Sports Frog

There's no hotter team in the NHL right now than the Dallas Stars.

Even before making the deal for Richards, Dallas had gone on a 12-2-0 stretch. Thursday night, they welcomed the former Conn Smythe winner to their 3rd line - yes, the third line because they are stacked already on their first two lines - and destroyed the Chicago Blackhawks 7-4.

Richards had five assists in that game, and his Finnish linemates Niklas Hagman and Antii Miettinen were all over the ice. Hagman even had a hat trick.

Normally in February each season, the true Stanley Cup contenders make their position known over the rest of the pack. Coming out of the all-star break and playing great hockey is something every team wants to do, so the ones that actually accomplish it are the ones to keep an eye on come playoff time. Put the Dallas Stars, with their strong defensive style and excellent special teams play, at the top of that list.

They'll be without Sergei Zubov for another 3-4 weeks but have spent most of this season without their best defenseman. And one of the underrated aspects to Richards' game is his ability to play the point on the power play. His job there is really what won him the playoff MVP award back in 2004.

Dallas, winners of four in a row, will host Nashville, losers of three in a row, tonight at 8pm.