Five for Fighting

Bad to worse

Ah, I long for the days when the Stars' penalty kill actually could kill. They lasted more than 10 seconds this time, but the end result is the same. Milan Michalek is by himself on Marty Turco's left side, and when Turco's drawn to the other side Michalek pounces. Pretty passes and patience by the Sharks on this one, and they're now 2 for 2 on the power play.

This isn't shaping up to be anything like the early November game in San Jose, which was one of the Stars' best defensively.

Down 3-1 after one

These Sharks ain't shabby, and they're taking advantage of any help the Stars give them, for sure. But they're doing plenty on their own.

Dan Boyle gets his second of the game (already), after he was allowed to just dance right through the slot by himself at the 18:45 mark. Here's a shocker, it was set up by a Joe Thornton pass (yeah, he hasn't killed the Stars).

But it's another night, thus far, of little glitches biting the Stars fast. Good stuff in the first 10-plus minutes, good scoring chances, then a mistake and missed coverage here and there, and it gets ugly fast.

Sharks up 2-1

Well, that power play took no time to develop, did it? Sharks make a quick pass and shoot, and that's how you score on the advantage (Stars might want to take note of that). Anyway, it's Dan Boyle at the 14:38 mark. Great screen by Joe Thornton in front.

Eriksson ties it

Loui Eriksson at it again (how many times have I written that this season)... it ain't pretty, but it works. His first shot is stopped, but Brad Richards gets it back to him, and his second attempt goes off Rob Blake and in at the 13:16 mark.

Like I said, not pretty, but I don't think the Stars care. That's 11 for Eriksson, by the way, 3 off his career high.

Sharks up 1-0

Matt Niskanen can't get it quite out of the zone, and the Sharks take advantage from there. Great job by Ryane Clowe keeping that onsides (I wasn't sure before I saw the replay), and Joe Pavelski had the sweet little deflection at 11:45.

Shots 5-4 Sharks right now. Stars have had some good chances, but...

Lines vs. Sharks

Tonight's lines:
    Eriksson-Richards-Wilson start it...
    Barch-Modano-Parrish
    Neal-Ribeiro-Avery
    Brunnstrom-Petersen-Conner

Defensive pairings: Robidas-Daley, Grossman-Niskanen, Sydor-Zubov

A rainy Friday

Hey kids,

Not a whole lot of updates on this Friday morning skate, other than a few quick ones on the injuries:
    Jere Lehtinen skated this morning in Frisco. Joel Lundqvist did, too. Right now, the timetable on Lehtinen is wide open. Have no idea when he's going to be back (yeah, I know, originally a 7-10 day window, but you know...)
    Lundqvist, meanwhile, seems to be rolling right along. Dave Tippett figured he could at least get back to practice after the Stars come home from their Western Canada trip late next week.
    See you tonight, kids.

Oh, a quick add (forgot to post this earlier): Mark Fistric, who had surgery on his knee recently (a nagging problem that was cleaned up, basically), has returned to Manitoba.

They needed that

Sorry, folks... was tight on deadline at the end there, and got a way to get back into town tonight. Now I can blog.

Anyway, it wasn't the most stylish game the Stars have ever played, but I think they'll take it at this point. Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire was not too happy about the second disallowed goal, and how the net got knocked off the moorings:
    "It's the third time that Turco does that just against us. He looks like he stumbles and he just lays on the post."
    Turco's response: "You saw me diving around like an idiot. I stumbled to one side. I didn't knock it off on purpose."

Back to other things:
    James Neal was great. Love the way this kid plays; he's fearless and could care less about where he has to go and what he has to do. If not for his work in the first two periods especially, the Stars aren't even thinking comeback. Love that kind of aggressive style... a few others could learn from him.
    I admit I was in a fog in the third period with trying to get everything done. I just remember looking up twice and seeing Stars goals. As I said, style points wouldn't be high for this one, but for a team that's dying with a confidence deficiency, it should take every stinkin' positive it can get right now.
    Turco did enough in this one. Not fabulous but effective when he needed to be.
OK, kids, I'm tired. Happy Turkey Day.

Back in it

Well, the Stars have dodged a few bullets, so there is their opening. James Neal has been fantastic... he was the last off the bench at the intermission, and he still had his glove off that left hand, so we'll see what happens.

Stars just need to keep pushing on this one.

Neal again

The Stars might want to take a cue from this kid... shoot the puck and good things happen. Heck, his second effort is what got this one, and it was low enough to count. So the Stars are right back in it because of the kid.

He took a shot to his hand on a clearing attempt...hopefully he's fine.