2005 Dallas Stars Preview
Welcome to the 2005 Dallas Stars Preview page. The NHL Hockey Season is around the corner and what better way to remind the public how exciting the NHL can be with a 2005 season preview from Maddux Sports. Remember if you are betting on NHL hockey look no further, as we are one of the few sports handicapping services that offers NHL picks against the hockey betting line and can help you be a winner this NHL betting season.
2005 Dallas Stars Hockey Season Preview
The Dallas Stars have something no other team has—Marty Turco in goal. Turco is affable and easygoing except when it comes to allowing pucks in his net. When it comes to letting opposing players score he’s down right obstinate and stingy. In his last NHL season the goalie played 73 games and won 37—placing second in both categories. He was one of only 3 net minders with a goals against average of under 2, and that same season he had the third most shutouts—9! In the four years he’s spent in the league, Turco has been amazingly consistent. His career GAA is 1.85. Each year the number of games he’s played has risen steadily.
The heart of the Stars attack is center Jason Arnott, with Bill Guerin on right wing providing the life-blood, and Steve Ott on left wing supplying the muscle. The 2003-04 season saw Arnott accumulate a total of 57 points over 73 games. The center can score (21 goals), and he can create scoring opportunities (36 assists). Guerin, a hearty veteran, played in 80 games for Dallas and split his 66 points evenly between goals and assists. He’s an amazingly constant player with three 50-plus point seasons in a row.
Steve Ott played his first full NHL season in 2003-04. In 72 games he scored 2 goals, had 10 assists, and was confined to the penalty box for 152 minutes. During the lockout Ott played for Hamilton in the AHL where he saw action in 67 games. His point total soared to 39 and his penalty time exploded to 279 minutes! Ott’s sort of a defenseman’s winger—feared more for his commitment to playing tough than for his goal making capabilities. Dallas would have the best of both worlds if this year Ott can recreate or better his AHL point totals while reverting back to his NHL penalty minutes.
On defense the Texas skaters have one of the best finesse men around—Sergei Zubov. In 2003-04 the Russian born player appeared in 77 games, making 42 points and spending only 20 minutes in the box. Zubov’s 35 assists placed him in ninth place among NHL defensemen.
Dallas is counting on making it to the playoffs. It’s hard to imagine them missing that mark with the level of talent they possess. However during the first round of the 2003-04 playoffs Turco’s goaltending prowess disappeared as Dallas performed more like a shooting star than a rising one, losing to the Avalanche 4 games to 1. If and when they get to the big tournament again, it’s essential that Turco continue his regular season stinginess. Giving away goals is no way to win the Stanley Cup.
