Five for Fighting

Modano will return next season

    Well, those few weeks on the beach were put to good use for Mike Modano.
    The Stars' all-time leader in just about everything announced today he will be coming back for next season. Modano is already under contract for next season, so as far as actual transactions, nothing changes.
    But it's an important decision for the Stars and for Modano. He will turn 39 on June 7, and he is coming off a year where he looked tired at times. So how can he address that next year?
    ``I don't think it was just me, I think it was the whole team,'' Modano said. ``I think the injuries forced us into some situations that we wouldn't normally be in, and that's something that I believe will be different next season.''
    When asked if Marty Turco being pushed to do too much was a good example, Modano said yes.
    ``Yeah, I think that's a good one,'' he said. ``You look at that, and that was part of the problem all of last season. You go in with a plan, and all of the injuries changed so much. I think if we can be healthy and we can spread the load around, we'll be a much better team.''
    Modano said his optimism about next season is one of the main reasons for his return. Well, his optimism about next season and his depression about last season.
    ``That's not the way you want to go out,'' he said of a 36-35-11 record that left the Stars out of the playoffs for only the third time in the last 15 seasons. ``I just think we're a better team than what we showed, I think we will be a better team next year.''
    Modano's decision also helps the Stars in the salary cap. As a player who signed his contract past the age of 35, Modano's full cap hit of $3.45 million will be counted even if he retires, Modano's actual pay for next season is $2.25 million.
    He had 15 goals and 31 assists and was minus-15 in 80 games last season. So is this a good move for the Stars? If the team is healthy, I think Modano can fill an important role. I would like to see other players get more time on the power play, and I think that would happen if the team was more healthy.
    What's your take?

-- Mike Heika

Is there still hope?

Ah, yes. If it has to do with staying positive you know it had to be me, right kids? Well, not sure where the positivity, on a scale of 1 to 10, is with the Stars right now.

The injury issues, coupled with the fatigue factor of those still healthy enough to play, look like they're finally catching up with this team. I watched from home last night, and I always gauge the team's performance on Dave Tippett's post-game reaction. If anyone watched last night, you noticed he was pretty compacent. No gruff demeanor, no one-word answers to questions (I've been in a few of those post-game chats. That's when you know he's really ticked). In other words, this team, what's left of it, is giving all it's got.

And it still may not be enough.

So, what do we think, folks... can the few healthy bodies left pull this one through to the postseason, or is it time to plan for those early tee times?

-- Tracey Myers

The pack is moving ahead

    Columbus is pushing itself out of the bubble teams after beating Chicago Wednesday. Anaheim and Nashville pulled the dreaded three-point game, with the Ducks getting the win and the Predators getting the point for losing.
    And, meanwhile, the Stars get nothing and have fewer games left to do something. It's not a great situation. It's not hopeless, but it's not a great situation. You guys have already spelled out a few things. Edmonton is on pace for 89 points. Nashville is on pace for 89 points. Those two are currently seventh and eighth in the West. Columbus is sixth and is on pace for 92 points. So that means the Stars have some work to do. Let's say that 89 is the magic number. Dallas at 74 points with 11 games remaining would need to get 15 points. That's a .733 points percentage down the stretch or a record of something close to 7-3-1.
    That's a lot to ask from this team right now. Could the other teams crumble and bring the number below 89? Sure. Do those teams have their own issues? Yep. But the Stars have to start winning games, a lot of games, if they want to make a go of this. I'm not sure if they have that left in them.
    ``You are seeing so many teams in the mix,'' said Stars coach Dave Tippett. ``In past years, you could predict things pretty well. We have set ourselves up with a big challenge now. We are going to have to scrape and claw for points now. We have to find ways to win. There are no excuses."
_Mike Heika

The Brad Richards injury issue

    I thought I would give this a separate blog entry today because of the interest and the complexity surrounding Brad Richards' wrist injury. Richards had a lengthy day on the ice, going through the morning skate and staying out for a little 3 on 3 battle afterward. He said he trudged through the morning skate, but that he felt much better when he was playing in the 3 on 3, because he was able to forget about the protective brace on his right wrist and let the competitive juices get flowing.
    That said, this is a really complicated injury. The wrist is fractured and the bone will take probably six weeks to heal properly. That six weeks is up on March 30, so anything before that is technically early. The wrist was pushed back when it was fractured the first time, and the brace will not allow it to be pushed back now, so that should help prevent further injury. However, there's still a chance to hurt it again. What's more, while he seems to be doing a pretty good job with two hands on the stick, he still doesn't have the strength to really make one-handed moves like poke checking or fighting for possession of a puck along the boards.
    That will probably be the biggest challenge, as Richards' right hand is the top hand on the stick, and it is required to do a lot of strength work in the course of a game. And even though the brace makes it sturdy, it does not make it stronger. What's more, Stars coach Dave Tippett said when Richards returns, he will probably be expected to play his normal 18-22 minute game. I can't imagine him killing penalties when he comes back, so that should cut back a little responsibility (he averages 2:08 PK time a game, which is tops among forwards), but he will be out on the ice in a lot of important situations and Tippett wants him to be confident that he can handle that load.
    So, where does that leave us? I think even Richards doesn't know. He won't play tonight or Wednesday. He will practice Thursday and Friday in San Jose and could be available to play Saturday against the Sharks, but even that is a bit of a guess right now. Much will depend on how much progress Richards makes this week and how the wrist responds to being pushed on days like today. I guess the bottom line for me is that even if he waits to return March 24 at home against Vancouver (the Stars have two days off after the San Jose game), that's still a week earlier than anticipated.
    I think the team and Richards want to keep that in mind when assessing his ability. If he plays Saturday, that's great. If he doesn't, it shouldn't be seen as a disappointment. _Mike Heika

Tuesday vs. Canucks

For the game tonight, all looks pretty much status quo from yesterday. Canucks are running their same lines:
    Sedin-Sedin-Burrows
    Demitra-Sundin-Kesler
    Pyatt-Wellwood-Bernier
    Hordichuk-Johnson-Raymond

The Stars are expected to go with Monday's practice concoctions:
    Ott-Ribeiro-Eriksson
    Morrison-Modano-Lehtinen
    Neal-Sutherby-Conner
    Barch-Begin-Wilson

Turco vs. Luongo
Canucks have won nine straight at home after losing nine straight at home _ never before done in the NHL.
Key stats in head-to-head (regular season):
Luongo vs. Dallas: 6-4-2, 2.02
Demitra vs. Dallas: 22 GP _ 20 _ 26 _ 46
Henrik Sedin vs. Dallas: 28 GP _ 3 _ 11 _ 14
Daniel Sedin vs. Dallas: 29 GP _ 7 _ 8 _ 15
Turco vs. Vancouver: 17-4-1, 1.72
Mike Modano vs. Vancouver: 66 GP _ 32 _ 45 _ 77
Mike Ribeiro vs. Vancouver: 17 GP _ 2 _ 8 _ 10

_Mike Heika

Eriksson for Selke?

Hey kids,

Yeah, I've been out of touch for a while. But I'm on my latest campaign: Loui Eriksson for Selke Trophy. Hey, we've been calling him the second coming of Jere Lehtinen for a while now, and this season he's been fabulous. His defense? Well, that's been there all along, and that's what the Selke is all about. So I'm starting the talk to put him on the ballot.

Do we agree or disagree?

-- Tracey Myers

Jere Lehtinen looks close to ready

It was a big day in Frisco for spring break kids (they were everywhere) and for couch coaches. Jere Lehtinen (upper body injury) appears ready to return after missing six games, and he was placed on the right wing with Mike Modano.
That's important for a couple of reasons. 1. It means that Brendan Morrison will move back to the left wing... and 2. It means James Neal will move to a different line. Tippett ran these lines in practice:
    Ott-Ribeiro-Eriksson
    Morrison-Modano-Lehtinen
    Neal-Sutherby-Conner
    Barch-Begin-Wilson
Tippett switched Barch up to the Sutherby line in the third period against Minnesota, and liked what he saw. He also could have Fabian Brunnstrom (upper body injury) ready for Tuesday's game against Vancouver, and could sub Brunnstrom in for Conner (remember, that Neal-Sutherby-Brunnstrom line was good against San Jose a couple of weeks back). If he does that, he could move Conner back to the fourth line in place of Wilson. Tippett really likes Conner's game right now.
So, do you like this shuffling? And do you have a better idea (Brunnstrom, Mark Parrish and Joel Lundqvist are your other options)? _Mike Heika

Tra's windblown Top 10

As in a hurricane? Get it? Ah forget it. On with the countdown:

    1, We have a winner. As in a second line to give this team some offensive production. The James Neal-Mike Modano-Brendan Morrison trio was a winner, producing nine shots on goal and Morrison's game-winner. The three just looked smooth together. So keep it together for at least three games. Please.
    2, Rather be lucky than good. My dad says this all the time, although Marty Turco was a lot of good with a little luck thrown in for good measure: 31 shots, 29 stops, two pucks off posts. Hey, as Turco said, "As long as it's not in the back of the net, it doesn't matter if you got beat, got lucky or made a good play."
    3, Begin the Beguine. Sorry, I'm using an old Cole Porter song to be creative. Probably failed. Anyway, great night for him and a hard-earned goal right on the doorstep. And he came with the hammer, too, recording seven hits. Grit all over the place.
    4, Mike Ribeiro's goal. Technically it was off Tim Gleason, but a break is a break. It was a pretty pass, anyway, and Ribeiro now has points in six consecutive games.
    5, He said it. "We were just waiting for some sort of break, nice bounce. To get a stick on that shot was nice to see, finally." Mike Modano on Brendan Morrison's goal.
    6, He said it, Part II. "I'm a big believer that you work for your breaks. Tonight we worked for our breaks." Coach Dave Tippett on, well, the breaks.
    7, Taking his lumps. Defenseman Trevor Daley was credited with a team-high four blocked shots. No word on how many ice packs he was wearing after this one.
    8, Now that's production. The Stars had three goals on 10 shots in the second period. Been a while since we've seen that, especially at home.
    9, Now that's a rarity. None of Steve Ott's teeth were harmed in the making of this production.
    10, Good, bad, indifferent? Where does your gauge fall with this team right now, folks?

-- Tracey Myers

Pipe dreams

The Stars will have sweet dreams of them tonight, as Carolina hits two of them here early in the third period. Aah, as bad as the breaks can go against you, they can turn around the other way, ay?

-- Tracey Myers

Second-period tidbits

We'll be quick here, folks:
    That period is exactly what the Stars needed...
    So was Steve Begin's goal, which I was surprised wasn't reviewed. Stars will take it...
    Brendan Morrison gets his first as a Star. And it was pretty, wasn't it?
    Chris Conner takes a big licking and keeps on ticking...

-- Tracey Myers