Dallas Stars

By Greg Wyshynski We won the hockey game," Hitchcock said. "We won the hockey game. It was a good goal. I don't care what anybody says, we won the hockey game. We outplayed them They can put up whatever score they want down there, they can put up whatever score they want in the National Hockey League. We won the hockey...

By Greg Wyshynski • Tom Hicks denies that he plans to demote Dallas Stars co-GM Brett Hull into another job in which he does nothing. [Dallas Stars Blog] • LCS Hockey has a new addition of their radio sitcom, "The Bettmans," featuring Gary's meeting with Sean Avery. [LCS Hockey, .mp3 file]

By Greg Wyshynski • Great look at the Dallas Stars meeting about Sean Avery today from Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News, in a handy FAQ format. The bottom lines are that the Stars could keep their decision quiet, the chances that Avery returns to the locker room are quite slim and the chances that the Stars...

By Greg Wyshynski Sean Avery made things personal in the media, and players like Jarkko Ruutu felt that violated the code. Yet, at the same time, the NHL's swift suspension of Avery prior to the Dallas Stars' game against the Calgary Flames also robbed an aggrieved party like Dion Phaneuf his opportunity fo...

By Greg Wyshynski After Sean Avery was suspended indefinitely by the NHL, Dallas Stars Co-General Manager Brett Hull was asked on TSN whether he felt betrayed by the player whose signing Hull strongly -- some would say defiantly -- advocated for during the summer.

By Greg Wyshynski • Tom Hicks and the Dallas Stars brain-trust could decide Sean Avery's fate with the team by Wednesday. From Hicks: "Certainly when [Dallas head coach] Dave Tippett comes out and stakes his claim, it's pretty hard to overcome that." Recall Tippett basically said Avery couldn't return to t...

By Ross McKeon You got it, he doesn't play and Sean Avery helps his team. The Dallas Stars won again Friday night as their controversial winger served the third of a six-game suspension announced earlier in the day. The Stars are now 2-1 without Avery, and the argument could be made this is Dallas' best thre...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSSW). Mike Modano on the Sean Avery suspension, via Dallas Stars Blog: "You have to move on and start a new chapter, and that's kind of what we're planning on doing and working toward. As players, I think we've kind of washed our ha...

By Greg Wyshynski In a half-hour press call this afternoon, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman attempted to justify and clarify the League's decision to suspend Sean Avery of the Dallas Stars for six games, after Avery's infamous comments before a game against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday.

By Greg Wyshynski • Brett Hull speaks on Sean Avery: "We have to fix him before anything else ... We'll use the four games to get the ball rolling." Why do we suddenly have visions of Nurse Ratched and an Indian Chief? [Dallas Stars Blog] • NHL.com: Everybody just calm down about how good the San Jose Sharks are. [NHL.c...

By Greg Wyshynski Mr. Avery has been warned repeatedly about his conduct and comments, which have too often been at odds with the manner in which his more than 700 fellow players conduct themselves," Bettman said. "Playing in the National Hockey League is a privilege, requiring a high standard of personal b...

By Greg Wyshynski • The roster for the Sean Avery meeting with the NHL today in New York. [NHL] • Brian Rolston is back and skating with the New Jersey Devils, which would be much more exciting for the Devils if he were an all-star defenseman or goalie. [Fire & Ice]

By Greg Wyshynski First off, the Sean Avery hearing in New York is over, and Dallas Stars GM Brett Hull tells TSN that the decision could come down late today or early Friday morning. And honestly: Is Sean Avery the first hockey player to ever call a fan an "old [expletive] [expletive] I wouldn't even [expleti...

By Greg Wyshynski Dishonorable Mention: Dallas goalie Marty Turco continued his stellar play, giving up a 40-foot goal to Shawn Horcoff and goal from near the blue line to Lubomir Visnovsky. Yep, it's all Avery's fault. ... Three fights in the Thrashers/Senators game, and they were all pretty lousy. ... Finally, t...

By Greg Wyshynski • Say what you will about Sean Avery, but at least he wasn't photographed getting his groin cupped by another dude. No, that would be Derek Roy of the Buffalo Sabres. [My Safety is Harvard, via Deadspin] • With the Vancouver Canucks playing good hockey, Ryan Kennedy pens a letter of apology to...

By Matt Romig Turco has deservingly taken his share of heat for Dallas' early season failures, but you have to feel sorry for the Stars netminder, who had arguably his best game of the season Tuesday on a night most beat writers in the Saddledome press box probably glanced only occasionally at the actio...

By Greg Wyshynski On Saturday night, Modano had back spasms and wasn't sure he was going to face the Edmonton Oilers. That was until his father offered some advice: "Dad gave me a little [encouragement] not to sit this one out ... He humbles you pretty quick," Modano told the Dallas Morning News. Credit Papa Modan...

By Greg Wyshynski Heika's column mentions Brad Richards, Mike Ribeiro and Sean Avery by name as being aggressive to a fault in trying to make something good happen. He mentions Marty Turco as a goalie "struggling to see through passing lanes and has been battling to make saves that once seemed easy."

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Detroit Red Wings at Vancouver Canucks (10 p.m. EST; TV: FSD, RSW, Yahoo! Sports). The Wings are pretending that Luongo's injury doesn't change anything about this interesting Western Conference showdown. Detroit will be without Tomas Holmstrom, who has been told to "shut it dow...

By Greg Wyshynski • Breaking News: Brenden Morrow will miss six months with a torn right ACL. Nice knowing you, Dallas Stars. [Dallas Stars Blog] • The evidence is clear: Dallas Stars fans were also engaging in some nefarious auto-voting for the all-star game, as the numbers for players like Mike Modano shru...

By Greg Wyshynski The rookie is right in the race for the Calder Trophy, and performances like this will keep him there: Two assists and a brilliant power-play goal in the second period that gave Chicago the lead for good over the Dallas Stars, en route to a 6-3 victory. Versteeg carried into the zone, went wid...

By Greg Wyshynski Since their previous attempt at a third jersey resembled the female reproductive system -- and was summarily dissed by noted fashion aficionado Sean Avery in Men's Vogue -- the Dallas Stars can be excused for getting a little conservative with their newest alternate sweater, revealed...

By Greg Wyshynski As of this morning, Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco is last in the NHL in goals against average (3.75) and save percentage (.863), and the only reason he isn't last in goals surrendered is because Miikka Kiprusoff has played three more games. He's been the worst goalie in hockey this season. An...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Dallas Stars at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSSW, FSPT). The Kings are actually getting some good goaltending these days; perhaps they can show the Stars what that looks like. • Jesse Boulerice joins the Edmonton Oilers. [Hockey Fights]

By Greg Wyshynski Honorable Mention: Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Joe Corvo scores the game-winning goal against his former team, as the Canes beat the Ottawa Senators, 2-1. Corvo: "It's just a little extra in the Kool-Aid before the game," Oh yeah? ... Johan Hedberg made 28 saves for the Thrashers, none b...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Dallas Stars at Anaheim Ducks (10 p.m. EST; TV: KDFI, KDOC). Boy, if there's one game to watch on the 'ole Center Ice package tonight, it's this one. Division rivals, two rough teams and a Dallas club that nearly imploded this week. Sergei Zubov and Jere Lehtinen could both be back for th...

By Greg Wyshynski • Dallas Stars Coach Dave Tippett has chatted with Sean Avery and Steve Ott to "address some things." Again, maybe the chemistry is a problem in Dallas right now; but is there any way that problem is a bigger one than Marty Turco's inability to stop anything smaller than that giant globe Wayn...

By Greg Wyshynski Cheap, in this instance, is a contract for $500,000 at the NHL level and $100,000 at the minor league level, according to Mike Heika of the Dallas Stars Blog. You'd imagine another free-agent forward still on the market named Brendan Shanahan would ask for slightly more than that for his s...

By Greg Wyshynski Are the Dallas Stars headed for one of the biggest flops of the 2008-09 season? From Stars Blog: But respect is something his goalie, Marty Turco, is wondering whether or not he still has. Turco elaborated to Heika: Heika's take on the state of the Stars:

By Greg Wyshynski • Making the case for Brendan Shanahan for the St. Louis Blues. [Hockey Guy] • The NHL Network is going to air college hockey every Friday night throughout the rest of the season. Bowling Green at Miami (Ohio) on Jan. 30? Consider this calendar marked! [NHL]

By Ross McKeon The veteran coach pulled all of the right strings Wednesday night to snap his team out of a funk and hand Minnesota its first loss in regulation this season, all at the same time. Tippett was none too happy about his usually defensively-responsible Stars leading the league in goals against...

By Greg Wyshynski The goals against average for Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco which, as of last night's games, was the worst in the NHL. This bust comes after a redemptive postseason in which he posted a 2.08 GAA. His save percentage (.842) so far this year got him called out by Coach Dave Tippett after a recent l...

By Greg Wyshynski • Dallas Stars Coach Dave Tippett calls out Marty Turco: "You can't have an .820 save percentage and survive in this league." Or, really, any league outside of Roller Hockey International, where it would have earned you the Vezina. [Dallas Stars]

By Greg Wyshynski • Are the Buffalo Sabres the best story in hockey right now? Quite the win last night. [Die by the Blade] • The Winter Classic jerseys for the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings will be revealed this weekend during their Saturday night showdown. [Kuklas]

By Ross McKeon With all the pucks filling the Stars' net of late, it was about time Dallas started putting a few in the other goal. Mike Ribeiro took care of that Thursday night. The veteran center, who had a breakout season last year, figured in the scoring on all five Dallas goals with four assists and a goal...

By Greg Wyshynski The Devils defeated the Dallas Stars, 5-0, because Marty Turco was atrocious. But it was Brodeur's night, because he exhibited the kind of confident cool that abandoned him the last time he and Sean Avery were on the same sheet of ice last postseason. Brodeur secured his 98th career shutout...

By Greg Wyshynski • Chris Botta tells a tale of the New York Islanders' Fishsticks jersey, and regrets not having fought harder to kill them before they were released. What he doesn't tell you: Those jerseys tasted like Aquafresh when you licked'em. [NYI Point Blank]

By Greg Wyshynski The St. Louis Blues' inexplicable power play success continues, going 2-for-4 with goals by Brad Boyes (4) and Eric Brewer (1) in a 6-1 win over the visiting Dallas Stars; a win that saw Dallas starter Marty Turco pulled and Fabian Brunnstrom go scoreless with a minus-2. Back to the circus, u...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Vancouver Canucks at Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. EDT; TV: TSN, FSD). No Henrik Zetterberg tonight, but that doesn't mean you still shouldn't check out live-bloggin' fun at A2Y. Meanwhile, the Canuckleheads at the KB chat with some Red Wings beat writers. 

By Greg Wyshynski • Icethetics breaks news about third-jersey leaks from the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks. We're sure the Blackhawks one will sell well, but when it's so inferior to their other two jerseys, what's the point again? [Icethetics]

By Ross McKeon A year removed from trying to live up to a $10 million salary, Vanek continued his blistering start by scoring two goals as the Buffalo Sabres knocked the New York Rangers from the ranks of the unbeaten while staying perfect themselves with a 3-1 win. Vanek scored on the power play at 12:30 of...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Nashville Predators at Dallas Stars (8:30 p.m. EDT; TV: FSS, FSSW). Come one, come all, step right up and see the unicorn at the circus: Fabian Brunnstrom is expected to play tonight for the Stars, and Mike Heika thinks it could be with Brad Richards and Sean Avery. Jason Arnott's out a...

By Greg Wyshynski New Jersey Devils 0.44 0.42 0.42 0.41 0.39 0.39 San Jose Sharks 0.39 0.39 Dallas Stars 0.38 Detroit Red Wings 0.38 0.38 Vancouver Canucks 6.10 (16) 0.38 6.00 (16) 0.38 5.25 (14) 0.38 4.50 (12) 0.38 5.88 (16) 0.37 New York Islanders 7.25 (20) 0.36 7.00 (20) 0.35 4.69 (14) 0.34 Minnesota Wild 6.50 (20) 0.33 Buffalo Sabres

By Greg Wyshynski • With the Dallas Stars struggling out of the gate, Razor thinks they need Good Cop nurturing and Bad Cop fanny kicking. So, in other words, do you go Modano and Jere or Ott and Avery? [Razor With an Edge] • Finally, with a H/T to UniWatch, this Andrew Brunette commercial for the Minnesota Wild...

By Greg Wyshynski • Vancouver Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa is getting an MRI on his left knee, and indicates that Calgary forward Wayne Primeau's stick may have caused his injury. [Province] • What exactly is Kris Draper eating out of the Stanley Cup? Because it ... never mind. [Going Five Hole]

By Greg Wyshynski Honorable Mentions: Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils stopped 25 shots, including a Kyle Okposo penalty shot, as the Devils beat the New York Islanders, 2-1 ... Brian Campbell lost his first game with Chicago, but made a nifty end-to-end rush to set up a Patrick Kane goal and played clo...

By Greg Wyshynski • Mark it down: The Detroit Red Wings make their final trip to see Dubya on October 14. [Wings] • The Vancouver Canucks sign defenseman Alex Edler to a $13-million, four-year deal. [CP] • If the San Jose Sharks get off to a fast start, will they be Stanley Cup favorites again? [Globe & Mail]

By Greg Wyshynski But if we're talking teams on the cusp of the postseason that could easily add salary (if they so desire) in an attempt to become contenders, how about the Buffalo Sabres (currently at $6.8 million) and the Columbus Blue Jackets ($7.38 million)? Both franchises are better known as sellers t...

By Greg Wyshynski • No Red Wings for Old Shanny. [Snapshots] • For the first time in 15 years, New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur will have a new mask, tied in with the debut of his new Web site. "MB30" ... that's a bit more ego than we've seen from Marty in the past. [Devils]

By Greg Wyshynski • Are the Dallas Stars the new darlings of the mainstream media? If you're reading ESPN, that would seem to be the case. [BoC] • Brian Burke puts over Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson as the man to lead Fighting Irish ice hockey to glory. [Rivals]

By Greg Wyshynski • The IHL's Kalamazoo Wings are allowing fans to vote on their third jersey design. Sadly, there is no "D: None of the Above." [Wings] • The odd NHL journey of hockey fighter Brandon Sugden has come to an end with the New York Islanders. At least for this preseason. [NYI Point Blank]

By Greg Wyshynski • Optimism is running a little too high for the New Jersey Devils. President's Trophy? Seriously? [NY Post] • After the Ducks trade defenseman Sean O'Donnell to the Los Angeles Kings, Mike Heika wonders if the Anaheim defense is still good enough to win. [Dallas Stars Blog]

By Greg Wyshynski • Steven Ovadia has an interesting look at how the Dallas Stars and Boston Bruins are building their lines this preseason, focusing on duos rather than trios: Like Marc Savard and Michael Ryder with the B's, and Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow in Big D. Ovadia sees it as a symptom of the salar...

By Greg Wyshynski Last Semester (See Also Sharks Eulogy): Second in the Western Conference (49-23-10, 108 points). The San Jose Sharks survived a seven-game series against the Calgary Flames, getting a four-point effort out of Jeremy Roenick and chasing goalie Miikka Kiprusoff. A clutch overtime goal b...