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Rising Stars?

StarsFever — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:18:22 +0000

Well, I guess we aren’t doing too badly, all things considered. We’ve got a winning record in in our last 10 games, Ribiero and Ericksson continue to produce, and we have a hot prospect on our team now in the person of Ray Sawada. No, we aren’t going to catch San Jose, but I think we should be able to overtake Vancouver and Columbus and stave off Edmonton and Anaheim. Of course, I realize that I’m saying “should”. I know that Sergei Zubov, Brenden Morrow, and Brad Richards are all gone indefinitely, but we’ve been strong as a team. I’m counting on that to sustain us.

I realize, too, that Turco has been a strong part of our winning…but he hasn’t been quite good enough to carry the team. It’s been the team, the team’s been the thing. I mean, it’s not like Turco is Thomas, Fernandez, or Mason.

Then again, the Stars’ defense has lagged lately. Too many chances, too many shots, too many soft players out there. Where is that team spirit that I was just applauding in these guys? We all know what it is–they’re getting tired. Winter drags on, the season drags on. Come on, peeps, we can’t give up and rest yet. We’re not yet in the playoffs.

Maybe they’ll take some inspiration from hungry youth.

“I know that’s why I am here-[Chris Connors'] wife having a baby –- and I just want to take full advantage of the opportunity and show them what I can do out there. I just hope I keep on playing this way, and stick around for a while,” says Sawada.

Do that, Ray. Show these jaded professionals how it’s done.

Are the Stars Coming Back Out?

StarsFever — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:54:40 +0000

Well, we’re not doing too badly here. 2nd in the Pacific, a solid 59 points, the fourth seed in the Western Conference overall. Still, there’s that little defensive problem…as in, we really haven’t scored quite as many goals as we’ve given up!

I know we’ve been surging of late, and we just pounded those yanks for double-digit goals in one game, but we’ve still got a losing record on the road. That ain’t good for playoff time. Turco’s GAA is nearly 3.00, which I think sucks. Our point leader only has 13 goals and is at a +/- of -4–helping make my point about shoddy defensive play. Yeah, yeah, I know a lot of you are saying Ribeiro is back and on fire, but let’s see him sustain this through the rest of the season and on into the playoffs.

Then there’s that Avery guy…well, at least they are getting rid of him, after they agreed to pay him over $15 million. I’m not really sold on the idea that the suspension was warranted, but then again the dude should have kept this mouth shut. We might have been doing better by now if we’d had his talent on the ice instead of on ice. He’s a great hitter and a potential 20-goal scorer.

Eriksson’s a good sniper over on the wing, but he’s pretty limited to that role; and Richards and Modano still look decent but nothing spectacular. Morrow’s out for the remainder of the season, of course. Can we sustain this recent surge in our balanced attack? I do expect us to win a seeding for the playoffs, but I would like it to be as high as or higher than it is now.