To nobody’s real surprise, the Pacific Division is slowly becoming a three-team race. Unfortunately for the Dallas Stars (27-18-5 through Jan. 19), the Anaheim Ducks are the hottest team in hockey, now that defenseman Scott Niedermayer is back, and had leapfrogged Dallas to currently claim the top spot.
Anaheim was playing .500 hockey until Niedermayer, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy for the Ducks’ Stanley Cup run last season, returned Dec. 16.
A recent swoon by the San Jose Sharks has allowed the Stars to jump back into second place in the division, but Dallas is going to have to play terrific hockey down the stretch if they want to keep pace with Anaheim.
Road Trip Difficult
The Stars took part in their second-longest road trip of the season in mid-January, traveling to Chicago, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose. A pedestrian 2-2-1 record prevented Dallas from gaining much traction.
The Stars picked off the Blackhawks 3-1 on Jan. 9, behind two goals from forward Antti Miettinen and 18 saves from Marty Turco. Forwards Mike Ribeiro and Brendan Morrow each chipped in two assists.
Dallas ran into one of the better home teams in the league and a hot goalie in Manny Legace as they fell 4-2 to St. Louis Jan. 10. Ribeiro had a goal and an assist.
Despite scoring two goals in 16 seconds early in the first period, Dallas allowed the Kings to jump back into their Jan. 12 contest by allowing two Los Angeles goals in just over a minute. A 5-on-3 power play goal by defenseman Matt Niskanen, Dallas’ second such goal in the game, ensured the Stars would get a point, but Turco was unable to stop a shootout attempt by Patrick O’Sullivan, and the Stars lost 4-3.
Niedermayer made his presence felt against Dallas with a goal and two assists, leading to a 4-2 Anaheim win Jan. 15. The game capped a stretch in which Dallas lost seven of nine games.
Despite having one of the most lively crowds in the NHL and the best road record in the league, San Jose has one of the league’s worst home records. The Stars came out on top in their second crucial division match-up on Jan. 17, defeating the Sharks 4-2.
Zubov, Niskanen All-Stars
Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov was named as a reserve to the Western Conference All-Star team after posting four goals and 31 assists in 46 games, and leading the Stars in ice time.
However, with Zubov battling some nagging injuries, it is unlikely he will take part in the All-Star Game Jan. 27.
Rookie defenseman Matt Niskanen was named as one of the Western Conference’s eight representatives for the YoungStars Game Jan. 26. The YoungStars game will have a different feel than in years’ past, as it will be a three-on-three event held against All-Star goalies.
Niskanen has been one of the most dependable players on the team, leading the team in plus/minus rating, and appearing in every game through mid-January. Niskanen has also shown a good offensive touch, posting five goals and 12 assists in his 50 games.
Stars Pick Up Defenseman
The Stars made a minor trade on Jan. 15, picking up defenseman Dan Jancevski from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for right wing Junior Lessard. Jancevski will report to the Stars’ AHL affiliate in Iowa.
Jancevski, 26, has posted four goals and 16 assists in 37 games for the Norfolk Admirals this season, and was scoreless in two games for the Lightning in a brief call-up. He was drafted in the second round by the Stars in 1999, and served as the Iowa Stars’ captain for their inaugural season in 2005-06, when he posted 38 points in 77 games.
Lessard, 27, had 10 goals and 11 assists in 36 games with Iowa this season, and went scoreless during a brief call-up with Dallas. He has spent most of his time in the AHL the last three seasons, netting 64 goals and 68 assists with Iowa and the Houston Aeros, along with two goals in six games in two other call-ups to Dallas.
Injuries Still An Issue
The team’s leader in ice time, Zubov, has been battling a nagging foot injury that prompted the team to get him an MRI. He’s missed four of 10 games trying to play through the pain.
He joins forwards Jere Lehtinen and Jussi Jokinen and defenseman Philippe Boucher on the shelf.
Both Lehtinen, who was been averaging about a point per game when he got hurt, and Jokinen, who is one of the league’s best shootout specialists, are aiming for a post-All Star Game return.
Boucher, who had shoulder surgery Dec. 5, will try to return by the end of February, but could be out as late as March.
Shooting Stars
"He looked like ‘Hungry, Hungry Hippos’ out there,"
– Steve Ott, referring to teammate Mike Smith following Dallas’ 3-1 win over Columbus Jan. 19.
"At this level, you can’t be doing too much. I know what not to do. You have to stay within your boundaries."
– B.J. Crombeen, following his NHL debut Jan. 19 in a 3-1 win over Columbus.
"It means a lot. I’ve been working all my life for this. Most important though is that I am staying in Dallas. That was my goal all along – to sign here and not wait until the summer. My family and I have made a home here and we love it."
– Mike Ribeiro, after signing a 5-year, $25 million contract to remain with the Stars.
"Any time you see one of your guys laying on the ice, you don’t let that happen. Especially with your captain."
– Trevor Daley, referring to the 17 minutes in penalties he took trying to make up for a from-behind hit on Stars captain Brendan Morrow during Dallas’ 4-2 win over San Jose Jan. 17.
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