The Fifth Liners

Ever since Brett Hull's controversial goal to win the 1999 Stanley Cup against the Buffalo Sabres, fans in Texas have had a very up and down ride supporting the Dallas Stars ! But this season has held an even bigger shock, a rebuilt team that looks like it has the potential to shape into something special! Last years performance was neither glorious nor disastrous as Dallas came home 11th in the Western Conference and 5th in the Pacific Division, but their season was disrupted by the trade of Captain Brenden Morrow to Pittsburgh and Jaromir Jagr to Boston which deprived the team of their two biggest scorers and ensured they limped home to the finish! Tired with the lack of progress, former Stars hall of famer Joe Nieuwendyk was given the boot as GM and replaced by Jim Nill. But the off season however gave this team a major shot in the arm as Canadian National Team coach Lindy Ruff took control and offensively a well played out trade got many critics interested in this team as T...

The Boston Bruins won a dramatic late 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden last night in real end to end game which included two goals in the last 90 seconds. The Penguins started out very much on top with Chris Kunitz continuing his excellent run of form to put Pittsburgh ahead when his shot deflected off Dennis Seidenberg and crept underneath Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask on 6.33! But Reilly Smith tied the game only four minutes later. However the game soured when Pens D-Man Brooks Orpik had to leave the game after being hit whilst down on the ice by Shawn Thornton after a scrap broke out, resulting in a match penalty for Thornton! Bruons forward Loui Eriksson also had to leave the fame after suffering a concussion. James Neal then put the Penguins back in front on 13 minutes, when after being released from the penalty box, he deflected in Matt Niskanen's speculative blue line shot. In the second period, the Penguons failed to capitalize on several chances to ex...

I'd almost forgotten about  John Scott's challenge on Loui Eriksson  that earned him some quality time with NHL disciplinarian-in-chief Brendan Shanahan.  The seven game ban was given because of the illegal check to the head, injury and Scott's no history of supplemental discipline. Because no history is somehow worse than a history of bad hits.  Scott has already missed three games and will give up $26,923.05. This is more bad news for the Buffalo Sabres, who are currently last in the league, having only won two of fourteen games. 

July 4th seems to been a one with plenty of fireworks in Massachussets as today it was announced that Tyler Seguin, the Boston Bruins number 2 pick of 2010 has been traded along with Rich Peverley and defensemen Ryan Button have been traded to the Dallas Stars for forward Loui Eriksson and three prospects Joseph Morrow , Reilly Smith and Matt Fraser . This trade my come to a surprise to many Bruins fans as Seguin has been highly rated during his time at the TD Garden and currently his career stats currently stand at 56 goals and 121 points in 203 career games. Though on reflection for a second overall pick his career has begun at a rather slow pace and during the playoffs he hit the back of the net only once, but recorded the second highest shot total with 70 shots! But for a flagging team like Dallas, this could well be a major score and at only 21 Seguin could well re-ignite this franchise which is in dire need of goals after a season to forget last year. Loui Erikkson coul...