Brian Sutherby News

It was around 2005 when the Stars changed their strategy for drafting and developing players.

The Stars will have to plug holes next season on a budget, co-general manager Brett Hull said as the team held exit interviews and physicals with players Monday at the Dr Pepper StarsCenter.

NBC has released its playoff telecast schedule, and it includes a quirky start for the Stanley Cup Finals.

Stars second-year defenseman Matt Niskanen has embraced his opportunity. Niskanen has been asked to shoulder more of the load because of injuries to key defensemen Sergei Zubov, Stephane Robidas and Trevor Daley.

Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco stops the shot from Calgary Flames' Adrian Aucoin as Flames center Craig Conroy and Stars' Nicklas Grossman wait for more... Calgary Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff throws a block on Dallas Stars center Steve Ott as defender Adrian Aucoin pressures from behind in the first period more... Calgary Flames right wing ...

For the Dallas Stars, there is no putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. The fall has been too damaging.

Tobias Stephan's chances are growing dim - not unlike those of the Stars. Stephan, the backup goaltender who has struggled this season to make an impact on the Stars, allowed six goals on 33 shots as the Stars lost, 6-5, in overtime to the Phoenix Coyotes on Monday.

Eriksson has been the only Stars player who has been able to dent Bryzgalov this season.

Mike Ribeiro Kopitar has a goal and five assists in four games against the Stars this season, and Ribeiro has three goals and two assists.

When Stars coach Dave Tippett rolled the dice in the playoffs last season and put journeyman center Toby Petersen into a checking line role against the Red Wings' leading scorers, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, he wasn't sure what to expect.

Brad Richards walked by swiftly and shook his head as he declined an interview request.

Like his team, Mike Modano is just a little worn down. He tweaked his groin in practice Monday, played through it in the Stars' 4-2 loss to Vancouver on Tuesday and then felt it it stiffen up Wednesday.

Maybe fate is against the Stars this season. Missing Mike Modano , Brad Richards , Brenden Morrow , Sergei Zubov , Toby Petersen and Steve Begin , the Stars were in survival mode Wednesday night - and that was before they lost Brian Sutherby to boot.

Calgary's Jamie Lundmark, right, snaps a shot over Dallas goalie Marty Turco during the second period Wednesday night at the Saddledome.

Joel Lundqvist understands the pressure he's under. But that's not near as important to him as the pressure the Stars are under.

2. Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina: A goal and an assist, he still can be a great two-way player.

A flurry of significant developments took place in a chaotic game between the Stars and St.

Guy Carbonneau was fired as coach of the struggling Montreal Canadiens, hockey's most historic franchise that is in danger of missing the playoffs in its 100th season.

By BILL NICHOLS ST. LOUIS - Brian Sutherby had been sidelined for about a month when Anaheim traded him to the Dallas Stars on Dec.

Guy Carbonneau was fired as coach of the struggling Montreal Canadiens, hockey's most historic franchise that is in danger of missing the playoffs in its 100th season.