
Dallas will need to improve a fair amount over the second half of the season if they’re going to make the playoffs. Plus, an interview with Jim Nill, an Olympic hockey update, and more.
The Dallas Stars resume playing today, signaling the start of the second half of their season. As it stands, they are four points out of a playoff spot (and do not have a points percentage advantage), which means the team needs to shift it into maximum overdrive:
“We’re disappointed with where we are, there’s no question,” [head coach Rick Bowness] said. “That doesn’t mean that we can’t turn it around in the second half. We’re knocking on the door of a playoff spot, and it’s up to us to push forward and win a few more games in the second half.”
Bowness told reporters he will be relying on his team’s leadership core to, well, lead the way, both on and off the ice:
“Play your best at the most important time of the games,” he said. “[Wednesday] night is a good example, we need our leadership group to taking over. We talked this morning, you’re the guys that are going to be driving the bus and when we get into these important four-point games, we expect them to be our best players, it’s as simple as that.”
You can read more from Mike Heika here.
Stars Stories
David Castillo takes a look back at the first half of the season to try and predict the second:
My latest: The Stars’ First Half Only Halfway Answered Our Questions @DMagazine. Biggest change is the erratic shift away from their defensive identity. https://t.co/e8ulxuxro7
— David Castillo (@DavidCastilloAC) February 8, 2022
ICYMI, Saad Yousuf talked with Jim Nill about the Stars’ season, trade deadline plans, and job security:
“We’re all in on it here.”
“I think we’ve got all options open. We’ve got multiple plans for multiple scenarios.”Stars GM Jim Nill on remaining “all in” on the season, “open to everything” at trade deadline, Klingberg negotiations, more
Q&A + takeaways https://t.co/Y9pBo2R49a— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) February 7, 2022
Around the League
Only a couple of Central division games last night:
- In a “four-point” game, the Winnipeg Jets managed to blank the Minnesota Wild 2-0. [Arctic Ice Hockey]
- The Arizona Coyotes were, uhh, less successful, getting shelled 5-1 by the Vancouver Canucks. [Nucks Misconduct]
Looks like Tuuka Rask’s comeback attempt will be cut short:
Tuukka Rask attempted to make a comeback with the Boston Bruins this season, but he’s reportedly discussing his future with his family and the team doesn’t expect him to resume his career. https://t.co/jVJtWr73rd
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 9, 2022
Speaking of the Boston Bruins, Brad Marchand is getting an in-person hearing by the NHL Department of Player Safety for this attack on Tristan Jarry:
This isn’t good from Marchand in the final minute of the game. Punch + stick swing on Jarry pic.twitter.com/yrq9Ek8o4i
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) February 9, 2022
Nick Foligno, meanwhile, will just have a normal hearing after kneeing Adam Lowry:
here it was pic.twitter.com/Pj1CYXYzEb
— Mike Pfeil (@mikeFAIL) February 9, 2022
Men’s play for the the Olympics has begun — can the Russian Olympic Committee repeat as the gold medal winners?
Russia enters as the defending champions of the men’s Olympic hockey tournament and look like favorites again.
Can they win a repeat gold?https://t.co/S1UfdjoBDh
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) February 9, 2022
Here are some of the lesser known players to keep an eye on this tournament:
The 2022 Olympic men’s hockey tournament begins tomorrow!
With no NHL players, the door has opened for a lot of top amateur prospects and European pros to take their place.
Here are some key players @coreypronman has his eye on heading into the event ⤵️https://t.co/c7Ng7FkqTr
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) February 8, 2022
Meanwhile over on the women’s side, Team Canada beat Team USA 4-2 in the preliminaries:
GAME OVER! Perfect through prelims and a win over …no better feeling than that!
https://t.co/9B7BkBMnfi
https://t.co/NccisnlGBZ#TeamCanada | #Beijing2022 | @SportChek pic.twitter.com/MiAqwbkNVR— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) February 8, 2022