.
He had six goals and 16 assists in 53 contests with the Stars in
1997-98.
Sergey Gusev, 23, had one goal with four assists in 22 games with
the Stars this season. He also has six assists in 11 games with the
Michigan K-Wings.
Stars Acquire Derek Plante
The Dallas Stars have acquired forward Derek Plante from the Buffalo
Sabres in exchange for the Stars' second round draft choice in the
1999, it was announced today by Stars' General Manager Bob Gainey.
Plante will join the Stars on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
"Derek Plante is a solid two-way player who gives us a deeper group
of forwards as we enter the stretch run of the season and the
playoffs," said Bob Gainey.
In 41 contests with the Sabres this season, Plante has recorded four
goals and 11 assists for 15 points with 12 penalty minutes. The
5-11, 181-pounder scored two of his four goals for the season on
February 26 at Edmonton.
Plante, 28, began his NHL career with the Sabres in the 1993-94
season after a four-year career at the University of
Minnesota-Duluth. In 395 career NHL contests, he has registered 91
goals and 145 assists for 236 points with 126 penalty minutes. In
1996-97, the Minnesota native led the Sabres in scoring with 27
goals and 26 assists for 53 points, establishing a career-high in
goals and game-winning goals (6).
Hey - at least they got another guy from Minnesota, yah?
Stars Running Out of Steam
Dallas has had to endure the dog-days stretch of 11 games in 16
days, enough to make any mere mortal cry for pity. But these are
professional athletes, Jack!
Even though the Stars do rise above mere mortals, they are human
beings. And coach Hitchcock has noticed his powerhouse-team go a
little flat lately.
"Our offense is a direct reflection of our energy, and even after a
day off [Saturday] it's obvious there's still very little left in
the tank." Said Hitchcock after Sunday's gut-check win over
Carolina.
Even though there wasn't much in the tank, Mighty Mikey Modano still
found a way to make an impact despite the rest of the team playing
like a bunch of comatose elephants.
Modano used his knowledge of former Stars' goalie Arturs Irbe to
score both a shorthanded goal as well as the game-winner for
Dallas.
"We kinda knew Archie's tendencies," Modano said. "He plays back in
his net, and being as short as he is, I don't think it helps him to
back in that far. And he gave me a lot of time to do what I had to
do."
Yeah, that was a real smooth way of saying "Archie sucks and I had
his number."
Although, going into overtime for the fourth time in the last five
games was not their idea of a good ending.
"It's something we really don't need right now," Modano said about
yet another overtime game. "You can see we were kind of mentally
fatigued. Kind of out of it at times."
Yep, that can explain that four-game winless streak. A bunch of
nasty 2-1 losses, or 1-1 OT ties. Blecch.
But, Dallas found a way to win - again. Now if they can just pick
up one more defenseman before the deadline?
Other Notes:
* The Stars are opening another two-rink skating facility in a
nearby suburb to bolster youth hockey in Dallas. This is great. It
won't be much longer before the first Dallas-born players will be
making it into the NHL. Just wait.
* The high school hockey program in Dallas has taken firm root, and
now boasts several division's worth of fully-stocked teams. Like
the above notice - that is Muy Bueno! Now if they had just done
that when I went to high school! Oh well. Never too late to start,
right? Yeah, right.
* The new arena set to open in 2001 or 2002 will be named the
American Airlines Arena. What a great name for generations to come
to covet and put into fabled lore. Yet another sickening example of
corporate commercialism's demons weaseling their way into the last
honest sport on earth! That sucks! Well, at least it was the last
honest sport on earth, until player's salaries finally broke the 1
million-dollar barrier.
Does anyone remember that column about two seasons ago after
Detroit's first Cup - "Greed putting game on the boards" (from Rick
Bell (August 24, 1997) of the Calgary Sun)? Yep, that was great -
that was fun reading. Do a web search on it. If you find it, read
it. It appeared on SLAM! Hockey for awhile. The sport we all used
to know as hockey is dead. It's all commercialism and greed from
here on out.
* Does anyone besides me find great joy in the fact that Brett Hull
has returned? He is the perfect antidote to the above point. He's
just Old School Cool, man!!
There's nothing like watching that guy stand with his stick pointing
straight up into the air, just waiting to crank out a death bomb!
What an incredible addition this guy was! All that controversy just
went away, and what emerged was a cool guy with a cool grin who just
wanted to stay quiet, do his job, and do it well. Hey, what a
concept! If I look forward to anyone carrying the Cup- it's Brett
Hull. Hully- you da man!
* Do you think it's too late to steal Al MacInnis from the Blues?
