Since the Trade Deadline on April 3rd no team has been hotter or had hotter players than the Dallas Stars. Dallas has won five straight games since the trade deadline and fought back right into the playoff races of the western conference since being in 13th on trade deadline day April 3rd. The Stars latest charge has been led by a new group of leadership. Alex Chiasson has come up from the minors and been a force on the Stars scoring six goals in six games and riding a five game point streak entering Monday’s game, Vernon Fiddler led the lead in points since April 3rd with ten (2g, 8a), and Richard Bachman has stepped up since his early season struggles to win every game he has started since Kari Lehtonen’s latest absence due to injury. Dallas is fighting to keep it’s playoff hopes alive and Monday had to face the best team in the NHL which would be a big test for this new look Stars team. The Stars were needing a win to move back into the top eight with Detroit reclaiming the eight seed over the weekend, Dallas stayed resilient through out the game, but Chicago is the best in the NHL for a reason and they showed it tonight.

First Period

Keys to Dallas’ latest win streak has been their ability to get off to fast starts, and in this game that didn’t happen as Chicago got the first step on Dallas. Dallas was unable to help it’s own cause with penalty trouble as the Stars took two first period minors. The Blackhawks kept the puck in the Dallas zone for most of the period and Richard Bachman was peppered with 13 first period shots. Chicago goaltender Ray Emery barely got tested in the first only facing four shots on net. A big blow to Dallas offense also came in the opening period as Alex Chiasson left the game with a shoulder injury. The Blackhawks struck first at the 12:54 mark of the first period as Jonathan Toews tipped in a Marian Hossa shot for his 21st goal of the season. The Blackhawks dominated the first period, but the goal deficit was only one as Chicago ended the first ahead 1-0

Second Period

Dallas continued to hang on, but turnovers were costly for the Stars tonight. Chicago pushed their lead to 2-0 when Viktor Stalberg scored his ninth goal of the season at the 12:14 mark of the period. Dallas was able to cut the lead in half quick at the 14:12 mark Jamie Benn finally broke through Ray Emery with a wrist shot for his ninth goal of the season. Dallas kept the shots a bit more even this period only being outshot 9-7, and the deficit still at one goal as Chicago led 2-1 after two periods.

Third Period

It didn’t take long for Dallas to tie this game as Jamie Benn put the team on his shoulders tonight. Benn scored his second of the game and tenth of the season at the 3:07 mark of the period. After the game was tied Chicago took their game to another level and struck the Stars quick, Andrew Shaw scored his ninth goal of the season just 84 seconds after Benn had tied the game, and Niklas Hjalmarsson restored Chicago’s two goal lead a few minutes later. Marian Hossa added an empty netter at the end of the period to give Chicago their 5-2 victory in their season sweep of the Dallas Stars.

Game Extras

• Dallas went 0-2-1 this season against Chicago, and they get more of them next season as these two will be division rivals.
• Richard Bachman was definitely not the blame this game as he played expectionally well, but Chicago just outplayed Dallas.
• All three streaks for the Stars came to an end this game: Chiasson and Fiddler’s point streaks and Richard Bachman’s winning decision streak.
• The amazing season of Ray Emery continues as he is now 16-1-0 with a Goals Against Average of 1.91 and a save percentage of .923%
• Jamie Benn stepped up tonight, and the Stars are gonna need more of that from him and the other top players in the remaining six games.
• Playoff Update: Dallas’ loss tonight knocks them down to tenth place as Columbus took over ninth place. A good win streak for the Stars could push them as high as sixth.
• Three Stars of the Game chosen by the Chicago Media: 1. Andrew Shaw 2. Marian Hossa 3. Jamie Benn
• Dallas has two games off before they take on the Vancouver Canucks Thursday in Dallas, puck drops at 7:30

No need to sugar coat it tonight, this game was supposed to be a big one for the Stars against the best in the NHL. This was the first game this season in which the Stars had Jamie Benn, Ray Whitney, Derek Roy, and Jaromir Jagr all together in the same game and were desperately needing a win in general, but especially one at home. The Stars started off the game real well and then Chicago scored their first goal, and then it all went downhill from there.

First Period

The first seven minutes of the game went well for the Stars as they looked like they were make Chicago play their style of hockey. Dallas even had a powerplay opportunity in the first three minutes of the game, but at the 9:05 mark of the period the first big defensive misplay by the Stars led to a Chicago goal as a Nick Leddy shot was tipped in by Jonathan Toews to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. It only took 95 seconds for Toews to strike again as he put a backhand behind Lehtonen and just like that the Stars were down 2-0. Dallas spent the rest of the period chasing as Chicago was showing why they are the best team in the NHL right now. Chicago would add on one more before the end of the period as the Chicago offense crashed the net completely blowing by the Dallas defense and as the Blackhawks chipped at the loose puck Nick Leddy got it past Lehtonen giving the Blackhawks a 3-0 lead at the end of the first.

Second Period

Dallas didn’t help themselves in the second period with penalties and bad defense. Chicago made it 4-0 at the 8:01 mark of the period off a Johnny Oduya point shot past a completely screened Kari Lehtonen. This goal ended the night for Lehtonen as Richard Bachman would take over in net. It didn’t take long for Chicago to welcome Bachman to the game as he was tested early. Chicago got their fifth goal of the game when Patrick Kane made a great pass to Marian Hossa. Hossa would later add a powerplay goal and give the Blackhawks a 6-0 lead after two periods.

Third Period

Chicago got an early goal from Duncan Keith off a scramble in front, Keith fired a wrist shot from the point and made it 7-0.  Dallas got a powerplay opportunity and made the most of it as Trevor Daley got a much needed goal for himself and the Stars making the game 7-1. The last goal of the game was one for the highlight reels as Patrick Kane did a complete spin-o-rama on the Dallas defenseman and fired a backhand past Bachman making the game 8-1. Dallas stays on its losing streak and still winless on the homestand as they fall to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Game Extras

• Congratulations to Joe Nieuwendyk on being named to the 20th anniversary.
• Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi was in town for this game. Not a great show for the boss tonight
• Again I ask, where were the Stars tonight. Jamie Benn- 0 shots and a -2. Jaromir Jagr- 2 Shots -1.  Alex Goligoski 0 shots and a -3.  Ray Whitney 0 shots and a -2.
• Stars are now 5-6-2 at home this season.
• Well at least the Blackhawks were equal to both Dallas goaltenders. Both Lehtonen and Bachman faced 17 shots tonight and each gave up 4 goals.
• Official attendance for the game- 18,584. Third sellout of the season.
• Three Stars of the game chosen by Bob Sturm of KTCK 1310 The Ticket: 1. Jonathan Toews  2. Marian Hossa  3. Patrick Sharp
• Stars finish off this homestand Monday as the Calgary Flames roll into town for the final meeting between these two teams this season.

It was a big night for the Dallas Stars organization and fans as the announcement of a new contract for all-star Jamie Benn rocked the building tonight, the game on the other hand was a frustrating one for the Stars as a very slow start and offensive zone penalties killed what looked like a game that the Stars were gonna steal under the noses of the Blackhawks. Dallas could not hold the high power offense of Chicago forwards Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa as they lost 2-3 in overtime.

First Period

From the opening face off Chicago came out firing on all cylinders and the Dallas Stars were constantly chasing the puck and could not get any time in their the offensive zone for the first ten minutes of the opening period. Excellent goaltending by Kari Lehtonen and desperation defensive plays, especially from Trevor Daley and Vernon Fiddler, kept the score tied at zero. An early minor by Stephane Robidas put a dangerous Chicago powerplay out but the Stars and Kari Lehtonen had an answer for everything. The last ten minutes of the first period the Stars came to life and evened up the pace of the game that Chicago had set. With two minutes left in the first Jaromir Jagr took a hooking minor that would make Dallas close the first period on the penalty kill. A broken play at the end of the power play for Chicago gave Dallas a chance to rush on Chicago goalie Corey Crawford before the period ended. A set of chips and small passes from Derek Roy to Loui Eriksson who, with a big push of momentum shot the puck, Crawford looked to have made the save at first, but the puck went through Crawford and creeped across the red line with less than a second left in the period.

Second Period

 Chicago opened the Second period with a large amount of time in their offensive zone for the first two and a half minutes, but great shifts by the Dallas third and fourth lines stopped the Chicago momentum. Dallas forward Ryan Garbutt drew a penalty shot at the 16:27 mark of the second period. Garbutt attempted to go backhand on Corey Crawford, but Crawford made the save. Chicago dominated the time with the puck against Dallas and continually took shot after shot on Kari Lehtonen who continued to have an answer for every shot. Time in the offensive zone was made only by the third and fourth lines. A questionable roughing call went against Ryan Garbutt at the 13:12 mark of the second, but the Stars killed it off. Dallas once again capitalized on a big opportunity, Michal Rozsival turned the puck over to Cody Eakin in the Chicago zone who found Ray Whitney in front of the Chicago net. Whitney shot it backhand and put the Stars up 2-0 at the 10:41 mark of the second. Even though the Stars were up 2-0 they never established consistent time in the offensive zone. At the 5:51 mark of the second Philip Larsen was called for tripping and on the powerplay, and an attempted pass by Patrick Sharp went off the stick of Trevor Daley and in the net, cutting the Stars lead in half. The second period ended with the Stars up 2-1 but were outshot 18-8 in the second and 30-14 so far in the game.

Third Period

The Stars were able to finally get a little consistency in the offensive zone in the opening minutes of the third, but soon all momentum was killed as Ryan Garbutt was called for his second minor of the game at the 6:53 mark of the third which was the first of three offensive zone minors taken by the Stars in the game. The Stars killed the penalty, but were constantly chasing until the Stars got their first powerplay of the game half way through the third as Marian Hossa was called for goaltender interference. The powerplay went no where for the Stars as it was just used to take time off the clock. Shortly after the powerplay expired for the Stars, Eric Nystrom was called for boarding as it looked like Chicago defenseman Nick Leddy turned into the hit to draw the boarding call. Chicago used the powerplay to even the score as captain Jonathan Toews scored at the 14:07 mark to tie the game. A late penalty by Niklas Hjalmarsson gave the Stars a powerplay that would carry over to overtime.

Overtime

Stars were on the powerplay to start the overtime period, but twenty-two seconds into OT Stars captain Brenden Morrow was called for interference in the offensive zone which made the next twenty six seconds three on three and then a Chicago powerplay in which on the first shot by Marian Hossa the game ended as Chicago came back and defeated the Stars 3-2.

Game Extras

• Jamie Benn has signed a new deal, but due to immigration issues, Mike Heika has reported that Benn won’t be available Saturday against St. Louis.
• Other transaction news, the Stars acquired Carl Sneep today from Pittsburgh in exchange for a conditional seventh round pick, and assigned Colton Sceviour to the AHL Texas Stars and called up Tomas Vincour to the NHL
• Kari Lehtonen once again faced over forty shots on goal. Every game this season Kari has started the Stars have allowed forty or more shots on goal.
• Cody Eakin and Ryan Garbutt were top two in Dallas shots on goal as Garbutt had five and Eakin had three.
• Jaromir Jagr left the game in the third period with an apparent injury.
• Three Stars of the Game: 1. Marian Hossa 2. Kari Lehtonen 3. Jonathan Toews
• Tonight’s announced attendance was 17,868
• Stars play again Saturday as the St. Louis Blues come to the American Airlines Center.

Stars Daily (Photo taken by Melissa Grissom)

It certainly was a busy day for a Dallas Stars fan with all the news dropping today. First out the box today came the announcement that all-time points leader in Dallas Stars history, and highest scoring American born player in NHL history Mike Modano was announced as one of three members named to the US Hockey Hall of Fame today. He will be joining former Dallas Stars defensemen Derian Hatcher and his brother Kevin Hatcher as former Dallas Stars named to the US Hockey Hall of Fame. Also named to the USHHoF were New Jersey Devils GM Lou Lamoriello and long time NHLer and current color analyst for the Chicago Blackhawks and NBCSN Eddie Olczyk.

Press release and Mike Modano quotes courtesy of NHL.com

USA Hockey announced Wednesday that Dallas Stars great Mike Modano, former player/current television analyst Ed Olczyk and New Jersey Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello will be its newest inductees. The trio will be enshrined at a location and date to be announced in the near future.

The top overall pick in the 1988 NHL Draft, Modano, a native of Livonia, Mich., is the Stars’ all-time leader in games played (1,459), goals (557), assists (802) and points (1,359). He also had 145 playoff points in 174 games, each a franchise record. The 42-year-old represented the United States at the Olympics three times and helped his country win a silver medal in 2002.

“I never imagined playing for this long and being part of the game for a couple of decades,” said Modano, the all-time American leader in goals (561) and points (1,374) who helped the Stars win their only Stanley Cup in 1999. “I think the chase for the Phil Housley record [as U.S. scoring leader] and passing Joey Mullen [as top U.S. goal scorer] were highlights. There are tons and tons of experiences that you could go on for a long time listing.” -Mike Modano

In other news today it was announced that newly acquired Dallas Stars center Derek  Roy underwent shoulder surgery and will be out until some point in November. Tweets from Dallas Morning News Stars Writer Mike Heika broke the story.

Stars center Derek Roy, who was acquired in a trade from Buffalo for Steve Ott and Adam Pardy on July 2, had shoulder surgery Wednesday in Dallas and will be out until November, GM Joe Nieuwendyk said.

Roy was cleared medically for the trade, but upon a more intense physical in Dallas, the shoulder issue came up. Roy hurt himself in the preseasn last year and played through the injury. His plan was to play through it again, Nieuwendyk said. However, after deliberation with the medical staff and the front office staff, the Stars decided to get the surgery now.

“He played through it before and he could have played through it again, but we want the best Derek Roy we can get,” Nieuwendyk said. “It was a group decision, and we felt this was the best decision.”

Nieuwendyk said he could not answer any questions that speculated on a work stoppage, but it’s clear that a possible late start to next season had to be factored in. The NHL’s collective bargaining agreement with the the NHL Players Association expires Sept. 15, and there is a chance the season doesn’t start on time.

If that’s the case, then the games Roy misses could be reduced, and there is a chance he could miss no games before the season starts.

Dallas has replacement candidates in players like Cody Eakin and Tom Wandell who could play on the second line, but the reason they got Roy was because they were hoping to not have to scale those players that far up the lineup.

2012 first round draft pick (13th overall) Radek Faksa is a center who projects as a possible future NHL second-liner, and the Stars will have nine games to play with before they have to decide to keep him at the NHL level or send him back to Major Junior. If he stays past nine games, he burns the first year of his entry level contract. Faksa is not elible to go to the AHL this season because he is playing in Major Junior.

“There’s a lot to think about for sure, but we’re just concentrating on what’s best for Derek right now,” Nieuwendyk said. “We want to make sure he is 100 percent and ready to go.”

Roy is in the last year of a contract and will make $5.5 million next season. He then can become an unrestricted free agent after the season is over.

And in the final bit of Stars news for today the Dallas Stars have announced that the club has signed forward Brett Ritchie and defenseman Troy Vance to three-year entry level deals. Both were drafted by Dallas in the 2011 NHL entry draft. Via the Stars official twitter account.

The Stars have signed F Brett Ritchie and D Troy Vance each to a three-year entry-level contract through the 2014-15 season.

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) July 11, 2012

Stephane Robidas (Photo taken by Melissa Grissom)

#3/ Defenseman

March 3rd, 1977 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

5’11/ 196 lbs

GP: 75

G: 5

A: 17

P: 22

+/-: -5

PIM: 48

Contract Status: 2 years at $3.3 Million Dollars

Boston throws out Zdeno Chara for half of each game, Nashville has the dynamic duo of Ryan Suter and Shea Weber playing the majority of minutes on the back end, and down in Dallas we have Stephane Robidas who fills those shoes, every game he suits up knowing he will be going head to head with the best forwards of the opponent that night and obviously not the biggest player by a long shot, but amongst many players and coaches Robidas is noted as one of the toughest to play against and where he lacks in size he makes up for in heart in determination. This has not gone unnoticed as Robidas was voted TSN’s 2009 No Guts, No Glory champion (an unofficial award) for taking a shot to the face breaking his jaw in a game against Phoenix, but only missed one shift putting a cage on his face and logging more ice time than any other skater that night. Since the retirement of Mattias Nordstrom and the departures of Phillipe Boucher and Sergei Zubov in 2008, Stephane Robidas has averaged about 24 minutes a game and if you take every game Robidas has played since the 2008 playoffs that is almost 7,500 minutes of him taking a beating from big forwards and also handing out crushing body checks of his own.

Stephane Robidas has been with the organization for a long time in two tours of duty, including being traded in the 2003-2004 season to the Chicago Blackhawks for Jon Klemm and returning to Dallas as a free agent the very next offseason. He is second only to Brenden Morrow amongst active Dallas Stars in career games played in a Stars uniform, (632 of 799 career NHL games) and one All-Star appearance in the 2009 All-Star game in Montreal.

Robidas is a part of the aging leadership core in Dallas and in all those games and all those minutes his health really started to take a toll this season with injuries and often being exposed by other teams top lines and at the age of 35 with young rookies like Brenden Dillon looking for a spot on the NHL roster next season and possibly first round draft pick Jamie Oleksiak getting a look at NHL ice time some point next season will the Stars be better suited moving Robidas to a team that has a better spot for him possibly as a strong second or really good third pair defenseman, and moving on possibly making room for a free agent and moving the veteran leadership responsibilities to Trevor Daley and Alex Goligoski.