Here is a recap of the match-up between the Stars and the Avs.
Rookies Tyson Barrie and Brad Malone scored for Colorado (0-1) in its preseason opener. The Avalanche left most of their veterans in Denver so their top prospects could get extra ice time. The Stars used more veterans, but their lineup also included seven prospects. NHL.com has an article about Erik Johnson Part of a select group that features Brian Lawton, Mike Modano, Rick DiPietro and Patrick Kane as the only other U.S.-born players to be selected first in the draft, Johnson had immediate expectations placed on his shoulders when he entered the League with St. Louis following one season at the University of Minnesota. And, lastly, an unfortunate incident happened in London, Ontario. London hosts a preseason game every year. Last year it was Toronto against Philedelphia, this year it was Philly against Detroit.
"It was a great honor. Me and Pat talk about that -- we were good friends playing at the (U.S. National Team) Development Program together," said Johnson, who was born in Bloomington, Minn. "Expectations can be a little different for a defenseman -- it wasn't really a player who was going to come in and score 100 points like (Sidney) Crosby did his rookie year, so they have to be tempered a little bit being a defenseman.
Next, the JLC crowd watched an unfortunate incident.
While barreling down on Detroit goaltender Jordan Pearce during the shootout’s first round, Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds, who is of African-Canadian descent, crossed a banana on his way to the Red Wings’ net. The Toronto native still managed to pot the goal,, adding to his game-tying tally with less than a minute remaining in the third period.
"Not much (I can say about that), it’s a bad fan, I guess," said Flyer forward Sean Couturier of the banana-thrower. "I mean, we got the goal so that’s what’s important."