The Dallas Stars' season was saved on December 2. Yet that day seemed like, and probably was, one of the most infamous in the team's history. That seems to be an amazing assertion when the team won the game it played that night, 3-1, at Calgary with goalie Marty Turco stopping 36 of the Flames' 37 shots.
If you don't recognize the date, it was when former Star Sean Avery made his disparaging remarks about Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf and actress girlfriend (and former Avery girlfriend) Elisha Cuthbert. Those comments were dissected and discussed to no end on ESPN and other outlets, so it would be pointless to say much about what was actually said here.
It is worth at least wondering what would have happened if Phaneuf played for say, Nashville or Columbus, and Avery said what he did without the throng of Canadian media present or if the Stars weren't dead-last in the West at the time.
It's a sad fact about the state of the popularity of the game in the U.S. that the whole Avery saga has been the most high-profile NHL story this season (with the possible exception of the Red Wings/Blackhawks outdoor game). The only thing that the Stars should have done differently in the handling of Avery is that they should have let him play that night against Calgary in order to get pummeled by Phaneuf.
When the Stars signed Avery last July to a nearly $4 million a year contract over four years, he was promised to the fans as the gritty, but productive player that the Stars needed by co-GM Brett Hull. The season then began and Dallas hardly resembled the team that had stunned the Ducks and Sharks in last year's playoffs with awesome goalkeeping from Turco and timely goals.
The thing about the Avery signing, at the time, was that almost every single Stars fan I know was opposed to it. It especially made no sense to the casual Stars fans that watch maybe 15 regular season games and all of the playoffs (a group I consider myself in) who were aware of Avery's antics with the Kings and his disrespect of Martin Brodeur last year with the Rangers.
It's dangerous to jump to the conclusion that one single guy could have ruined the locker room and chemistry of the team so badly that the club who was two wins away from the Stanley Cup Finals could somehow now have made the same team the worst in its conference with just about the same playing group.
That seems to be exactly what happened.
In the two-month long Avery era, the Stars won just 8 of 23 games and had 20 points. In the two months and change since, Dallas is 18-8-3 with 39 points. Remarkably, Dallas has climbed 10 spots in the standings and is now in fifth.
The turnaround was accentuated last week on either side of a loss to Colorado, as the Stars beat Calgary with the same scoreline as on December 2. Friday, the Stars demolished the Rangers, 10-2, on the same day it was reported that New York could be interested in re-signing Avery. The Stars, ranked 20th in the league on the power play, racked up five goals on the advantage against the Rangers.
Moreover, Turco is once again playing incredibly after struggling with Avery in the lineup. In 21 starts in October and November, Turco gave up 3 or more goals 15 times. Since then, Turco has allowed less than 3 on 15 occasions.
Turco seemed to have an important role in the Stars choosing not to keep Avery after the NHL-mandated six-game suspension.
If you remember, right after Avery made his comments, Stars coach Dave Tippett was asked about what was said and responded that the media had made it a bigger deal than it needed to be. Then, Turco and Mike Modano spoke out very critically against Avery, more or less ensuring Avery was no more in Dallas.
And that skilled, agitating player Hull wanted so badly? The Stars have had him in the organization for eight years now, but Steve Ott is just now rounding into career-best form.
Ott has always been known as a guy who will give big hits, get into fights, and annoy teams, but usually that was all he was. Now, and especially after missing nearly a month with a broken hand because of a fight, Ott has found the right mix between annoyance and brilliance as he has had seven games in a row with at least a point.
The Stars still have huge amounts of work to do if they want to equal the feats of last year's group. But there's an infinitely better chance now than there was a couple months ago.
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