Stars News & Notes: Sutherby making an impact

Wednesday, November 04, 2009-12:18:am
/Andrew's Dallas Stars Page                            

Last season had its up and downs for Stars forward Brian Sutherby. He got traded for the second time in two years and had some injury issues as well. But he's healthy these days and is making an impact.

Sutherby has three goals in the last four games and two of those tallies have come in the last two games while playing on a line with center Tom Wandell and right wing Fabian Brunnstrom.

“It’s been fun the last couple of games,” said Sutherby. “Wandy’s a very good hockey player. He can carry the puck and control the play. I’m just trying to keep things simple, get on the forecheck and get the puck in the hands of those guys."

Sutherby was a healthy scratch on opening night, but he's been in the lineup the last 13 games and he's playing his best hockey of the young season.

"He's got good versatility. He played both sides and we've used him at center as well," said Crawford. "When you can play any forward position, it just much the options that much greater as a coaching staff. The bottom line is that he's played well."

The line of Sutherby, the Edmonton, Alberta native, and the two Swedes has been singled out for its excellent play by Crawford.

"I think they all have ability first and foremost," Crawford said. "I think there’s a certain amount of comfort that comes from playing with each other, looking for each other and maybe understanding what a player likes to do."

Sutherby's Swedish linemates appreciate the North American style he brings to the ice.

"He hits and makes good plays as well," said Brunnstrom.

"He's a real strong, good player who goes to the net," said Wandell. "He creates some time and space for me and Brunner, so we can do what we do."

Those three players chipped in three goals and six assists in the two games and were a combined a plus-nine in their two games together. Sutherby has eight shots on goal in those two games compared with ten in his previous eleven games.

"Wandy is giving me some real good looks and when pucks start going in for you, maybe you take that extra look or you have that confidence to not panic," said Sutherby. "The last couple games have been good and we've got to build on that. Two games doesn't make anything. We've got to keep doing the things we're doing and hope it keeps going. We've got to keep it simple. Not try to force plays at the blue line, get pucks in and make our plays from down low."

Sutherby was acquired from Anaheim last December for prospect David McIntyre and a conditional 6th round pick in 2010. He didn't play right away due to injury, but once he got in to the lineup and got up to speed, he played well and the Stars signed him to a two-year contract extension in March.

Starting the season with the team instead of joining it halfway through has been a plus.

"It's always a change. It's always a little bit tough, getting acclimated to new guys," said Sutherby. "It's nice coming back, seeing the guys again, going through a full training camp, being around everyone, the team building and the team bonding. You just start to feel a little more comfortable."

Stars Notes

• Center Mike Modano, who has missed the last 13 games with a rib injury, and right wing Jere Lehtinen, who has missed the last nine games with an intercostal muscle injury, are expected to return to the lineup on Wednesday.
   

• Center Brad Richards (sore groin) and right wing Loui Eriksson (flu-like symptoms) practiced Tuesday after missing Monday's practice.
   

• Defenseman Mark Fistric, who had to be helped off the ice during Monday's practice after getting hit in the ankle with a puck, practiced Tuesday and said he was fine.
  
  "It was pretty tender yesterday, but I think playing in the [Stars golf tournament] helped it with the walking around and keeping it moving," Fistric said after Tuesday's practice. "It hurts to put my skate on, but it's fine. It didn't bother me out there today."
  
  It was a different story after the puck hit his ankle during Monday's practice.
  
  "It hit some kind of nerve under the ankle and it just made my leg go dead," he said. "I couldn't feel my leg for a good three or four minutes. I wrapped it and hobbled around the golf course. A little later in the day it started feeling better."

Practice lines

Quotable

"Somebody is going to have to sit out the next game that doesn't deserve to sit out. But on the other side of it that's not bad for the Stars. When you've got your 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th forwards that you can march out and they can be high-end, quality people, it stands to reason - if we play a high tempo game - we should be able to outlast clubs."

Stars head coach Marc Crawford talking about the team's depth at forward with the return of injured players like Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen