Now, back to the game

OK, now that the Morrow stuff has been hashed out, back to the task at hand: The Stars are letting points get away like loose papers on a windy day (sorry, it's late and I can't think of anything better). You had three minutes (three, count 'em) of a power play. I don't care if the ice is chewed up. Score. The chances weren't very good, be it the one minute of 5 on 4 or the two minutes of 4 on 3. Zip, zilch, nada. Score a goal, and you go home with the two points and a little more to show for on this road trip. Instead, it's three points in three games, and all that "progress" doesn't mean much when you're languishing in the standings.

Some tidbits to sum up before I crash for a whole three hours and then catch a 6 a.m. flight (think this job is still glamorous, kids?):
    Jere Lehtinen could take 60 games off and still look good. I now understand why the guy doesn't come back until he feels he's absolutely ready to go. It soooo showed tonight. The goal, his work on the penalty kill, just his energy overall (20 minutes for him). Great game.
    Mike Modano is a 38-year-old playing better than most 28-year-olds. The guy's skills just beat Father Time to a pulp.
    Mike Ribeiro's one-handed goal was just sick. But he said he took the move from, yes, you guessed it: B.J. Crombeen. Huh? "(Crombeen) said, 'I have a move but I can't do it. I think you could do it,' " Ribeiro said. Indeed, he did it.
    How come the Stars have such difficulty scoring on 5 on 3s, but the Kings need all of 10 seconds on theirs to score?
    That power play... hmmmm.
    The penalty kill (outside of the 5 on 3) is getting better (please see Lehtinen, Zubov).
    My, but this team has issues. Not as bad of issues as they had a week ago, but issues nonetheless. We keep hearing, "we're getting better." Fine. But they need points and they need them now.

Comments

[Brooklun Bill]

Tracy,
Is it just me or do make most goalies in the league look like Vezina candidates?. They all can't be that good!....Enjoy the red-eye

[cowtown]

They just need to shoot the puck, keep shooting and get some rebounds past the goalie. For the life of me I don't understand why so many guys are scared to death to shoot.

[Tracey]

Bill,
I agree with Cowtown... not sure if the Kings netminder was as challenged as he should've been. The Stars' tentativeness is unbelievable right now. Just spending too much time looking for the perfect shot.

[Brooklun Bill]

I agree with both you and "cowtown" reference last nights "tentativeness" with shots. My point was referring games "in general" and maybe your answers could apply to most games....Marty last night, in an interview indicated(I'm paraphrasing): "We all know the importance of points, but maybe we should be concentrating on superior play game by game, and revisit points by Christmas"..I know I'm reaching here, but relaxed intensity could be more effective than up-tight intensity.(feel free to quote me on the last sentence)....Stars:have fun,crash the net,be physical, backcheck, and SHOOT,SHOOT,SHOOT!!!!!