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GoldAppleCorps

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  1. I'm telling myself that the Stanley Cup playoffs are an endurance marathon. You have to have enough gas in the tank to grind through them. These last few games were throwaway games, so we threw them away. I don't like going into the playoffs on a losing streak. I also don't like trying to suddenly slam it into gear when the games start counting again. Here's hoping.
  2. So if I had to be any sort of optimist, it would be that the Stars didn't suffer any of those inexplicable multi-game losing streaks this season until obviously this current crapfest. They didn't lose more than two games, in any fashion, in a row. Over 82 games, it was bound to happen, so I guess it's good to check that box. Detroit and Nashville are both de-motivated to win their games. All they can do is goof up their lottery prospects at this point. Sure, Dallas needs to prioritize rest, but getting off the 0'fer is important. What's the salary cap situation look like? During the playoffs, it doesn't apply (yep, anyone on your roster under contract can play), but we couldn't bring a player back from injury (like Seguin) for the last two if it put us over the limit. We'd have to send someone down.
  3. First shutout in almost 80 games. Hellebuyck is having a great season, but he didn't need to be dominant. The Stars managed maybe 4 or 5 valid scoring chances all game. None of those caused him to break stride. Dallas has a lot of talent out with injuries that are expected back, but frankly, they've been winning and playing spectacular hockey for months without that talent. They're not playing disastrously bad, but the passes that go just behind a player, a moment of indecision about when to attack or defend, or a brief misunderstanding about who's got who add up to a team that isn't measuring up the desperation that the playoff hungry clubs are leveraging. WPG played sold on defense, attacked when they could, and waited for the Stars to get out of position. Like a confident contender would. Any realistic shot of winning the Central is gone now. If the Stars either earn one point, or the Avs lose one point, over the remaining 3 games, Dallas hosts the first round. Long suffering Rangers fans will remember the "Seven games up with seven to play" disaster, so nothing's assured. Really, I need the Stars to play their full roster over the next 3, and just focus on playing their position. They weren't overachieving during their win streak. Remembering who they are will go a long way.
  4. Everybody's got something to say when they're wearing a red jersey.
  5. Can't think of much to comment. On one hand, it was one of those things that makes us fans. We were just on the wrong side of it. We gave up a point and a regulation win that we really needed. On the other hand, every player should spend the day asking himself what he could have done differently. The team played an intense game, and then just had their mental fortitude collapse. The first goal was one of those crazy things that happen in hockey. The last was an easy pass into the net against a bunch of shell-shocked statues. Once again, another game where the refs were eagle-eyed in OT if you're wearing a Stars sweater. Once again, I'd like to gripe, but I lost that right on the last 60 seconds of regulation. I do expect us to wallop the Jets. It just won't change anything any more.
  6. Didn't get to see much of Saturday's game. Turned it on just in time to see the pratfall and game winner for the Pens. Sunday's game always worried me. Back-to-back against a team fighting for playoff life. While I still think the officiating was confusing, Dallas can't go 0 for 4 with a man advantage against the Wild. I lose all right to complain when the Stars don't take advantage. The PPs continued the same problem that the rest of the game had - inability to execute fundamentals. Tape-to-skate passes that got fumbled. Entering the offensive zone looking to pass or keep, so you do neither. Losing puck battles on the wall even with numbers. A lot of bad luck and regression to hockey means for some of the fortunate bounces the Stars enjoyed this season, but all too frequently just a lack of focusness. Coming out of these two games with only 1 point is maddening. If I try to see a tosheroon in this mud, I'd point to the psychological struggle of a 7 game win streak. Carrying that pace into the playoffs shouldn't make any difference objectively, but we're all familiar with "should they lose before the playoffs" type mentality. Anyway, the goal is still in reach, although the Stars have to have WPG help to get there. Getting back on track at home for the next 3 games is imperative. Stabilize the line up, get familiar, and play the game.
  7. It's a lot to ask, but the Stars mathematically control their own destiny on that front at the moment. With a game in-hand, the Stars would be level on points with Winnipeg if they both won out - except they can't both win out. Dallas plays Winnipeg next week. That would prevent WPG from tying Dallas on regulation wins. Predicting the Stars to end the season on a 14 game win streak is a lot. Of course, I don't expect the Jets to win out either. I'm just positing that, at the moment, the Stars control their fate for the division championship.
  8. If we end up tied on points (the obvious first determinant), then there's practically no way that the Stars would have fewer regulation wins at this point. As I see it, I'm concerned obviously with the head-to-head game against WPG. At the same time, leaking points to MIN on the travel game of a back to back would be tough. The Wild will likely be playing for seeding by that point.
  9. When the season gets down to the end like this, weird stuff can happen. Eliminated teams bring up prospects eager to impress. Sometimes they dazzle, some days the tactics fizzle. Winnipeg's path is by no means assured. Of course, neither is the Stars'. While it'll take something truly awful to fall below the Avs, there's a big difference between a 1st round vs the Blues/Wild or Colorado.
  10. The first disallowed goal was a league initiated review. It wasn't a coach's challenge. The puck can deflect off a skate into the net, but you can't attempt to play it off your skate into the net. The phrase that gets mentioned is "obvious kicking motion". I don't think the Calgary player meant to do it, but it's clear that his leg goes from behind him to in front of him - extending forward from his body. The puck goes under the goalie pads as a direct result of being deflected from the skate extended forward. The league judged that this was a kicking motion. The second disallowed goal was a coach's challenge for goaltender interference. Goaltender interference is a really vaguely defined thing, and a failed challenge would result in a Calgary power play. The Stars review guys are very good at making these calls. Here, they had a couple of points in their favor. First, the Calgary player's leg and skate was fully inside the blue painted area that defines the goalie crease. While it's not the be-all-end-all, if you contact the keeper inside that paint when you don't have the puck in your personal possession, you're likely interfering. Second, that contact prevented DeSmith from moving to his right to play the shot. The Stars had a good argument to overturn the goal, and the league agreed. This game was a practical "must have" for Calgary, and they played like it. They were the more energetic, aggressive team. Hockey is ugly when you do all that, and sure-thing goals are swatted down by a sliding DeSmith, and Harley playing keepy-uppy with the puck. The Stars followed that sequence with a drive, a slick side pass, and a double rebound goal to go to 4-2. Calgary thrashed themselves at the net, but the Stars are a contender who have seen it before.
  11. I won't make predictions, but for all of his obvious dominance in the regular season, Connor Hellebuyck has to prove he can win in the playoffs.
  12. I don't think the Stars had the same lineup twice for any of these 4 road games that took a week to play even though the first two were back to back. The Jets game in particular was an indication of what playoffs will require. Winnipeg had precision and Dallas didn't. Passes that hit tape instead of skates. Clearing the zone instead of to the line. Pucks sticking to the blade rather than rolling over. Some games, the tactics are correct, but the chemistry is just a touch off. Getting a few healthy bodies to practice together will help. Even see the OT against the Avs. Dallas gets the opening draw, circles for an attack, and goes offside when a player cuts off his own puck handler at the blue line. The Avs win the new draw cleanly and never give up the puck.
  13. In case it interests anyone else out there, Victory+ is now available as a native WebOS app. That's mostly LG smart TVs. It'll keep me from having to switch back to the FireBox to use it.
  14. Stankoven has the potential to become a brilliant speedster scorer. With proper surroundings, he could develop into an accomplished player. The Stars, though, have Roope Hintze (usually) in that role. Getting a developed multi-skilled player like Rantanen, signed throughout the prime of his career, significantly upgrades the roster. Seguin and Benn have more "games played" than "games to play". Leadership will be needed. Finally, the Avs have to absolutely hate seeing a player they valued come back to the division in the hands of a rival!
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