Five for Fighting

Ott scores

It's that line working again, and this time Steve Ott capitalizes on the work. There was a delayed penalty on the Thrashers, but Mike Ribeiro found Trevor Daley at the left point, and Daley made a pretty little pass to Ott, who had a clear look at the net. That's Ott, just 28 seconds into the second period.

Lehtinen scores

Jere Lehtinen gets on the board first, and in a very odd way. Mike Ribeiro's pass (?) goes off Kari Lehtonen's glove, then off Lehtinen's chest and, I think, his stick and in for the Stars' 1-0 lead at the 3:48 mark. That's Ribeiro and Steve Ott, who had the steal, on the assists. That line is looking pretty good to start this one, too.

The lines:
    Ott-Ribeiro-Lehtinen
    Lundqvist-Richards-Eriksson
    Neal-Modano-Conner
    Sutherby-Petersen-Barch

Ribeiro gets the trick

Mike Ribeiro gets his first hat trick of the season with his empty-netter at the end of the third period. He didn't want to come off the ice around the one-minute mark, but he did... got a second chance and he gets it.

Ribeiro scores again

Mike Ribeiro is apparently motivated to get to the break the right way...

Credit Steve Ott for the work here, getting the puck along the boards and getting it out to the other side. It goes off the other board to a streaking Mike Ribeiro, who beats Vokoun high.

Pretty goal, better lead. Ott and Jere Lehtinen on the assists at 3:45. That line has looked pretty good on this trip.

Ribeiro scores

That's a way to end a good period, eh?

Matt Niskanen came off the bench to get a rebound that was sliding toward the blue line, James Neal got a piece of it and Mike Ribeiro taps in the puck at the goal line for a 2-1 Stars lead. That one comes with 32 seconds remaining in the second period, and it was another sign of the Stars waking up in this period.

Matt Niskanen and Cory Stillman got into it at the end of the period, following a little scrum in front of the net. So a fighter vs. a non-fighter, and guess what happens. Yeah, Stillman gives Niskanen a good rap. Ouch.

Ribeiro wins it in the shootout

Wow, look what happens when you mix a little fancy with just shooting the stinkin' puck... Mike Ribeiro can be as savvy as anyone in the shootout, and there's no doubt that his craftiness puts a goaltender on guard and makes them guess wrong a lot. But he was too cutesy the other night against Buffalo. This time, just go down, sway a bit and fire.

Game, set, match in a tough one.

Ribeiro scores, but...

Mike Ribeiro's had great chances today and it's only fitting that he finally -- finally -- gets one. Darryl Sydor had the initial shot, and Ribeiro just had a deft little deflection on it.

And of course they couldn't possibly, possibly get a victory in regulation. Alexander Frolov gets open and he gets the rebound with about 16.8 seconds remaining in regulation, and we're once again headed to overtime.

This is the Stars' 14th overtime game this season... I believe they had 14 OT/shootout games in all of last season.

Sheesh

Lehtinen ties it

Jere Lehtinen has been all around it lately, so it was only a matter of time. And who better to cut through bodies and sticks than him?

That's what he does on this one, getting through Kings defenders Kyle Quincey and Peter Harrold to tie this one at the 11:29 mark. Mike Ribeiro and Stephane Robidas get the assists. And we're back to dead even.

Seven's a charm

I was all set to write how the Stars squandered seven power-play opportunities against this team, so of course they would find the equalizer.

Steve Ott takes the slick little pass from Mike Ribeiro, whose turnover a few moments before taht had the whole building groaning, and it's 4-4 as time winds down here at the AAC.

So it's 1 for 7 on the power play, obviously still a lousy number. But if the Stars can eke out a point here considering their start in this game, that's better than I thought they would've gotten.

Grossman going to the box for a delay of game. Aaah, of course there has to be drama.

No goal

Mike Ribeiro's flutter shot had a chance, on the power play, but it was called no goal on the ice. Video review didn't show anything to overturn it, so we're sitting at 3-2 still.

I didn't think it crossed, myself. it just kind of sat there, and even when Osgood's momentum carried him in, when he relaxed the puck was sitting in the blue. That isn't across the red line, so we carry on...