The Dallas Stars are playing so well over the past month that it's almost become repetitive to keep blathering on and on about their improved penalty kill (88% in the last 15 games), formidable goaltending and scoring depth as the Stars have charged to the top of the Western conference.
In the past month, they are 11-3-2 and have climbed to a perch I never thought they'd reach when the season began. They're 10-0-2 in their last twelve at home and have seven more wins after 34 games than they did last season. Like their AAC co-tenants, the Dallas Mavericks, the Stars have provided their fans with almost nothing but winning hockey and it looks like patrons are realizing it and heading to the rink; attendance is ___ over the last ten home games.
They failed to pick up a point in a game only twice in their last fifteen games.
They've beaten division leaders Detroit and Montreal in succession.
Even their once anemic power play has rounded in to shape and scored goals in six straight games.
The squad is as cohesive and single-minded in purpose as any team in the league, and it has been the leadership of their captain recently that has really pushed them to the top spot in the conference. Brenden Morrow has been a beacon of determination and focus over the past five games; it's almost as though the puck that demolished his nose in the San Jose game propelled him to another level.. After surgery, Morrow was in the lineup against the Sharks just 3 days later and didn't miss a shift. In fact, he's scored three goals since getting his schnoz rearranged and donning the fishbowl.
Head coach Marc Crawford said it best: “There’s no two ways about it. He’s uncomfortable. We’re sore for him just watching him. But that’s leadership. He’s going out and leading by example. That really spirits on everybody else. You can’t help but be motivated when you see your captain come out and play the way that he does.”
It's no wonder that he's simply referred to as The Captain when Stars fans and announcers are discussing him these days.
By Scott Rozsa
srozsa1@swbell.net
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