Stars look for consistency.

By Jon Gabrielle, Stars correspondent

Head Coach Marc Crawford barely had time to enjoy his teams hard fought 5-3 win over the New Jersey Devils Saturday night.

Stars celebrate win. (photo by JLujano_personal/flickr)

Shortly after his post game press conference started, he was asked about the Carolina Hurricanes and what his approach might be considering his teams inability to put together two wins in a row. Crawford, always forthright, reflected that he thought the team has played well on successive nights but haven’t necessarily seen the results.

The coach is right, sort of. On Saturday, October 24th, the Stars went to St. Louis and beat the Blues, 4-1. They followed that up by coming home the following Wednesday and beating the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3 in overtime at the AAC.

Those are the only two games this year that the Stars have garnered two points in consecutive games. The rest of the early season schedule reads like a litany of win one, lose one, including the last eight that have played out to that vacillating tune.

With the next to last place Hurricanes visiting the AAC tonight, the Stars look to get on a roll and develop some consistency.

But things might not set up as easy as the standings suggest.

All of a sudden the ‘Canes have won two straight. Despite their many injuries, including to starting goalie, Cam Ward, and star forward, Eric Staal, they are still made up of a gritty bunch that went to the Conference finals last year. Add to that that they have collected points in five successive games while winning three, and you have a team playing with confidence.

The Stars come in with some confident platyers of their own.

Tom Wandell played an excellent game against the Devils, scoring the game winner shortly after New Jersey had tied it at 3. The young Swede, a plus three on the night, took a pretty feed from Richards and finally banged home the puck on his third try from the side of Brodeur’s cage. His coach was impressed as well, adding, “he’s advancing the puck…and creating a lot.”

There were plenty of stars against the Devils. Brad Richards continues to prove he’s one of the premier playmakers in the game, notching 4 assists, giving him 20 for the season including one between his legs on Wandell’s game winner.

With two goals and two helpers, Stephane Robidas now has 6 points in his last 5 games and provides some necessary offense from the blue line. It also earned him first star of the game honors.

Robidas scores again. (photo courtesy Dallas Stars)

Marty Turco might not have been at his best, however the veteran keeper did make 31 saves and many of the timely variety. He also handles the puck every chance he gets, prompting his coach to laud his decisions. “For every mistake Marty makes with the puck, there’s numerous times he’s a tremendous help to our defensemen.”