
Why is this happening? Matthew DeFranks wants to know, too. Plus, Sidney Crosby’s 500 night, dispatches from Beijing, and more.
The Dallas Stars ended the Colorado Avalanche’s 19-game point streak last night in the Mile High City. And once again, Stars fans are left to ask: Where was this team over the weekend?
The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks keeps notes, and he shared them in his latest article. Among them is this – the new checking line is…actually checking?
The Stars’ reconfigured checking line of Michael Raffl, Luke Glendening and Joel Kiviranta had a solid night despite matching up mostly with the Avalanche’s top line of Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.
On a night when the Stars allowed 33 shots at 5 on 5, the Raffl-Glendening-Kiviranta line allowed two shots on goal in its 9:07 of ice time, according to Natural Stat Trick.
And here’s some good news for fans of the Stars’ talented youngsters, which means just about all of us, at last count:
Even though Thomas Harley remained in the Stars lineup on Tuesday night, he remained off of the power play units. Harley runs the power play with AHL affiliate Texas, but with John Klingberg, Miro Heiskanen and Ryan Suter on the power play units in the NHL, Harley has not been needed..
“At some point, he’ll be there,” Bowness said. “He plays the game with his eyes up, and he has good puck skills. There’ll come a point where he’ll be on the power play. Right now, we’re ninth in the league. The power play wasn’t very good last game, but for the most part, it’s been good. There’s really not a hole there that we can put him in. If someone goes down, he’ll be given that opportunity.”
Matt has more. [SportsDayDFW]
Stars Stuff
DeFranks also made this observation on how the Stars handled special teams last night.
The Stars used a spread power play against the Avalanche’s aggressive penalty kill. This is from a few months ago, when they did the same to Carolina. https://t.co/jbVWqtMwlX
— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) February 16, 2022
Around The Leagues
In On The #Kill Taker
- Vladimir Tarasenko had a three-point night as the St. Louis Blues defeated the Ottawa Senators, 5-2. [NHL]
- The Nashville Predators’ slump continued last night as they dropped two points to the Washington Capitals, 4-1. [On The Forecheck]
The Pittsburgh Penguins had more to celebrate last night than just a 5-4 overtime win against their in-state rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers.
Sidney Crosby scores goal No. 500. The Penguins bench clears in celebration. pic.twitter.com/YRQPJfNtNo
— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) February 16, 2022
Unfortunately, there was no miracle on ice for the previously unheralded (and undefeated) Team USA men – but it was a great run while it lasted.
Slovakia stunned Team USA in their Olympic men’s ice hockey quarterfinal, tying the game in the final minute of regulation and then eliminating the tournament’s top seed in a shootout.
More: https://t.co/vL0mc1YSHU pic.twitter.com/v5FihTRU8s
— ESPN (@espn) February 16, 2022
And yet they weren’t the only presumptive hockey superpower to get ejected in the quarterfinals.
The U.S. and Canada are eliminated in the #Olympics men’s hockey quarterfinals. Slovakia, ROC, Finland and Sweden advance to the final four.
Woof.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 16, 2022
Meanwhile, there’s this extinction event on the horizon.
“Every time we go against them, we want to show them that they don’t belong on the ice with us.”
USA. Canada. Previewing tonight’s #Olympics women’s hockey showdown, the next chapter in one of the greatest rivalries in sports. https://t.co/JCNltnzkv8
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) February 16, 2022
Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park – And Beautiful Boise
The Texas Stars struggled on the road last night, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Texas Stars fell behind 2-0 in the first period and couldn’t overcome that early deficit in a 2-1 loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
More
— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) February 16, 2022
And you can catch up with the Idaho Steelheads in their latest news aggregation.
WEEKLY: The Steelheads finish up one road series and one season series in a two-stop trip through the Midwest following points in all three at home.#FeelTheSteel https://t.co/xuprfAKnO7
— Idaho Steelheads (@Steelheads) February 14, 2022
Finally
Jake Oettinger is the focus of more of that wholesome content you live for. Enjoy.
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) February 16, 2022