hitchcock shakes up lines during practice...
Longtime linemates Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen, who have combined for 11 goals and 24 points in the past six games, were split up. Modano skated with Joe Nieuwendyk and Martin Rucinsky. Lehtinen was part of a four-man contingent with Turgeon, Benoit Hogue and Valeri Kamensky.
On the surface, nothing signaled an impending change. The Stars had rallied for a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. They've won six of seven and have just two losses in the past 13 games going into Friday's home game with the Calgary Flames.
Why the switch, at least for one day?
Partly, the Stars wanted to look at lines they've used at different points in a game but seldom practiced, Hitchcock said.
While he cautioned against reading too much into a single practice, Hitchcock had his reasons.
"In order to get more people playing better, we might have to spread some of the wealth around," Hitchcock said. "I don't think it's a big risk at all. You do this all the time. You prop up people who you feel can give you more by playing them with players who are playing well. "
Hitchcock's goal is to raise the level of a few players, and changing lines might be a tool.
The team's recent turnaround notwithstanding, Hitchcock is concerned that the team's play may not match its record.
"We're playing with a lot of enthusiasm, but we need to have more people playing better," Hitchcock said. "We don't want to get ourselves in a position where we're being carried by a select few."
Modano, who has 20 points in his past 12 games, shrugged off the move while acknowledging that changing lines are a way of life.
"You get split up when you're playing bad. You get split up when you're playing well," said Modano, half-jokingly. "That's why we're not here to think too much. They don't pay us to think around here."
Timely goals and a growing confidence have aided the Stars, even when they have lapsed.
"Right now, we believe we have a chance to win every game even if we're behind," Modano said. "[Wednesday] night was evidence of that."
Briefly ...
Backup goaltender Marty Turco, battling the flu that has hit Ed Belfour and others, admitted he was surprised at being lifted 7:52 into the Buffalo game after allowing two goals. "I'd just gone to the bench to get a drink of water," he said. ... Ken Hitchcock's plan calls for Belfour to play Friday against Calgary with Turco getting the start Saturday in Phoenix.
Longtime linemates Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen, who have combined for 11 goals and 24 points in the past six games, were split up. Modano skated with Joe Nieuwendyk and Martin Rucinsky. Lehtinen was part of a four-man contingent with Turgeon, Benoit Hogue and Valeri Kamensky.
On the surface, nothing signaled an impending change. The Stars had rallied for a 4-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres. They've won six of seven and have just two losses in the past 13 games going into Friday's home game with the Calgary Flames.
Why the switch, at least for one day?
Partly, the Stars wanted to look at lines they've used at different points in a game but seldom practiced, Hitchcock said.
While he cautioned against reading too much into a single practice, Hitchcock had his reasons.
"In order to get more people playing better, we might have to spread some of the wealth around," Hitchcock said. "I don't think it's a big risk at all. You do this all the time. You prop up people who you feel can give you more by playing them with players who are playing well. "
Hitchcock's goal is to raise the level of a few players, and changing lines might be a tool.
The team's recent turnaround notwithstanding, Hitchcock is concerned that the team's play may not match its record.
"We're playing with a lot of enthusiasm, but we need to have more people playing better," Hitchcock said. "We don't want to get ourselves in a position where we're being carried by a select few."
Modano, who has 20 points in his past 12 games, shrugged off the move while acknowledging that changing lines are a way of life.
"You get split up when you're playing bad. You get split up when you're playing well," said Modano, half-jokingly. "That's why we're not here to think too much. They don't pay us to think around here."
Timely goals and a growing confidence have aided the Stars, even when they have lapsed.
"Right now, we believe we have a chance to win every game even if we're behind," Modano said. "[Wednesday] night was evidence of that."
Briefly ...
Backup goaltender Marty Turco, battling the flu that has hit Ed Belfour and others, admitted he was surprised at being lifted 7:52 into the Buffalo game after allowing two goals. "I'd just gone to the bench to get a drink of water," he said. ... Ken Hitchcock's plan calls for Belfour to play Friday against Calgary with Turco getting the start Saturday in Phoenix.
