Just like old times?

There's something about this time of the year for me and hockey. Usually, hockey takes a back seat to everything else going on. Football season turns the calendar until the end of November. Work commitments in December makes the Christmas season fly by. Then World Juniors take center stage. By the time Wiarton Willie crawls out of his winter getaway, I'm about ready to start paying attention to the pro game and what's happening with my Dallas Stars.

So far this season, my interest level was waning a little more than usual. The Stars haven't been in their customary spot at or near the top of the Western Conference. A young defence, poor goaltending and a slough of injuries have had Dallas on scramble mode from the get-go. Injuries to captain Brendan Morrow, Sergei Zubov, Jere Lehtinen for a length of time and now to Brad Richards have kept the trainers in Big D busy. The fate of the Stars playoff chances may have taken a serious hit with the latest injury to Richards who suffered a broken wrist. What is with injuries and the two teams I follow anyways?

It wasn't until this morning that I realized the Oilers and Stars would be renewing hostilities tonight on the boob tube. So, off with some good company for a few cold pops, a basket of hot wings and a date with Sportsnet at a local watering hole.


Ho hum.....Make the final.......Dallas 4 Edmonton 2. At the final buzzer the scorers tonight for Dallas read Kris Barch, Ray Sawada (who?), Fabbian Brunstrom and Jere Lehtinen. What's wrong with this picture? No Modano, where's Ribiero? Other than Lehtinen, the other 3 probably were a twinkle in daddy's eye when the Stars moved to Dallas. Rivalry? Maybe years ago, but, this is a different Stars team now. It's hard to get excited by the offensive stats of those plugs.

The recent play of Marty Turco and the emergence of Loui Eriksson has pushed the Stars back into the playoff hunt. Will they be playing into late May this year? I doubt it. But anytime the Stars beat the Oilers, it's a good enough reason to drink a cold soda and eat a good basket of hot wings.

Cheers Marcel!

-Suds-