Perusing some post-game quotes and here's Jamie Benn's assessment....

“We (expletive) on our first goalie and we (expletive) on our second."

Crude, but accurate.

Heika's blog from this morning...

http://starsblog.dallasnews.com/2013...el-moves.html/

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Been readin an article on Tom Gaglardi and his views after last night's debacle. Check it out....

http://starsblog.dallasnews.com/2013...ight-now.html/

A couple of things stood out...

Near the end we have this....

Glen Gulutzan is very much on the hot seat now. That last sentence above says much. While Gaglardi isn't going to step in and fire him, he really didn't rally to his defense either. He pretty much gave Niuewendyk the green light to fire Gulutzan. At the very least, if they don't fire him, he won't be around after this season when his contract expires, barring a miraculous deep playoff run.

At the same time Niuewendyk has been served notice as well. Your every move will be closely scrutinized, and unless things start to take a more positive turn your head won't escape the axe. I agree with Gaglardi in that right now isn't the time for a major overhaul in the front office, the offseason would be better for that. Gaglardi seems to be setting the right tone from his position as owner. He will be patient, not making rash decisions, but will demand results as well.

Coaching, now that's a different animal. All the mental lapses, breakdowns in discipline, etc, are all on Gulutzan and his staff. Yes the players have to step up and take more pride in their game, but at some point you have to question the preparation and game planning by the coaching staff. And it all can't be laid off on the fact that they're playing so many young guys.

The next 41 days are going to be very telling for the futures of a number of people within the Stars organization.

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More line juggling....

Whitney - Benn - Eriksson
Morrow - Roy - Cole
Smith - Eakin - Jagr
Nystrom - Fiddler - Roussel

Dillon - Robidas
Goligoski - Daley
Benn - Larsen

Lehtonen

Looks like that's what the Stars will roll out tonight.

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That was a much needed win last night. Gutsy as well since numerous players were battling "flu-like symptoms". Made for some interesting line juggling within the game itself as some of the guys were having to head for the trainers room during the game for attention.

Sitting just one point out of eighth at the moment, with a dreaded back-to-back looming. And it's the Kings in the second game. Another defining moment is at hand.

In the news, Jack Campbell gets the callup and Bachman joins Nilstorp in Cedar Park. Campbell could see his NHL debut in either Colorado or LA, but Mike Heika also speculated Lehtonen could go in both and the Bachman move may have been to get him playing time to work on fixing his game. Keep your eyes on this one, especially you Campbell owners.

Also from Mike, he was asked on twitter about Derek Roy and what could happen if they don't get an extension done by the trade deadline. Mike's guess is that a deal won't get done and he will be traded, but he did caution that that is merely his guess as of today. You wouldn't think that they'd trade Roy so soon, and after giving up Otter to get him, and after footing the bill for getting his shoulder patched up. Then again he is UFA and they have to keep him or get something for him. The spotlight is burning bright on GM Joe.

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Load up on one year proven vets and when you don't luckbox the express to contender'ville you end up with decent picks for guys that won't be staying anyways.

JAGR/ROY/?MORROW/?ROBIDAS There are a few 2nds 3rds and a prospect there.

Would be nice if we could pry MDZ outa NY tho. Other wise I don't see much that will be franchise changing deals aside from picks. Still a one year outa bankruptcy team here with decent group coming up the youth train.

RE: Ryder > Cole. Nice cushion for Morrows departure but even more than that Loui is free to be happy goalucky again. ( and he is already ) Ryders floating and lack of D play made it apparently tuff on Loui who is arguably the 1/2 player on the team, and easier for teams to read/play what should have been a good option 2nd line. Don't know if any one else noticed the looks of disgust shaking head and hands etc from Loui those last few games, who rarely shows emotions in negative tone. But Ryder blatently did not pass to him numerous times over the "slump" 3 times in one game, where he had semi contested lanes and Loui was wide open. Once on an empty net as well while Loui was first slumping so to speak.

So we get Cole tougher bigger faster 2way play and great hands. At 2 years. Better than picks and a prospect considering what all is headed out imo.

Glad to see the Dallas thread still breathing good job

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C- J Carter, Adam Henrique, B. Little, Riberio
LW- J Neal, Kovalchuk
RW- Hossa, Kovalchuk, Vrbata, Little
D- Chara, Ehrhoff, Goligoski, Souray, Zidlicky, Kubina
G- B Zilla, Vokoun, Montoya, Rask, Bachman, Lehner
12 Team 2-C/L-RW/Util/G 4D, G,A, +- PIMs, PPg,PPa,SOG,SHG,SHA, GWG
IR - RNH, Mueller

lines from practice today:

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ASKL - 10 Team dynasty,G/A=1,PIM=.1,+/- =.2 SOG=.05 (W=2,SO=3) Keep 12F 6D 2G 8BN + farm
F-Perry,Ryan,Giroux,Stastny,Ribeiro,Krejci,Plekanec, JvR,Bergeron,Fleischmann,Grabovski,Cammalleri
D-Letang,Chara,Edler,Boyle,Giordano,Gardiner,
G-Rinne,Crawford
Bench-Bernier,Reimer,Parenteau,Callahan,Downie,Kulemin, Meszaros,Nikitin
Farm- Namestnikov,Khoklachev,Rundblad,Despres,Jensen, L.Adam,Barberio,Galiev,Telegin,Hertl,Aberg

That one stung last night. The loss to Colorado marks the sixth time this season, and second game in a row, where the Stars have blown a lead of two or more. Those six blown leads have resulted in four losses. Unlike Monday night, the Stars just couldn't overcome their inconsistent play to pull out the win.

In spite of that, Jagr continues to own the Avs personally. Last night's three point effort marks eight straight games in which he has scored a point against Colorado.

I haven't been able to track down any info on Whitney's injury. He left the game with an upper body injury, but there has been no word from the Stars about the extent or whether it will keep him out of tonight's game in LA.

Going back to the opening topic, here's a bit from blog post by Tim Cowlishaw about Tom Gaglardi. It rings even louder and clearer after last night...

And that was before last night, which needless to say, didn't help matters.

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Couple of quick additions...

Mike Heika ‏@MikeHeika 15m
Kari Lehtonen expected to get the start in net for Stars vs. Kings tonight.

Mike Heika ‏@MikeHeika 15m
Stars recall Alex Chiasson from AHL. He's depth for possible injuries, illness. Should be in LA tonight.

That last could be a sign concerning Whitney. All I have been able to dig up so far is from Mark Stepneski listing Whitney as questionable.

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What?!? Two consecutive wins in the second half of back-to-backs. And a shutout to boot! Hey we'll take it anytime. You kind of had to cringe at the thought of what awaited the Stars in LA after choking away a win in Denver the night before. Add in the fact that a back-to-back going from Denver to LA is harder from a travel and rest perspective then a simple Edmonton to Calgary short hop. But they prevailed in spite of those obstacles, and if you get right down to it mostly due to Lehtonen's absolutely possessed one man performance.

A side bar to this is now the Stars are one point out of eighth place. Good you say, and right you are to say it, but this really puts Niuewendyk in an interesting bind. Are the Stars a legit playoff contender and therefore a deadline buyer? Or are they still a pretender and a seller, acquiring pieces and building for the future? And he has to do this while having his future as the GM evaluated by Gaglardi. No pressure Joe. To quote one of the more quotable personalities to pass through Dallas, Terrell Owens, "Getcha popcorn ready", cause this is going to be interesting.

Of note, Jagr's game winner was his 116th of his hall-of-fame career. The goal was also his 667th, putting him 13 behind Super Mario for ninth all-time. And if he catches Lemieux, Stevie Y and Messier would only be two and four goals, repectively, ahead of him on the all-time list. We'll pretend that Finnish shadow on his heels isn't really there.

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Alex Chiasson and Jamie Oleksiak were both re-assigned to the Texas Stars. Chiasson was called up to serve as injury backup last night in LA. Oleksiak's return means that Aaron Rome is most likely close to rejoining the lineup after his broken foot kept him on the shelf recently.

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