Rock and a hard place At some point I'll need to crap or get off the pot with the Dallas Stars.
I'm prepared to admit that they are good. Twelve games in and they're 8-4 and are second in the conference in goals scored. All this despite being one of the worst penalty-killing teams in the league and, up until last night, one of the worst power play teams in the league.
Thanks to going 4-6 with a man advantage, the Stars beat Phoenix last night 6-3, and it wasn't that close. Dallas was up 3-0 25 minutes into the game and 5-1 after two periods. Two trash-time goals skewed the dominance, which has been the case several times this season.
The Stars aren't just winning, but blowing opponents out. They've won five times by at least three goals.
I worry about many things. That penalty kill has to improve. The power play must keep clicking. But the goal tending must get better and more consistent. At times, things look as easy as they come. Then there will be a four-game stretch when everything's getting through.
As it stands, all is well.
Notes:
1. Loui Eriksson has four goals and seven points in two November games.
2. Mike Ribeiro has 13 assists in 16 games. He had 34 all of last season.
3. Brad Richard's -12 from last season is now a +10 this year.
4. Matt Niskanen had two assists. Getting him to his 2008-09 form would be huge. Quickly.
I'm prepared to admit that they are good. Twelve games in and they're 8-4 and are second in the conference in goals scored. All this despite being one of the worst penalty-killing teams in the league and, up until last night, one of the worst power play teams in the league.
Thanks to going 4-6 with a man advantage, the Stars beat Phoenix last night 6-3, and it wasn't that close. Dallas was up 3-0 25 minutes into the game and 5-1 after two periods. Two trash-time goals skewed the dominance, which has been the case several times this season.
The Stars aren't just winning, but blowing opponents out. They've won five times by at least three goals.
I worry about many things. That penalty kill has to improve. The power play must keep clicking. But the goal tending must get better and more consistent. At times, things look as easy as they come. Then there will be a four-game stretch when everything's getting through.
As it stands, all is well.
Notes:
1. Loui Eriksson has four goals and seven points in two November games.
2. Mike Ribeiro has 13 assists in 16 games. He had 34 all of last season.
3. Brad Richard's -12 from last season is now a +10 this year.
4. Matt Niskanen had two assists. Getting him to his 2008-09 form would be huge. Quickly.
