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Stars News & Notes Tuesday, March 11, 2008 It appears Stars forward Steve Ott will be out the next three games for his hit on Colorado defenseman Jordan Leopold in Sunday's game. The Dallas Morning News reports that Ott will be suspended three games by the NHL on Wednesday for the hit, which happened in the first period of Sunday's 3-0 Dallas win. Leopold left the game after the hit and did not return. He ended up missing Tuesday's Avalanche game in Atlanta with a head injury. Ott would miss the games at Detroit and home games against Vancouver and Anaheim. He would be eligible to return for the March 22 game, when the Stars host the Los Angeles Kings. Here's the video of the hit and the fight that followed it. There's a replay of the hit following the fight. Injury update: Zubov could skate soon Defenseman Sergei Zubov, who had surgery on February 24 to help repair a fracture in his foot, could resume skating soon. "He's going to see a doctor this week and hopefully he gets good reports and we can get him skating in the next few days," said coach Dave Tippett. "Maybe by the end of the week or early next week, depending on if the reports come back the way we are hoping they will." Defenseman Matt Niskanen, who missed the last game with a sore foot, went through a full practice on Tuesday.
The Stars without Zubov and Boucher The last time both Sergei Zubov and Philippe Boucher were in the lineup together was December 3, when the Stars won a shootout in Columbus. Boucher went out long-term after that game. Zubov started missing some time a month later and went out January 19 and hasn't returned. Despite missing those two key defensemen the Stars haven't suffered in the standings. They were 24-13-1 while Boucher was out following shoulder surgery. They are 16-7-0 since Zubov went out of the lineup just prior to the January 19 game with foot and groin injuries. Defenseman Stephane Robidas, who has been superb on the blue line with those two players out, said it has been a collective effort to over the absence of those two players. "Just keep it simple. We have forwards who can play well defensively. You can't replace those two guys, but it is a team game," Robidas said. "All the young guys who came in, they have all played great. They are doing the simple job, but they are real effective. That's why we've been able to stay pretty good in the standings. As long as we keep it simple and play tight defensively in front of Marty [Turco], I like our chances." Zubov could start skating soon and may return by the end of the month or early April, possibly getting in a few regular season games before the playoffs. Before he went out with the injuries there were many who considered him the Stars' MVP this season and he was getting national media attention as a possible Norris Trophy Finalist for best defenseman in the league. "We talk all the time about a team concept is our strength. As much as we'd like to have Zubie in there, when you band together you can patch some holes up," said Stars coach Dave Tippett. "One guy you have to look at is Robidas. He's taken a big chunk of that. He's played extremely well for us in this gap and filled some of that hole. "But I don't think there is anyone in here who would say we wouldn't like to have Sergei back in the lineup." Here's a look at the Stars' record with Zubov and Boucher out of the lineup this season. This includes all games, including the three Zubov missed before he went out long-term and the two Boucher has missed since going out with his latest shoulder injury. It doesn't include the game where Boucher played one shift and the Stars lost to Phoenix.
Practice lineup Here's a look at the forward lines and defensive combinations that were used for the most part in Tuesday's practice.
Quotable "We talk about the face of the Dallas Stars franchise and if you want to put a face on hockey in Texas, it is probably Mike Modano. It is a very worthy award." Stars coach Dave Tippett on center Mike Modano being the first hockey player to be inducted in to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame Quotable II "I don't feel it." Stars center Mike Modano after being told by former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin that he still looked like he was 25-years-old during Tuesday night's induction ceremonies at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco
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