A measure of redemption

While Wednesday's opening night victory over the Colorado Avalanche didn't fully erase the pain of being knocked out of the playoffs by them, it sure felt good to get the best of the Avs again. The man who took a lot of the blame in the Stars' early exit (whether deservedly so or not) was outstanding in net, as Marty Turco kept his mates in the game despite being bombarded through 2 periods. Then in OT he made a play that few goalies make as he fed a perfect pass to Darryl Sydor who had just left the penalty box to spring him for the game winning breakaway goal.

The 3-2 win was reminiscent of last year's opener against LA, only this time the comeback wasn't quite as severe. In the first period it was all Colorado though as the Avs fired 22 shots on goal, aided by 8 minutes of power play time. It was on the power play where they scored the only 2 goals of the night, making good on both penalties in a 2-man advantage.

Turco stood tall, and at times on his head as the old hockey adage goes, to give the Stars a glimmer of hope entering the 3rd period still trailing by only two. That glimmer turned into a full ray of sunshine barely two minutes into the period as Mike Modano and Loui Eriksson scored to knot the game at 2.

At the end of regulation, Darryl Sydor chopped the stick of an Avalanche player and was called for slashing as time ran out. Having served his time, he left the box and began to skate across ice to the Stars bench when Turco noticed him and hit him perfectly at the opposing blue line for the breakaway game winner.

(Check out the highlights of the game)

The Stars will now return home to open the home schedule tomorrow night against the New Jersey Devils, and familiar face Jamie Lagenbrunner. (The Devils roster also contains former Stars Brad Lukowich and Richard Matvichuk who is on injured reserve). Should be a rowdy crowd. Hopefully the team will feed off the crowd and get off to a fast start, unlike the lethargic beginning to Wednesday night's contest.

After tomorrow night, the Stars will head out on a tough divisional road trip as they play two games against the Kings before facing off against the new look Anaheim Ducks and the dangerous San Jose Sharks.

Notes & Observations:

1) A healthy Eric Lindros can take the Stars a long way this year. He assisted on Modano's goal in the 3rd Wednesday and almost set up another one to Modano later in the period. For a man of his size, he's got great hands, especially in traffic, and still has the skills that made him such a dominating player. He had a solid first game as a member of the Stars and if he continues to play this way will prove to be a steal by GM Doug Armstrong.

2) Matthew Barnaby will be a fan favorite in Dallas. The on-ice audio stuff of him that Versus showed during the broadcast was great, as was the shot of him screaming to his teammates on the bench before the beginning of the 3rd. This team needs a guy like him. He also got into a classic Bam Bam type scrap in the game in which he was content to let his opponent tire himself out, all the while shaking his head telling the linesmen to stay out, and then getting a couple of shots in toward the end.

3) Newly acquired center Mike Ribeiro should make his Stars debut Saturday night as he has obtained his immigration clearance. Where he'll play is still up in the air. He practiced Thursday in between Jere Lehtinen and Jussi Jokinen but that could be due to Modano missing practice will getting treatment for back spasms. However, it's possible that Tippett intends to use Ribeiro to center that line and let Modano skate with Brenden Morrow and Eric Lindros - a trio that had some success against Colorado in what was a dominating 3rd period for the Stars.

4) Congrats to Loui Eriksson on scoring his first NHL goal. The kid was all smiles after banging home a layup set up nicely by a beauty of a feed from Stu Barnes from the corner. He will have to enjoy the memories of it from Iowa though as he has been sent back down to the minors to clear room for Ribeiro on the roster. Looking forward to seeing him back soon.

Why today doesn't suck in puck history

October 6, 1992 - Mario Lemieux began a team-record 12 game goal scoring streak in the Penguins' 3-3 tie against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. (Facts provided by the Hockey Hall of Fame)