The bad news piles up

I don’t know how much worse it can get for the Dallas Stars, but the news that Brad Richards broke his left hand in his first game back after breaking his wrist wrist basically sums up how things have gone for this team this season. That’s a huge blow. Not just because once he got up to speed he’s a top player but because I think it’s something that will probably hit the team on an emotional level too. His return is something the team was something they were hanging their hat on as they looked ahead towards the stretch and possibly getting into the playoffs. Now, his return has turned out to be short-lived. That’s an emotional blow.

As for Saturday’s game, I thought they looked very, very good early in the game. They got the first goal from Loui Eriksson, his 33rd of the season, but Stephane Robidas took that penalty five minutes later and Joe Thornton scores. The Sharks score 29 seconds later and, as Dave Tippett likes to say, the Stars are chasing the game. The Sharks score two quick ones again in the second and it’s lights out in this one.

This road trip was a killer with them collecting zero of a possible six points. It was like that homestand right after Richards went out. It really hurt their chances because of the regulation losses. They are three points out with ten games left. It’s certainly possible they can still make it in, but you have to wonder how much this team has left in the tank both physically and emotionally at this point. That’s why I mentioned the impact of losing Richards earlier. With him out indefinitely there isn’t a light at the end of the tunnel as far as the injury situation right now. Sure, it would be good to get a Brian Sutherby or Steve Begin back into the lineup but they aren’t going to be the impact player or provide the same kind of emotional lift a guy like Richards.

We’ll see what they can roll out this coming week. They’ve got the Canucks, Kings and Panthers coming into town. The Canucks are playing as well as anybody in the league right now, the Kings have played the Stars tough and the Panthers are desperately trying to get that last spot in the East. It will be a tough week. 

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