Five for Fighting

Hurry! Hurry! Pens tickets remain!

Hey kids,

If you want to see Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin -- and let's face it, with the way the NHL sked is set up, you may not get that chance for another five years -- there's still a chance!

The Stars have released 500 upstairs tickets for Sunday's Stars-Penguins game, which starts at 2 p.m. I'm guessing they'll go fast, so get on the horn (or the website) quick:

214-GO-STARS or www.dallasstars.com

-- Tracey Myers

Trade deadline talk: Colorado defensemen

We had planned an entry this morning on Nik Antropov and one this afternoon on Jeff Halpern, but it appears Steve Begin fills the Stars' need at center. Because of that, we'll concentrate on maybe adding a defenseman before March 4.

Today, we study the Colorado Avalanche, which apparently is making available to the public for one time only your pick of Jordan Leopold, Ruslan Salei or Brett Clark. The three players are different in their skills, but they are different for other reasons, as well. Clark is under contract for $3.5 million next season and Salei for $3.275 million. As such, both could be had for very little in draft picks or prospects _ the Avalanche is just trying to shed some salary.

Salei is 34, has decent size (6-1, 212) and has a meant streak (Just ask Mike Modano). He also is a decent power play guy as he had 55 points in 147 games for Florida over parts of the two previous seasons. Clark (6-0, 195) isn't near as physical, but is a better puck mover. He had 39 points in 82 games in 2006-07 (one of the reasons for his contract). Leopold is the wildcard. He is only 28. He makes $1.5 million this year and he will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer. Financially, he fits perfectly. However, he will also cost you in draft picks or prospects and he comes with the tag of injury-prone player.

Leopold is 6-1, 200, a good skater and a player with strong offensive potential, but he missed more than 100 games in the previous two seasons with hernia, groin, wrist and concussion (courtesy of Steve Ott) issues.. Still, he has been relatively healthy this season and he is just a rental.

So, would you take a risk on any of these three?

_Mike Heika

Tra's Top 10 blues

I meant that as a down-and-out reference, not an ode to the team that just left on a jet plane. Anyway, onto the countdown:
    1, May the best goaltender win. Yes, Blues netminder Chris Mason can probably count two posts and a crossbar as his best friends on Thursday, but let's not deny the man. He was great, stopping 41 of 42 shots. And Jere Lehtinen's shot was just a thing of beauty.
    2, Powerless play. The Stars miss Brad Richards. They really, really miss him on that power play. The Stars go 0 for 6, but the bad ones were Nos. 4 and 5. You get the benefit of the double-minor high-sticking, you're down two goals, and you can't even get one on that? Their execution those four minutes was lackluster at best.
    3, Somebody help the top line. At least with as much consistency as its brought. Steve Ott, Mike Ribeiro and Jere Lehtinen generated the bulk of the opportunities on Thursday night (they combined for 14 shots on goal).
    4, Clang, clang, clang went the chances. I counted five posts/crossbars hit. I think Jere Lehtinen had one, Stephane Robidas had two and Mark Parrish had two. I could be wrong. Either way, it was not music to the Stars' ears. Said coach Dave Tippett, "We've hit more goalposts in the last two games than I can remember. But goalposts don’t count. Goals do."
    5, Begin entertains. Sorry, don't know how to put the little accent mark above the e, but newly acquired center Steve Begin was amusing in his media intro: "This is all of you guys?" He said of the handful of media members. "There's usually 50 in Montreal. This is a walk in the park." If he gets homesick we'll send him to Valley Ranch.
    6, He said it. Steve Ott: "You can say we've got a lot of hurt guys and you can say we've got a lot of road games, but that's no excuse. We still have 20 capable guys in this room. We have no choice if we want to make the playoffs. We have to keep pushing and we have to find a way to get it done."
    7, He said it, part II. Mike Ribeiro: "That's two games where we felt played better than the other team and came out with no points. We're frustrated."
    8, It happens sometimes. Marty Turco's been stellar lately, and he plays the puck so much that, sometimes, the rare gaffe happens. But it was a costly gaffe that led to Jay McClement's goal. And in a first period where the Stars totally outplayed the Blues, it hurt.
    9, Blues kids are killer. At least they were tonight. The 22-year-old T.J. Oschie put the Blues up 2-1 at the 6:50 mark, then 20-year-old Patrik Berglund got the insurance goal just over two minutes later. Stingers from the Blues' babies.
    10, Holding on... But barely. The Stars are clinging to eighth place in the Western Conference, but several teams are breathing down their necks. It's getting critical, folks.

-- Tracey Myers

Berglund's turn

Patrik Berglund's work along the boards set up T.J. Oshie's goal just a few minutes ago, and now he gets rewarded with a goal of his own.

Berglund sneaks one in on Marty Turco's glove side, and now the Blues are up 3-1. Quite a change of events, but that's what happens when you're just close on the other end.

By the way, how many freaking shots has Blues defenseman Jay McKee blocked tonight?

-- Tracey Myers

Oshie!

Wow,

The Blues have half the shots on goal of the Stars, but T.J. Oshie's shot is just a thing o' beauty. And just like that, the Blues are up 2-1 with just over 13 minutes remaining.

Plenty of time remains. But it's goals like that, when the Stars have been working so hard and hitting posts on the other end, that can leave you reeling. We'll see how the Stars react to this one.

-- Tracey Myers

Close, almost, nearly...

The Stars have had a flurry lately, starting with Mark Parrish's clanger off the crossbar. Then Brian Sutherby and James Neal put on a "let's try to beat Chris Mason" show that almost culminated in another goal. "Almost" is a popular word tonight when it comes to Stars' scoring chances.

Speaking of another "almost:" Jere Lehtinen's shot off the post on the 2 on 1. Sheesh! Lehtinen has played a fantastic game. But what else do you expect from him?

By the way, how fabulous has Steve Ott been tonight, kids?

-- Tracey Myers

Colaiacovo hurt

He blocked a Loui Eriksson slap shot and took it hard on the leg.

He had to be helped off.

Colaiacova has been one of the Blues' best defensemen.

We'll see if he returns.

_Mike Heika

Lot of rebounds

Marty Turco's been fabulous lately, but he's not having his cleanest evening. He's leaving a few rebounds out there, not catching some of those shots clean.

By the way, how snarky is this one tonight?

-- Tracey Myers

Sawada taking lumps

I'll say this for Ray Sawada: he'll take his licks, get right back up and get to the front of the net. Blues defenseman Barret Jackman was knocking Sawada around in the corner, battling for a loose puck. Sawada took it all, got the puck out of there, then got in front for a shot attempt. Gumption, kids, gumption!

-- Tracey Myers

Fun first period

The Stars play well, have a 15-8 advantage in shots and its 1-1. They probably could have had two more goals and probably shouldn't have given up the one they did when Marty Turco had his pocket picked by B.J. Crombeen. But, it is what it is.

The bestest part was former Stars winger Brad Winchester running all over the ice stirring up trouble. Award-winning color analyst Daryl "Raisin'' Reaugh summed it up best when he said Winchester looks like the town drunk, trying to get in a fight with everyone.

_Mike Heika