Stars enjoy 'fun with hard work' ahead of five-game road trip

The Stars have found all manner of ways to deal with work stoppages, and Friday was a good day to have fun.
With the winter weather in Dallas postponing four games this week, players have been dealing with not only snow, ice and utility issues, but also with extra practice time. Stars coach Rick Bowness said that meant a day where the team could shake things up and go through some "competitions" that took players through hockey drills in a more enjoyable manner.

READ MORE: [Stars know 'grueling schedule' awaits after four postponements]
"We had a good practice yesterday with specialty teams being the focus, but the things that are being thrown at us that are completely out of our control, it's mentally tough," Bowness said. "The guys want to play games, and now we're going to go nine days between games, so basically this will be like our third training camp in the last month. Practice time is important, but so is mental health. Guys are frustrated because we're not playing, so today was a mental health day and a fun day."
The Stars will take Saturday off, practice Sunday, and start a five-game road trip Monday against the Florida Panthers. To be ready for that junket, the team wants to keep things fresh.

"It's always important," Anton Khudobin said when asked about fun. "When you get in your routine and you get mentally tired because you have practices, practices, practices, plus you have to deal with weather, you have to have fun at the rink with the guys on the ice, in the gym. It's always important."
Several players have invited teammates over who have been dealing with power outages or water problems. Khudobin said he has 11 people at his house right now. The veteran goalie said the team's family style of support was key in the playoffs last year, and it's the same now.
"We hold each other really tight. It is like a family," Khudobin said. "I have 11 people in my house, so it is like a family. We're helping each other, we're talking to each other, we win together and lose together."
That attitude has been important for Khudobin, who helped carry the team in the playoffs, but is in a slump right now. He is 0-3-1 in his past four starts with a 4.25 goals against average and .866 save percentage. When asked about the numbers, he simply said: "It wasn't my day."

Khudobin was scheduled to start against Nashville on Monday before the weather caused the postponement, and Bowness said they will need both Khudobin and rookie Jake Oettinger as they play five games in eight days on the Florida road trip. The coach said he believes Khudobin will be ready after some intense practices with goalie coach Jeff Reese.
"Anton has had a week now, and Jeff has been out there working with him very hard, getting his game back where he wants it to be and where we're going to need it to be," Bowness said. "You've got to hope this break has helped him."
Days like Friday should help.
"It's a little bit crazy, but it is what it is and we have to digest," Khudobin said. "We had fun day today, so we can feel that it's not just training camp. It was fun with hard work."

Stars at Panthers

Monday, 6 p.m. CT
BB&T Center, Sunrise, Fla.
TV: FOX Sports Southwest
Radio: The Ticket 96.7-FM, 1310-AM
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.