Stars News & Notes: The three point game

Saturday, January 17, 2009-12:31:am
/Andrew's Dallas Stars Page                            

If you've been going to Dallas Stars game lately you've been getting a lot of bonus hockey thanks to all the overtime and shootouts. While that adds to the excitement, it can take somewhat of a toll on the team's quest to climb the standings even if they win the game.

“It kind of sucks that we are giving points every night,” Stars defenseman Trevor Daley said after the Stars beat the Detroit Red Wings earlier this week. “That's going to be a focus too, to try to get points in regulation and steal points from these teams.”

That's because that Detroit game was the seventh time in 12 games the Stars have gone beyond regulation, which meant it was a three-point game. In other words, both teams got points. Thursday's shootout loss against Buffalo made it eight games in 13 that had gone beyond regulation and turned into a three-pointer.

During the Stars' last 20 games, when they've gone 11-6-3 and climbed a bit up the standings a moved a little closer to eight place, they've played a total of nine games that have gone beyond regulation. They've won six of those nine games, which has helped in their upward climb. But all the overtime games does have a downside. It means that their opponents get points as well.

While the Stars' record in those 20 games was good enough for a .625 points percentage, which would equal a 103 point season, what their opponents did in those same games isn't that far off the pace. The opposition's record against Dallas during those 20 games was 9-5-6 for a points percentage of .600 and a points pace of 98 for the season.

In other words, the Stars picked up 25 points in those 20 games and their opponents picked up 24 points. During that same stretch - if you eliminate games against Eastern Conference teams and Detroit and San Jose (two teams in the West the Stars can’t catch) – they broke even with the teams they are battling with for a playoff spot/position in the West. They picked up 15 points in those games by going 7-4-1 but those Western Conference foes picked up 15 points by going 5-2-5 against the Stars.

Here's a look at the how the Stars and their opponents gained points against each other over the last 20 games.

Morrow talks return, gets birthday surprise from Ott

Stars captain Brenden Morrow raised some eyebrows when he said Thursday during an interview on The Ticket that he would like to return from his torn ACL for the last couple regular season games.

The Stars captain had surgery on his knee in early December and was told that it was a sixth month injury. The original thought is he might return if the Stars made it deep into the playoffs, but now Morrow has been toying with the idea of a possible return for the final couple of regular season games.

Morrow, speaking to the media Friday in Frisco, reiterated what he said on The Ticket Thursday - he won't do anything to risk re-injuring the ligament in his knee.

"It's in my head. I haven't talked to them about it. Once I start skating in a month or so we'll figure out a time frame," Morrow said. "If it's a pain thing that's one thing. If it's a risk of re-injuring that ligament then it will probably change my decision. I'll know more when I am on the ice."

As Morrow was talking with the media, forward Steve Ott came up behind him and pushed a shaving cream and jelly pie into his face. It was Ott and the rest of the team's way of saying Happy Birthday to the Stars captain, who turned 30 on Friday.

Practice notes/lines/injury update

• Brad Richards and Stephane Robidas did not practice Friday, but both are said to be fine.

• With Richards not practicing, Chris Conner filled on a line with Joel Lundqvist and Loui Eriksson.

• Fabian Brunnstrom (ankle) skated briefly with the team Friday. He could go through a full practice on Sunday.

Stars moving to The Ticket next season

Starting next season you'll find radio broadcasts of Dallas Stars' games on Sportsradio 1310 The Ticket. The Ticket, the market's leading all sports station, will be the Stars' exclusive radio broadcasting home of the team through the 2013-14 season.

The Ticket will carry all 82 regular season games and all playoff games. There are plans to have a pregame show for most games and postgame shows for all of them.

The switch to The Ticket next season will end a 15-year run with WBAP.

“I want to thank WBAP for 15 years as a great radio partner,” Stars President Jeff Cogen said in a news release. “As WBAP has evolved into an all-news format, the Stars have also evolved. We both decided it was time for a change. Our first choice for a new radio home was The Ticket. The Stars and The Ticket have practically grown up together, as both of us are celebrating our 15-year anniversary in the Metroplex. The Ticket was the first all-sports radio station in the area and they’re the best. We’re proud to align our brand with theirs.”

Quotable

"We talk about teams that are struggling, but if you look at the standings we're right there with them, so we can't take anyone lightly."

Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas