The Dallas Stars scored three third-period goals in a 4-1 win against the San Jose Sharks at American Airlines Center on Friday.

Cancer sucks… Hockey Fights Cancer does not

Hockey Fights Cancer night has to be the best theme night, promotion, recognition, or whatever you call it, of the year.

All 32 teams have their own HFC night, and the NHL does a great job pushing it, including families, video tributes, and plenty of special moments. Plus, the players really buy in and do their part as well.

It’s great to see.

Unfortunately, the cause of all of it really, really sucks.

The more I cover the NHL and am around these types of nights, the more I see just how many people are affected by this awful disease. I don’t know if there is anybody in the world who isn’t in some way. Whether it’s themselves, a direct family member, or a distant cousin/ old friend, it rears its head in our lives.

And it sucks every single time.

In fact, the reason I am not at the game in Dallas tonight is that I am out in California with my mom, who is going through her own fight.

Our family has had a really tough go of it, health-wise, this year. And as much as I would give anything to change those test results for the better so that the people I love most could be fully healthy and out in the world enjoying their days, I am also grateful for the closeness these struggles have brought us.

I am truly lucky to have an amazing and supportive family. I am grateful for that every single day. And any challenges that come our way only bring us closer together. So if I need to be out here for my Mom or sister in law or vice versa, I know that not one person in my family will think twice about it. And that is truly special.

To all of those going through the fight, we are all in your corner. I hope you can lean on your support system like my family has been able to lean on theirs. And of course, I hope you come out the other side happy and healthy, ready to take on the world.

I FIGHT FOR MY MOM.

Who do you fight for?

Mikko Rantanen has turned (Victory) Green

“Don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” – A big green guy that was good but also bad sometimes, and also fought evil.

Well, you wouldn’t like Mikko Rantanen when he is angry and turns Victory Green. Trust me.

Rantanen has been front and center of the hockey world since his double trade from Colorado to Carolina to Dallas last season. Then he was the star of the first round of the playoffs agaisnt his old team. Now he is lighting up the scoresheet on a nightly basis and leading Dallas to an excellent record, despite some tough circumstances.

But that’s not what I want to talk about right now. No. I want to talk about his surge of penalties and angry play.

Rantanen is known as a player who will drag his teammates into the fight. This year, he has done that with his offense and his physical, animated play on the ice. Has he gone too far at times? Sure. It cost him a game when he was suspended during the Western road trip. But has his attitude and colorful antics also helped drag Dallas into the fight, especially when they are injured, tired, and not playing well?

Absolutely.

Tonight, he already has three minor penalties, as the trend continues.

Those three minors moved Rantanen back into the NHL lead for penalty minutes, jumping Nikita Zadorov.

But unlike most of his company on this list, he is still racking up the points all at the same time. That’s quite impressive, especially considering he has been on the ice a heck of a lot more than normal with all of the penalties and game misconducts.

To be honest, I don’t think this is by accident.

One critique Dallas often took under Pete DeBoer was that they lacked a killer instinct. They were great at remaining calm and level, and that often helped them overcome deficits and win a lot of hockey games. But, at times, it felt like they waded their way into games and lacked the blood in the water mentality to either jump on lesser opponents or separate themselves when they had the chance.

Maybe Rantanen is taking that on his own shoulders. What does that look like?

It looks like some big hits, screaming at officials, taking penalties (often from trying too hard), and always, always, always, playing every shift with 100 percent effort. That effort and attitude are contagious, and I have little doubt they have helped Dallas overcome their injuries and win a lot of games during a tough stretch of schedule.

Rantanen is closing in on a career high in penalty minutes. Maybe he could take fewer minors?

But also, maybe not?

Sam Steel is maybe cursed? But Steel, a missed opportunity

Get it? Instead of “still,” I said “Steel.”

Clever, right?

Sam Steel has struggled to find the net this season despite getting an incredible opportunity on the top line with some combination of Rantanen, Roope Hintz, and Wyatt Johnston. The missed shots and bobbled pucks on the tail end of great creative set-ups from Johnston and Rantanen have led to a clear lack of trust.

And it has cost the Stars some really good scoring chances.

If you doubt it, check out how Rantanen and Johnston didn’t even look in Steel’s direction, and instead settled for a low-angle shot on a 3-on-1 against the Rangers.

Steel is a bottom-six forward with underrated skill and speed.

The Stars wondered whether that could translate into making him one of those guys (like Kiefer Sherwood) who could pot 15-25 goals when playing with top players. So far, it has not. Steel has just three goals and nine points in 28 games. Meanwhile, his linemates (Johnston, Hintz, and Rantanen) have combined for 37 goals.

I think Steel is the perfect bottom-six player who can bring a bit more offense than your usual fourth-liner. But I also think it may be time to experiment with other options at the top of the lineup. Unless the Stars believe he has helped bring out the offense in his linemates and don’t care about the other stuff?

Amazing how hockey works sometimes… No more than two minutes after I finished writing this section and tweeted about it (lol), Sam Steel scored and gave Dallas the 2-1 lead. It truly doesn’t change my opinion or all of the above, but I do give Steel a ton of credit for sticking with it and basically pitchforking a puck over the line after two more chances.

Huge goal for Steel and Dallas. And Rantanen added another to seal the victory. Again.

Their 19 wins are tied with Colorado for the most in the NHL.