Bill Meltzer: Star Gazing: 3/1/12

Nobody can argue that this game was not entertaining. Had a little bit of everything.

Bill Meltzer: Star Gazing: 3/1/12
- Bill_Meltzer

Oilers are 4-5-1 in their last 10, not 2-6-2

Oilers are 4-5-1 in their last 10, not 2-6-2
- boysonthebus

Corrected it... looked at wrong place. I still had the 2010-11 standings page up to get the shootout records last year for Dallas and Pittsburgh. Didn't switch it back to this season to get the last 10-game record for Oilers. Thanks for pointing it out.

Nobody can argue that this game was not entertaining. Had a little bit of everything.
- Gunner Staal

Agreed. Only wish the Stars could have got the 2 points. I can see why Pittsburgh does not lose too many shootouts.

Agreed. Only wish the Stars could have got the 2 points. I can see why Pittsburgh does not lose too many shootouts.
- jerryb

On our board last night in the 1st period I mentioned how Dallas was in fact one team that could give Pittsburgh a run for their money in the shootout, and they did.

Ribiero, Eriksson, and Benn are an extremely tricky trio for a goalie to face in a shootout situation, even for Fleury. Its really rare for MAF to give up 2 out of 3.

I think a reason Pittsburgh does well in the shootout is because it is a fabric of their practices. They have monthly competitions where the "loser" has to wear a mustache for the entire month. They have fun with it and it helps pick up those extra points along the way.

Agreed. Only wish the Stars could have got the 2 points. I can see why Pittsburgh does not lose too many shootouts.
- jerryb

I understand why Gultuzan went with Ryder in round four of the SO, but he's not really a shootout type of scorer. I was thinking either Daley (he's a D-man but already has a SO winner this year) or perhaps even a surprise shooter like Tomas Vincour with whom Fleury is unfamiliar but who is shifty one-on-one.

Ryder was the "conservative" choice for round 4 because he's the Stars' top goal scorer this year but he's never had much success in shootouts (1-for-6 this year, something like 25% for his career).

Probably didn't matter anyway. The Stars 4th shooter needed to score just to keep it going, and the Pens hadn't even rolled out Letang -- who is often lethal in shootouts -- yet.

I understand why Gultuzan went with Ryder in round four of the SO, but he's not really a shootout type of scorer. I was thinking either Daley (he's a D-man but already has a SO winner this year) or perhaps even a surprise shooter like Tomas Vincour with whom Fleury is unfamiliar but who is shifty one-on-one.

Ryder was the "conservative" choice for round 4 because he's the Stars' top goal scorer this year but he's never had much success in shootouts (1-for-6 this year, something like 25% for his career).

Probably didn't matter anyway. The Stars 4th shooter needed to score just to keep it going, and the Pens hadn't even rolled out Letang -- who is often lethal in shootouts -- yet.
- bmeltzer

Could have went 100 rounds and Letang wasn't gonna be out there. Never returned after the 1st period

I understand why Gultuzan went with Ryder in round four of the SO, but he's not really a shootout type of scorer. I was thinking either Daley (he's a D-man but already has a SO winner this year) or perhaps even a surprise shooter like Tomas Vincour with whom Fleury is unfamiliar but who is shifty one-on-one.

Ryder was the "conservative" choice for round 4 because he's the Stars' top goal scorer this year but he's never had much success in shootouts (1-for-6 this year, something like 25% for his career).

Probably didn't matter anyway. The Stars 4th shooter needed to score just to keep it going, and the Pens hadn't even rolled out Letang -- who is often lethal in shootouts -- yet.
- bmeltzer

I agree. I think Daley would have been a great choice as Ryder is more a true sniper. But, the Pens have one of, if not, the deepest pool of shootout type scorers in the league and Lehtonen would have had to "steal" the extra point once past the first three shooters. However, in this case the shootout was really entertaining and well played just like the game even though a tough way to lose a point.

Nobody can argue that this game was not entertaining. Had a little bit of everything.
- Gunner Staal

That was an awesome game.

It's tough to not get two points. But someone has to win and I think the Stars will be happy pulling a point (or 3 of 4) from an elite team(s).

I was concerned there might be a little letdown after the trade deadline. Right now it seems this team wasn't playing to keep the band together, but more to get to the second season.

That was an awesome game.

It's tough to not get two points. But someone has to win and I think the Stars will be happy pulling a point (or 3 of 4) from an elite team(s).

I was concerned there might be a little letdown after the trade deadline. Right now it seems this team wasn't playing to keep the band together, but more to get to the second season.
- tootooisapunk

I am curious why Ott and not Benn was the trigger man on the 4 on 3 PP in OT.

Bill, No comment at all on the Nystrom hit on Letang?

Just curious what your opinion is on the play.

FTR, I dont understand how the refs could call a "roughing" penalty on that play.

51.1 Roughing- Roughing is a punching motion with the hand or fist, with or without the glove on the hand, normally directed at the head or face of an opponent.

Could have went 100 rounds and Letang wasn't gonna be out there. Never returned after the 1st period
- ryman1566

Ugh... totally forgot about Letang being knocked out of the game.

Ugh... totally forgot about Letang being knocked out of the game.
- bmeltzer

Truth be told, he has struggled mightily in the shootout this year compared to his track record.

Ugh... totally forgot about Letang being knocked out of the game.
- bmeltzer

I sort of thought you left that out on purpose to not invite any trolling. Fans on both sides get emotional when suspendable hits come up. Good way to invite more hits though.

Watching the slow mo replays, I really question how much of the hit was more on the shoulder/chest and if he didn't just graze Letangs chin. I can't stand JR but I have to agree with his assesment on this one.

Edit: Newy says the NHL has confirmed no disciplinary action for Nystrom.

On our board last night in the 1st period I mentioned how Dallas was in fact one team that could give Pittsburgh a run for their money in the shootout, and they did.
- Gunner Staal

The Stars actually haven't been any good in the shootout since Sergei Zubov went to the KHL and Jokinen was traded. Both of those rarely ever missed, which is one reason why the Stars were so high up in the standings coming out of the lockout. Since then there's always some player who you would think would be good at it who rings everything off the posts (i.e. Neal for two years and Benn for a good while). Ribeiro can be good, but he often tries to be too gimmicky and it doesn't often result in a shot on net. Richards' stats show him to be very good, yet he wasn't in Dallas.

Either way, that was probably the most entertaining game I've seen the Stars play this year. Hopefully Letang is fine, but what a load of a call that was. Maybe that is why Robidas reacted like he did when he tackled Malkin coming down the wing; you know, the carry over effect.