Finally, hockey season is here. Show of hands: Who's leaving work early to catch the early games?
Anyway, the nation's best newspaper at covering the NHL -- USA Today -- has an awesome 12-page special section today. Some of the highlights, as they pertain to your Dallas Stars:
- None of the seven expert panelists pick the Stars to win the Pacific. It's either Anaheim or San Jose. Two picked Anaheim to win the Cup. Two others picked Buffalo. In today's Dallas Morning News (www.dallasnews.com ; there's a nice one-page league analysis on 8C), beat writer Mike Heika picks the Stars to finish sixth in the west and win a first-round series against Anaheim before losing to San Jose. At least it's not the Avs, who he predicts to miss the playoffs. The Star-Telegram's David Sessions picks the Stars fourth in the west.
- Reporter Kevin Allen calls Turco the fifth-best goalie in the league, "although some might take a rising star" such as Cam Ward, Ryan Miller or Henrik Lundqvist. His top four are Brodeur, Kiprusoff, Luongo and Vokoun.
- Allen, asked who's the best all-around U.S.-born forward, says Mike Modano can "still be the best show in the big top."
- Two of seven panelists say Pittsburgh will "make the most noise" this year among teams that missed the playoffs a year ago. (We know this is not a Stars-related item, but we mention for one Komet who will absolutely hate it. You know who you are.)
- Preseason odds: Danny Sheridan rates Dallas as 11:1 to win the Cup. Ottawa is the odds leader at 8:1. Anaheim is 12:1. Curious, huh?
- USA Today's overall prediction for the Stars: Will be less gritty without Arnott and Guerin. Didn't land a big free agent. In sum, "This edition isn't flashy enough to move Terrell Owens off the front of the Dallas sports section. But it's good enough to make the playoffs."
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2006-10-03-bonus-cover_x.htm
Questions of the Day: What's your prediction for the Stars? Who wins the Cup?
4 comments:
Stars Finish 2nd in the Pacific. Make 6th Seed in the playoffs.
Carolina Skates the Cup
the stars will roll over SJ and Anaheim just like most other seasons. Depth wins games and championships, and the SoCal teams don't have it.
woohoo~ stars are undefeated! i smell a cup
SJ is nocal not socal, but who's keeping track? sharks and canucks will battle for west.
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