Eighteen years. Two hundred days. Four games in the books. Seventy-eight to go. That's the line for your Pacific division leader, Dallas Stars. They often say "it's a marathon, not a sprint." That's definitely been evident these first four games. Until last night's 3-2 victory over the St. Louis Blues, the Stars had scored two goals in each of their first three games. With that lack of production, that's where a team looks over their shoulders and hopes to find a goal tender who's ready for a challenge. At 3-0, a goals against average of 1.30 and a save percentage of 0.966, Kari Lehtonen is definitely ready to make his mark on the league as one of the elite.
Now, before we start thinking of sending the Art Ross trophy to Mr. Lehtonen's house, let's take a step back and realize there's 78 games remaining. But there's no doubt this team could easily be 1-3 and at the bottom looking up at the rest of the conference instead of being tied with Detroit and Colorado with 6 points. That won't last unless this team starts finding the twine 200 feet away.
There's a new system on the ice and with several new players, the offense will take some time to gel. The goal scorers will get theirs. Loui Eriksson currently leads the team in the young season in goals scored. Looks like the experts were slightly off that Eriksson would be lost with the departure of Brad Richards. Then you've got Ott, Morrow, Jedi Benn, Fiddler and Burish with their singles. These are the guys who have to slam it home...and they will.
The area that I'm most pleased with is with one of the newest Stars. He brought the most excitement to me of all our aquisitions this last summer. That would be Sheldon Souray. He currently leads the team in +/- with a +3 and three assists. In the practices I've attended, he has this presence around him; as if the rest of the team are in the presence of a legend...if I can be so bold. The man is huge. I just returned from the Frisco practice facility and during 5-on-5 transition drills, he held Eriksson down on the ice in the slot...with one hand; and he continued to be a presence, forcing one play to the perimeter.
I start every year saying that "this team" is special. "This" team is ALWAYS special. According to Bill Ollerman, they're OUR...DALLAS...STARS. The "experts" say we'll finish close to, if not dead last. These are the same "experts" who said this team will miss Brad Richards. This team has never been about prima donas. Even when names like Modano and Hull and Arnott were skating the green and gold, it was never about them. This is a "chemistry" team. A team that, given the right molecules, will bond together to create an element that is strong and unwavering. The "mad scientist," Glen Gulutzan has already taken the responsibility for the poor power play start. There's a time to call our your team, and four games isn't it. The players recognize that. They'll want to play harder for him. Hitch was the same way. Even when two compounds didn't come together, they still had a common goal. By itself, hydrogen is volitile. Match it with some oxygen, and you have the basis of life. This team will gel. This team is going to create an element that the league will have to take note of. And when the new owner emerges in a month or so, this team WILL FIGHT.
No comments:
Post a Comment