Looking for offense

The Dallas Stars have put their defensive game in order this month. Now, they are hoping to find some offense.
The Stars have allowed just 19 goals over the past nine games (2.1 per game), but they've scored just 23 (2.6 per game) and eleven of those came in two games, meaning they've tallied just 12 in the other seven. They are 2-4-1 in those seven games, despite giving up just 14 goals. In two of the losses, the Stars allowed only two goals. Overall, despite some good defensive play in the past nine games their record is a pedestrian 4-4-1. A little more offense would be a big help.
"The chances are adequate. It's going to have to be a little bit more determination between the dots because that is where most of the action is," said Stars coach Lindy Ruff. "Look at Jason] Spezza's goal [Tuesday] night, getting in there and winning the battles once you are inside the offensive zone. Because it seems without the lead or building the lead, the league is getting tough when it comes to creating the north-south opportunities."
But in Tuesday's game, there was more opportunity than finish. The Stars had 38 shots on goal and 73 shot attempts but found the back of the net just twice, and the result was a 3-2 overtime loss to St. Louis, their seventh in eight overtime games this season.
"We had our chances to win the game," said Spezza. "We did a good job dictating the play most of the night. You'd like to bury those chances and not get ourselves in a position where we have to play 3-on-3 at the end of the night."
And that's been the story for the Stars this season on the offensive end, a lack of finish. According to
[naturalstattrick.com
, the Stars rank 28th in finishing high-danger chances at 11.05 percent. They are 20th in shooting percentage at 8.33. As far as scoring, the Stars rank 18th in the league at 2.54 per game.
Ruff was asked after Wednesday's practice in Farmers Branch what will have to happen for the story of the Stars' season to change.
"The story is going to have to be changed by our top players being in on a scoresheet night after night," Ruff said. "That's been kind of the main theme. [Tuesday] night, our top guys had two or three great opportunities but didn't put it away. If you want to change the story, it's going to have to be on a consistent basis that those players get on the board for us."

Ruff hopes that if those players can get rolling that can get some confidence going on the offensive side and the Stars can see some better results when it comes to wins and losses.
"Last year we were able to outscore some of our problems and this year we haven't. When you start to press, sometimes the ice seems pretty small. We haven't had a lot of puck luck, but sometimes you've got to make that luck," Ruff said. "We just need some consistent offense from our top players when they get those opportunities. I think that will be the biggest thing, them starting to feel good about cashing in on opportunities."

Notes
\Stars defenseman Johnny Oduya and Stephen Johns did not practice Wednesday morning in Farmers Branch. Oduya was a question mark going into Tuesday's game with a lower-body injury but played. Johns left the game briefly with what looked like a lower-body injury but returned and finished the game.
"Both banged up a little bit," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. "Johnny is still suffering a little bit from his lingering [injury] and Johns missed some time at the end of the [second] period and came back. He's sore today."
Ruff said the team will see where both players are on Thursday.
\Stars forward Antoine Roussel left Wednesday's practice early with an undisclosed injury.
"I don't have an update on him yet," Ruff said. "I don't think it is serious."
\Forward Patrick Sharp, who has missed the past nine games due to a concussion, continues to practice. Ruff said the Stars will be careful with Sharp, who missed 14 games earlier this season with a concussion.
"Just going through the process," Ruff said. "We are trying to get him in the right place and when we feel we've got him there, and this time we want to make sure that everything is right, even to the over-sure category. He might get frustrated with thinking he's ready, but we think we are going to wait a little while longer."
\There's not much new to report on forwards Mattias Janmark and Ales Hemsky. Janmark underwent knee surgery in late September, and Hemsky had hip surgery in late October.
"Those are long-term injuries. Janmark has just started walking. He's a long shot for the end of the year. Hemsky is the same thing," Ruff said. "You are talking the last few weeks of the season possibly."
Practice lineup
Here's how the Stars lined up in Wednesday's practice in Farmers Branch. Not on the ice were Patrick Eaves (maintenance), Johnny Oduya (lower body) and Stephen Johns (lower body).
Jamie Benn - Tyler Seguin - Jason Spezza
Antoine Roussel - Radek Faksa - Brett Ritchie
Lauri Korpikoski - Devin Shore - Jiri Hudler
Curtis McKenzie - Adam Cracknell - Cody Eakin- Patrick Sharp
Esa Lindell - John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis - Jordie Benn
Patrik Nemeth - Jamie Oleksiak
Antti Niemi
Kari Lehtonen