Stars/Jackets “desperate” in Dallas!

By Jon Gabrielle, Stars correspondent

For anyone following the western conference standings the past few weeks, it can hardly escape even the most casual eye.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are free falling.

The Thursday before Thanksgiving on November 19th, I watched a Blue Jacket team, comfortably in playoff position, dominate the Dallas Stars, 4-1, amidst murmurs in the Stars press box. Today, just over a month later, there are instead loud grumblings that can be heard from Columbus all the way to their downtown Dallas hotel.

Since that preformance, the Blue Jackets have laced up their skates 17 times and won exactly twice.

Accordingly, the prolonged losing streak has created some intense turmoil, well documented here on THW, within the organization. Fifteen losses in a span of less than five weeks will do that to you.

Desperate times may call for desperate measures.

Brad Richards (photo by wikipedia)

Yesterday’s team meetings here in Dallas among Blue Jacket’s brass and veteran players alike, adds a bit more backdrop to what otherwise is another important two point affair in the conference standings.

Nonetheless, the Stars, sitting tied for ninth place in the standings, have worries of their own.

Dallas has lost 9 of 13 themselves and their goalie, Marty Turco has been spotty at best.

CTV Olympics, the official home of the Canadien team said, “(Turco) has done little to distinguish himself this year in Dallas,” and called his play “mediocre.” Not good news for a team without a dominant number one defensive pair and one that has relied heavily on their goalie’s brilliance over the years.

And the fault cannot all be laid at the crease of the veteran netminder.

Turco must keep head up! (photo by cordey, fka Flygraphix/flickr)

First year coach, Marc Crawford, changed up his lines against San Jose looking for consistency but did keep the Richard’s line intact with Neal and Eriksson on his wings.

Richards continues to lead the team in scoring with 10 goals and 30 assists for 40 points. To put Richard’s season in perspective, he has 3 less points than the “face of the NHL,” Sidney Crosby, in 2 less games played.

Matt Niskanen, the 23 year old defenceman, and former number one draft pick, who usually logs 20-plus minutes a night, was a healthy scratch.

So one might look for more shake-ups from both sides tonight, along with the usual pleas for “desperation,” as it seems despite the Holiday season, neither team can afford to be generous.

Posted by Jon Gabrielle on Dec 23 2009. Filed under Dallas Stars, Pacific, Western Conference. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.