Five for Fighting

Morrow talks, A for Robidas

Brenden Morrow talked a little bit this morning about his injury. The guy looked like he was still in shock over the whole thing, as the worst-case scenario was clearly unexpected.

"I'm just disappointed, little shocked. I don't feel bad. I expected a game or two, but not this."

Morrow's first call was to Joe Nieuwendyk, who had his ACL tear issues during his career. As far as when he can be back, Morrow said, "I've always thought I recovered fast." He said when he had that nasty wrist injury a few seasons ago, "I kept my hopes up. I need that attitude to get through this."

Meanwhile, Stephane Robidas has been given an "A" in Morrow's absence. Good call, as far as I'm concerned. Robidas has earned that, given his play and his heart. Landon Wilson talked about coming back to Dallas, as he's been looking forward to this opportunity for a while. He's done some good things with Grand Rapids, so we'll see what help he can give the Stars. Doug Janik, meanwhile, will probably be in the lineup tonight. Dave Tippett was asked if seven defensemen was a possibility tonight, and he didn't seem keen on the idea. So wouldn't be surprised if Matt Niskanen is out.

Morrow out indefinitely

In a frustrating season, the Stars got the worst news possible on captain Brenden Morrow: He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, and he's out for at least six months. Like I said, this is absolutely awful news for a team that's already struggling to fix so many issues. Morrow had five goals and 10 assists so far this season.
   Just got off the phone with coach Dave Tippett and co-general manager Les Jackson. Obviously, both sounded very down. Here's Tippett: "This is certainly a huge blow, not just to our team but personally for him. It's going to be a test to our will and character on how close this group can get on the common goal of winning."

Jackson said he and co-GM Brett Hull will be talking with owner Tom Hicks ASAP and see what they have available to work with. Obviously, the Stars need to do something, and Morrow would go on long-term injured reserve. Would think that would shore up some cash. Jackson didn't want to get too much into that part of the conversation tonight. He was figuring the news wouldn't be that bad.

Morrow wasn't up to talking tonight, so he'll be available tomorrow morning at the skate. We'll see what he has to say then. Morrow scored in the first period last night and was playing a pretty good game for the Stars. But something happened there in the third period, and he limped off with about six minutes remaining. Still, Tippett said Morrow talked to him this morning and said he felt fine. But what you feel and what the MRI shows are two very different things. Mike Modano explained it this way:

"When I ruptured my tendons (in my foot), it didn’t feel like it. You just don’t have a certain movement. But there was no pain, I could walk around on it. But as far as function and being useful, that was nonexistent. Same with that ACL. In the past, guys played without ACLs in hockey. Now in this day and age, with the speed of the game, for the long haul best to get (the surgery) done."

Also, the Stars recalled Landon Wilson, son of associate coach Rick Wilson. from Grand Rapids. He will be here tomorrow.

No Morrow update yet

There's no new news on Brenden Morrow at the moment. Coach Dave Tippett said Morrow was getting evaluated today and that the team will know more tomorrow.

So let's just examine the not-playing-tomorrow scenario just for grins, shall we? The Stars are tight, tight, tight against the cap (can't squeeze a dime between that rock and a hard place) so calling someone up doesn't seem like much of an option. There's always the possibility of putting Doug Janik in as a forward if the Stars need something for a game or two, or dressing seven D-men. Now, with all this being said, I'm sure the prognosis on Brenden will be fine.

Other injury updates: Joel Lundqvist is still skating on his own, but is still a few weeks away. Jere Lehtinen isn't skating right now. Here were the lines today:
    Ott-Richards-Eriksson
    Neal-Ribeiro-Avery
    Brunnstrom-Modano-Parrish
    Petersen-Barch, with Stu Barnes sometimes making a guest appearance.

Morrow goal

The captain gets off his personal schnide to put the Stars on top 1-0 at the 7:37 mark. Just jammed it in there past Khabibulin, who's been a bit busy this first period. Modano on the secondary assist, so he's closing in on 1,300 points.

By the way, that was Kris Versteeg on that crossbar shot for the Blackhawks moments before Morrow's goal. I still want someone to tell me why a shot that hits the post or crossbar doesn't count as a shot on goal. Ah well...

No suspension for Morrow

   Just getting in at DFW, but I saw the story on TSN that the one-game suspension originally imposed on Brenden Morrow for his late instigator was overturned by the NHL this morning. That also means no $10,000 fine for coach Dave Tippett either.

   That late instigator rule was put in place somewhat so players couldn't just cause random havoc in a game that was already decided. Obviously, that was not the case last night. Anyway, the story's on TSN for your viewing pleasure. Sorry, don't know how to do links on this yet!

Another loss; Morrow suspended?

Technically, at this moment, Brenden Morrow is suspended for getting an instigator penalty within the final five minutes of regulation. As you recall, Morrow went after Dustin Brown after Brown's (what was called) boarding on Mike Ribeiro. Not sure if it was truly boarding, but Ribeiro went down in a heap (he took four deep stitches, and five or six more along with that). Morrow retaliated, and now we'll wait to see what happens.

The NHL Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell will review this (for you looking it up at home, it's Rule #47.22, a deeper explanation off Rule #47.12) and it could be overturned based on certain criteria -- that would include score of the game, previous incidents, etc. If it is not deemed suspension-worthy, then we all just move on and Morrow is in for Thursday. If the suspension holds, then Dave Tippett is also fined $10,000.

Now the point of this rule was to make sure fighters weren't just brought on the ice to cause havoc. My opinion (and I know this doesn't matter much) is that Morrow thought a teammate was in a vulnerable position and he responded as such. Shouldn't be a suspension. Like I said, my opinion doesn't matter.

Morrow's comment on it: "I think it’s a hockey play and I don’t expect anything. I’d be a little disappointed with the league if something like that was changed. (Ribeiro's) our most skilled player in a vulnerable position, I didn’t know how bad he was hurt, and I have no regrets for it."

OK, let me take a breath and assess the rest of the Stars in another post.

Post-practice update

OK, we're back...
Got to talk to Mark Parrish after practice, and to say he's excited about the opportunity would be selling the situation short. "Estatic?" he said. Parrish said he was absolutely thrilled when he found out the Stars were interested, and a chance to catch up with some old friends (Mike Modano, Toby Petersen) was even better. He'll be wearing #37, by the way.

Updates on everyone else... Sergei Zubov was out there and looked good. Shocking. Are we surprised when he looks good? I mean really. He is who he is, and that's one unbelievable player. Dave Tippett said Zubov was in early today, so you know the guy is just dying to get back on the ice.

Little clarification on the Steve Ott. He started practice, and then he and Brenden Morrow left early with lower-body injuries. Doesn't sound bad, just letting them get off work a bit early. Jere Lehtinen did skate prior to the other guys this morning, and Tippett said they're hoping he'll practice tomorrow.
    Lines today (take with a heaping spoon o' salt):
    Morrow-Ribeiro-Eriksson
    Avery-Modano-Brunnstrom
    Richards-Parrish (missing bodies, although Stu Barnes cameoed on the wing!)
    Barch-Petersen-Crombeen

A sleepless captain

Brenden Morrow talked about how he's had a few sleepless evenings since the Stars returned from the Chicago-Boston mess. He's thinking about his part in all this, how he's lost his cool way too many times and how he needs to set a better example for this team.
    "I’m embarrassed by what I’ve been doing," he said. "I've had two nights bad sleep, and it wasn’t the twins keeping me up. It was the mouth-running and the track in the head. I think just when I get frustrated I’ve got to let it out on the ice and not with my mouth. I've gotta do it with my feet."
    Now you hope he's not the only guy losing sleep over what's happening, that he's not the only guy upset over his own doings during this rough start. But he does need to clean things up and set the example. He's the one others follow, especially those young guys out there.

Morrow frustrated again

Brenden Morrow was getting angry that Zdeno Chara wasn't getting called for a penalty, then Morrow takes a hook and starts yelling at the official... you know what that leads to: 4 minutes in the box.

Gotta control that.

Quick Stars lead

Brenden Morrow gets a quick lead -- like 13 seconds into this one -- for the Stars, which is a nice change of pace considering how many times they've trailed. Big ol' bouncing puck that Mike Ribeiro quickly passes to Morrow, and it's 1-0 on the only shot thus far.

Stars lines:
Morrow-Ribeiro-Eriksson
Avery-Richards-Ott
Neal-Modano-Crombeen
Barch-Petersen-Brunnstrom

Not sure if I agree with Brunnstrom on the fourth line, considering his output, but he's a hard worker on what's usually a hard-working line. So let's see what shakes out.