Kari Lehtonen’s year off the NHL ice has been a blessing.

But the flip side is Lehtonen, who was acquired from Atlanta in a trade Tuesday, will jump into the thick of the Western Conference playoff race with only five games of minor league play on a recent conditioning assignment.

And while the Stars are excited about what they have in the 26-year-old Finn who was taken second in the 2002 NHL draft, Lehtonen realizes the challenge is not just to play a game but to play regularly.

“That’s what I have to be working on,” he said.

Lehtonen flew to Phoenix on Friday and was part of a team dinner. He worked out Saturday morning with Stars goalie coach Mike Valley, and he said he will use the Olympic break to get ready for his Stars debut.

The league is shutting down two weeks for the Olympics, and players cannot work out in team facilities until Feb. 24. All three Stars goalies are expected to report to Frisco that day and start working out in preparation for the March 2 game against the Kings. Because of the compressed schedule caused by the Olympic break, the Stars will finish the season with 21 games in 40 days.

Click here to read the full article – By Dallas Morning News

Dallas Stars License Plate Frame

Dallas Stars License Plate Frame

Dallas Stars License Plate

Marty Turco punched diligently at his cellphone Wednesday, checking for updates.

“Haven’t heard a word,” Turco said with a slight smile, “But you never know.”

The man who holds pretty much every Stars franchise goaltending record during the regular season, and is scheduled to play his 498th NHL game tonight against the Flames, is trying to take in stride the news that the Stars acquired goalie Kari Lehtonen from Atlanta in a trade Tuesday. Lehtonen has battled injuries, but he is 26 and a former second overall pick in the 2002 draft — which reduces the chances of Turco re-signing with the Stars.

Now the question is whether Turco might be traded as first-year general manager Joe Nieuwendyk tries to shape the roster for now and for the future. Turco said he has no idea what might happen next, and that he will try to put that out of his mind while hoping to get the Stars in position to challenge for a playoff spot.

Click here to read the full article – By Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Stars Youth Primary Logo T-Shirt

Dallas Stars RBK Edge Premier NHL Team Color Jersey

Dallas Stars Blockade Leightweight Jacket

The Houston Texans will pick up the $10 million option bonus payment in the contract of Pro Bowl MVP quarterback Matt Schaub, according to a league source.

The option will be picked up as early as Thursday and no later than Friday. Once the Texans officially notify Schaub of this with a letter, the quarterback will be obligated to Houston for the next three seasons at roughly $28 million.

The move comes in the same week they extended head coach Gary Kubiak’s contract through 2012.

Schaub initially signed a six-year, $48 million contract with the Texans in March 2007. The deal also included an option bonus payment of $10 million due no later than five days after Super Bowl XLIV, which will be played Sunday in Miami. With Houston having until the end of next week to do it, they will do it as early as Thursday.

Click here to read the full article – By Adam Schefter of ESPN.com

Marty Turco will be in goal tonight against the Minnesota Wild, but the Stars have not yet gone to a “win and you’re in” strategy for their netminders.

“We are so close with the teams we are battling and we need every point we can get, so I would say it’s probably more of a ‘feel’ thing than an automatic thing,” Crawford said. “It’s probably more a ‘play well and you’re in’ situation. If we feel good about how a goaltender is playing, we’re certainly going to stick with them.”

Crawford and his coaching staff felt good enough about Alex Auld that they played him three straight and six of the last eight. In each instance, the goalie who lost came out and the goalie who won stayed in. But Crawford said it’s not that easy.

“Right now, we need both goalies playing well and we need them both working together and helping the team win,” Crawford said. “I think in each situation, the goalie had a chance to help the team, he did that, and after he did that, it was the other goalie’s chance to come in.”

Auld is 4-2-0 in that span, while Turco is 1-1-0. On the season, Turco has a 15-14-8 record, a 2.88 GAA and a .905 save percentage. Auld, meanwhile, is 9-6-3 with a 3.00 GAA and a .894 save percentage.

Click here to read the full article – By Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Dallas Mavericks rookie Rodrigue Beaubois’ playing status is in question after the guard suffered a bruised back during a hard fall against the Utah Jazz on Monday night.


Beaubois soared to try to swat away a layup attempt by Utah’s Paul Millsap on a fast break. The Mavs’ first-round draft pick fouled Millsap but got the worst of the collision, crashing to the hardwood and landing with a thud.

Coach Rick Carlisle said Beaubois might have been able to return in the first half, but the rookie’s back stiffened up during halftime of the Mavs’ 104-92 loss. He’ll spend Tuesday getting treatment in Dallas.

“Hopefully by Wednesday, he’ll be OK,” Carlisle said.

Click here to read the full article – By Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com