That was the overriding theme of tonight, and it's going to be the theme for the remainder of training camp. All in all, the Stars didn't look too shabby tonight. I'm sure they'd like to up that power-play percentage, but there were a ton of looks at the net, some pretty decent shots in there, too. I have to give a little bit of credit to Blues goaltender Chris Mason. But by the third period, any rebound he was giving up the Stars were pouncing on -- and they converted two of those with Brenden Morrow and Steve Ott. That's part of those details we heard so much about tonight.
Some other tidbits:
**Loved James Neal's goal in the third period. He's a strong kid, and it showed on that play.
**I'm still on the B.J. Crombeen bandwagon. He's not afraid to take a shot, that's for sure. I thought his attempt that didn't go in during the third period (quick spin and shoot) was pretty sweet.
**Brad Richards looked great (yes, I know, he's supposed to look great. I give preseason props to established guys, too, when warranted). Seven shots, playing the point on the power play, etc. He's fine.
**Stars tied the Blues in the faceoff circle (31 won for each). Toby Petersen didn't have a great night there, winning just one of eight. He was working on faceoffs with Stu Barnes in the a.m. skate.
**It took me until just now to see Brad Winchester was on the St. Louis roster. That's all I got on that.
**I'm sure Marty Turco would've liked to see fewer pucks in back of the net, but I loved the two stops he had late in the third period: a slapshot from Trent Whitfield and then the followup by Yan Stastny. Turco is in the Richards category: I don't worry about him at all.
The Stars are off to Chicago and then Colorado. Tobias Stephan will get the start tomorrow against the Blackhawks. I believe a few of the big guns will get tomorrow night off.
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