I happened to catch the pre-game show on WBAP radio on the way home from work, and Ralph, quoting Razor, said, “The first think you have to do when you find yourself in a hole, is to stop digging.”
Hopefully, that’s what they’ve done tonight. A really nice win over the Minnesota Wild tonight, and they looked like their old selves.
Turco had a really good game. He made a great save on Gaborik who came at him on a breakaway as he left the penalty box late in the first period. He had some really good saves toward the end of the game, too, when the Wild were really pressing to score. Turco’s been kind of up and down lately. It’s games like these that make the last game he played, where he had to be pulled, all the more irritating. If we didn’t know what he could do, it’d be a lot less frustrating when he fails to do it.
Ribeiro had a great game on the day he signed a new deal. He had a breakaway early in the first period. As he’s going into the zone, I was yelling at him to keep going. Don’t slow down! He did keep going, got hauled down by a defender and got a penalty shot. He didn’t score on it, but it was still a good play.
I’m glad they signed him. I don’t have a problem with the money. Assuming he doesn’t tank now that he got his money (and I am assuming that), I think he’ll be good for the team for a long while. He’s young. His game could still improve quite a bit. Morrow will be here a while, too, so if they can keep up their chemistry, things could be good for quite a few years.
Morrow was up closer to the net this game. He mentioned in an interview that his goal was to go back to his niche, in front of the net. I hope his feelings weren’t hurt by some of the stuff I’ve said about how he should stop trying to be like Ribs and go back to being like Brenden. But if it makes him do that, I’m good with it.
Just about everybody had a good game. Matt Niskanen got another goal against his hometown team. Jeff Halpern was about to make a fancy move and just lost the puck, but it drifted right to Niskanen as he snuck in from the point and he shot it and scored. Very heady play by Nisky.
Mittens got two goals. He’s really looking good. For his first goal, he wings it on goal, with Morrow and a Wild player between him and the net, screening the goalie. Then, for the other goal, he’s standing by the net after Ribs has just knocked down Johnsson and taken the puck from behind the net. Ribs swings around and passes the puck across the crease to Mittens. He has to stop it and shoot it and still has time to get it past the goalie.
The Modano/Ott/Halpern line did some good work, too. Modano was knocking people down and doing that frantic stick work that I love so much. He’s always startling the opposition player by skating up to him and lifting his stick then taking the puck away. He’s so aggressive in the corners, waving and clacking his stick until he has the puck for himself. Ott has really been doing well all season. He’s become a really good penalty killer and he makes very good defensive plays. He’s not just knocking into people any more. He’s using his stick to steal the puck and he’s gotten quite a few shorthanded opportunities just from breaking up passes.
I noticed several great plays by Stephane Robidas, the kind that just don’t show up on the stats. I can only assume that the coaching staff notices these things, too. For example, in the first period, he knocks a stick out of the way before a Wild player gets a shot off right up next to Turco, then he jumps up and knocks the puck out of danger with his glove.
Penalty kill was still perfect. It’s a joy to watch.
It’s games like this that make me love the Stars. After coming off a losing streak, they play well and win it, and it just makes me so happy. I am slightly delirious with joy right now.
Hagman played really well tonight too. During the PK’s he was doing a little stick dance that made me giggle.
All in all, all our players played really really well tonight. Hopefully we can keep that up for our game against the Blackhawks tomorrow!
I love Hagman’s stick dance! I think that kind of stick work is part of what’s improved their PK. They all seem to have added some stick moves during the PK.
Hagman got that breakaway at one point, too (was it shorthanded?). He looked like he was hoping to do that sideways backhand shot, but the defender caught up to him.
I can’t remember lol I was seriously way too distracted at the game last night by Chris Conner.
I wondered if y’all knew where they were sitting! He’s pretty cute in street clothes isn’t he? (And with his teeth in.)
Did you sit near them?
No lol but since I knew the Iowa Stars were going to be at the game, they weren’t hard to find. I found them before I’d even sat down, just the big group of guys with suits on lol So I found Chris Conner in that crowd pretty quick. We were in 318 and they were in 110.
And oh ya, he definitely looks good in street clothes, especially suits.