The Royal Rebound seems like ages ago. In theory, winning against the odds should be the trigger for good things. One would think the losing team would have the most issues post-mortem. Someone did lose their job in Star land just not the coach. The Stars made the atypical choice of firing the GM after that historic game. Even more unique, the Stars went on a tear anyway.
That Dallas winning streak was just what the doctor ordered for Tippett and his coaching staff. They got a one year contract extension from new Co-GMs Les Jackson and Brett Hull. Tippett and his staff had expiring contracts at the end of this season. Like the Red Wings and Cloutier, the Stars suffer from playoff-itis. It hits every April like clockwork. Perhaps Hull and Jackson jumped the shark with that move. Predictably, like gravity, things that go up definitely fall down ... hard.
The Stars came into the Saturday matinee on the down side of that ride and further challenged by injuries and a rough schedule with a road trip of three games in 3.5 days. Along the way, Zubov injured his foot against Chicago. Former Selke winner, Lehtinen, defenseman Boucher and shoot-out extraordinaire Jussi Jokinen are all hurt. The injury factor played even more to the Kings’ favor since the game extended to a shoot-out and Dallas generally utilizes Zubov and Jokinen in the skills’ competition that decide games.
In LaBarbera Kings Trust (Carla Miller) 
