Five for Fighting

Bad ending

The Stars talked positives after their overtime loss to San Jose. Sure, there were some there. But when you lose a game like this again, with bad mistakes, can you still focus on those positives? I don't know. It was one of the strangest things I've ever seen, this overtime, considering the penalties taken.

Marty Turco called his high-sticking, "nothing short of dumb." Coach Dave Tippett was none too happy with Trevor Daley's hook: "The rule changed three years ago. How we can keep sticking sticks in a guy's stomach just baffles me." As far as Turco's penalty, Tippett said, "I don't know what Marty was thinking about."

Yes, the Stars were more solid in other areas. But a bad mistake is a bad mistake, and they have to stop. Just five games left, folks.

Thornton ties it

Ah, you knew he had to rear his head at some point, right? Turco can't stop his one-timer, which was the Sharks' first shot of the period, and we're looking at a 2-2 game at the 6:08 mark.

Holding on

The Stars were more defensive in this period, but they still walk away with the lead. They ought to remember that during their intermission talk. Marty Turco's had some big saves and has been key with puck-handling throughout the game, especially on penalty kills.

Now comes the third period... which Stars team will we see?

Lehtinen's tally

The Stars get a 5-on-3 power play after the Sharks get whistled for too many men. Just 29 seconds into that double advantage, Mike Ribeiro laces a beauty to Jere Lehtinen, whose shot goes off Nabokov's foot and in for a 2-1 lead. That comes at 12:29, with Ribeiro and Modano on the assists.

Getting a little crazy in here.... Marty stops two 1 on 1 shots this period.

Sharks tie it

B.J. Crombeen goes afer Kyle McLaren after McLaren's hit on Toby Petersen, gets an instigator penalty, and the Sharks capitalize. Joe Pavelski gets one under Marty Turco on the stick side, as the Sharks tie it up on their fourth power play of the game.

Thinks are starting to get snarky right now... now it's a true Stars-Sharks game.

Strong first

That's what the Stars needed against these guys, and they got it. Three penalties in the first period isn't too good of an idea, especially when San Jose almost finds the equalizer from Milan Michalek late. But the Stars dictate, they outshoot the Sharks 11-7, their penalty kill is holding up and their first power play was one of the better ones they've had in some time.

I think I could hear Brenden Morrow's primal scream from up here after he scored that goal. Think he's trying to motivate the troops just a little?

Morrow hits the big 3-0

In goals, kids, not age. Ah, to be young again.... Sorry

Anyway, the Stars get one at the end of a great-looking power play. Just as PP time elapses, Brenden Morrow gets one through a prone Evgeni Nabokov for a 1-0 lead at 15:59 of the first period. Credit Mike Modano for the wicked shot just previous to this. The save Nabokov had to make on that goal left him out of position, and nobody picked up Morrow on Nabokov's left side.

Modano and Mike Ribeiro on the assists.

Other lines

Sorry, here are the other three lines:
Morrow-Ribeiro-Lehtinen
Hagman-Richards-Eriksson
Lundqvist-Petersen-Crombeen

Antti Miettinen, Krys Barch, Brad Winchester and Nicklas Grossman are the scratches.

Ott-Modano-Barnes

That's our starting line tonight against the Sharks. I'm a little perplexed, only because of Tuesday's practice when Modano was with Richards and Barnes. I was wondering if this was a brief ruse, just a starter line before Richards and Mo are paired together later.

Bet I'm wrong. By the way, Boucher is out there with Mark Fistric.

Boucher in tonight

Defenseman Philippe Boucher got the green light and he will be in the lineup tonight against San Jose. Talked with Boucher after morning skate today, and you could see how excited he was at the thought of getting back. It's been a tough year for the guy, but he's ready to finish up the regular season and get ready for the playoffs.

I'm pretty sure Boucher was with Trevor Daley in skate today, but we'll see where he fits in come gametime.