News » games overall, to snap a 1-for-8 slump

While the Dallas Stars are still young, their expectations have clearly changed.This group is no longer just hoping to get to the playoffs.Weve been together for a year now. The new players have fit in well, said Jamie Benn, their 25-year-old captain. Weve got a little bit more confidence as a group just making the playoffs, and I think we can bring that into this year.Not only did the Stars end the longest post-season drought in franchise history last season, they came oh so close to taking top-seeded Anaheim to Game 7 in the opening round. The Ducks had to score twice in the final 2:10 of regulation in Game 6 to force overtime, and won on the only shot there.We had a great year last year, and this year I think our expectations are a lot higher, said Tyler Seguin, the 22-year-old centre.General manager Jim Nill, a longtime assistant GM with Detroit, was hired in April 2013 after the Stars missed the playoffs for the fifth season in a row. He hired veteran coach Lindy Ruff, who had eight playoff appearances in his 15 seasons with Buffalo.Nills biggest initial deal was a seven-player trade with Boston to get former second overall pick Seguin, who in his debut Dallas season was the leading scorer with 84 points (37 goals, 47 assists). This off-season, Nill added 31-year-old former Ottawa teammates Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky.Last year, Jamie Benn moving back to the wing, Seguin coming in, how were they going to mesh together? And weve seen that theyre as dynamic a duo as there is, Nill said. A lot of questions have been answered. ... Weve got the excitement of adding Spezza, Hemsky and these guys. Its an exciting time, good for our team.Spezza (23 goals, 43 assists) is a centre acquired in a trade before free-agent right wing Hemsky (13 goals, 30 assists combined with Edmonton and Ottawa) signed a three-year contract. The two will likely be paired together, providing another scoring line behind the front line led by Seguin and Benn (34 goals, 45 assists).Here are some things to know about the 2014-15 Dallas Stars, who open the season at home Oct. 9 against Western Conference finalist Chicago:POTENT POWER PLAY: During the preseason, Ruff had a primary power-play unit that included Seguin and Benn, his top two scorers from last season, and newcomers Spezza and Hemsky. We were finding each other, Seguin said. It will be great to see what we can do once we learn each other a lot. Ruff said he expects those guys to read off each other, rather than having a specific plan where, Youve got to be here, and youve got to be there.BACKUP GOALIE: The Stars went into training camp with several options to be goalie Kari Lehtonens backup. They used four different players in that role last season. Anders Lindback, who started 67 games over the past four seasons with Nashville and Tampa Bay, exited training camp as the second goalie on the roster.WORKING CLASS: Benn said the team has developed an identity as a hard-working team. Weve got to be the hardest-working team out there, the captain said. Our skills going to help us out, but if we dont work hard, were not going to win many games.STILL UNSIGNED: When the Stars opened training camp in mid-September, unsigned restricted free agents Cody Eakin and Brenden Dillon were working out at home in Canada. Eakin, a centre, signed a two-year deal and joined the team this week. Defenceman Dillon remained unsigned and it was uncertain if his contract would be resolved before the season.PEVERLEYS PROGRESS: Nearly seven months after collapsing on the bench during a game because of an irregular heartbeat, forward Rich Peverley is doing off-ice workouts. But he still hasnt been cleared by doctors to get practice or play, and there is no specific timetable for when that could happen. He had surgery in mid-March to correct an abnormal heart rhythm, an issue that was diagnosed during training camp last year. DaRon Payne Redskins Jersey . Striker Dario Mandzukic scored the opener in the 22nd minute but was given a red card nine minutes later for a reckless tackle and left Croatia with 10 men for the remainder of the match. Troy Apke Redskins Jersey . The judge sternly instructed the prosecutor to restrain himself and he apologized -- then went right back to trying to pick holes in the testimony of the double-amputee runner. It was a harsh day of cross-examination for Pistorius, challenged relentlessly about his account of the moments just before he killed Reeva Steenkamp, as well as circumstances related to several firearms charges against him, including the firing of a gun in a crowded restaurant. http://www.authenticredskinsfootballonli...edskins-jersey/. The Blueshirts hope to stay alive once again when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Sundays Game 6 battle at Madison Square Garden. Geron Christian Redskins Jersey .com) - The NBA will be on display overseas Thursday with the New York Knicks taking on the Milwaukee Bucks at O2 Arena in London. DaRon Payne Jersey . -- Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu will be the Dodgers starting pitchers in their two-game season-opening series in Australia against the Arizona Diamondbacks. ST. LOUIS -- Chris Johnson became a star under Jeff Fisher, rushing for 2,000 yards in 2009 a year after the Tennessee Titans drafted him in the first round. On Sunday, Johnson got the best of his former coach. "C.J., when he gets on the edge he goes," Fisher said after Johnsons second touchdown of the game was the go-ahead score in the Titans 28-21 victory over the St. Louis Rams. Fisher has seen Johnson run wild plenty of times, just not from the opposite sideline. He again downplayed the matchup against the franchise he coached for 16 years, saying it was "another week for me," although he expected the loss to hurt more for former Titans players now in the St. Louis lineup. "I think this one probably at the end of the day, its probably going to last a little longer, hurt a little bit more," Fisher said. "Because it was important to them." Titans coach Mike Munchak, a longtime former Fisher aide, also said this game was nothing personal. The postgame handshake was brief. "Thats something we can talk more about in the off-season and having bragging rights about who beat who," Munchak said. "But this is all about us vs. them. "Players are the ones who win the games." Johnson ran for 150 yards on 23 carries for the Titans (4-4), who ended a three-game losing streak after their bye against a team on short rest. The Rams lost 14-9 to Seattle on Monday night and have dropped three in a row. Johnsons 19-yard scoring run snapped a tie with 2:54 remaining the play after Jurrell Casey sacked and stripped quarterback Kellen Clemens, and Derrick Morgan recovered. Clemens landed on it first, but the ball squirted away. "Its a mistake that cant be made," Clemens said. "And unfortunately I made it." The Rams (3-6) have lost three in a row despite a second straight 100-yard game from rookie Zac Stacy, who had 127 yards on 27 carries and two touchdowns. St. Louis drove to the Titans 26 in the final minute, but Austin Pettis could only get a hand on Clemens high throw to a corner of the end zone on fourth down. Johnson gained his most yards since Week 7 last season against Buffalo when he had 1195.dddddddddddd In the previous four games, hed totalled 110 yards with a 2.4-yard average per carry. "It helps my confidence, sure," Johnson said. "I felt like I was getting close to breaking out." Rookie Tavon Austins 24-yard punt return gave the Rams a final chance at their 39 with 50 seconds to go and no timeouts. Chris Givens had a 25-yard catch to put them in position. Rodney McLeod intercepted an overthrown pass by Locker with 4:44 left, less than two minutes after former Titan Jared Cook tied it at 21 with a 10-yard catch from Clemens. Locker put the Titans up 21-14 with 9:42 to go on a 4-yard run, breaking a tackle by linebacker Alec Ogletree about 2 yards from the end zone. Stacy gained more than 100 yards for the second straight week on the next drive with a 32-yard carry topped off by a horse collar penalty on Casey after hed stepped out of bounds. The Rams had a sloppy start with three straight penalties helping the Titans score on their opening possession capped by Shonn Greenes 5-yard run. Cortland Finnegan, Darian Stewart and Jermelle Cudjo were whistled for horse collar, holding and illegal use of hands. Stacys 3-yard run in the second quarter was St. Louis first rushing touchdown of the season. It also was their first TD in two games overall, to snap a 1-for-8 slump inside the 20. Clemens was 7 for 7 for 75 yards to open the game, and 0 for 6 to finish the half -- with two dropped passes. The Rams failed to capitalize on Cortland Finnegans interception in the final minute when Greg Zuerlein pushed a 44-yard field goal attempt just wide to the right -- his first miss inside 50 of the season in 15 attempts. Notes: "Modern Family" star Ty Burrell wore a Rams camp during an interview on the scoreboard during a break in the first quarter. ... Casey got his fifth sack of the season in the first quarter. ... Coty Sensabaughs fumble recovery at the Titans 10 in the first quarter stifled a Rams scoring opportunity and capitalized on a careless play by rookie Benny Cunningham, who lost his grip without contact. ... Locker has two rushing TDs this season and four for his career. 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