Dallas Stars Making First Impressions Memorable

The Dallas Stars were on fire yet again last night, knocking off the Colorado Avalanche. Jason Dickinson started in his first NHL game, and he did not let the onlookers down.

Imagine being an NHL prospect and getting a call on the day of the team’s 81st game saying that your services are needed. That would never happen, right? Well, it looks like Jason Dickinson will have quite the story to tell about his NHL debut for the rest of his career and beyond.

Dickinson received the call yesterday morning from the Dallas Stars in wake of learning that center Jason Spezza had been stricken with illness. He made his way up from the Texas Stars clubhouse in Cedar Park, Texas and suited up just hours later for his NHL debut.

The crazy thing is, Dickinson did not disappoint in the slightest. With only a few hours to physically and mentally prepare, he hit the ice in victory green with a big star on his chest for the first time in his career. With 4:47 left in the period, Dickinson scored his first NHL-level goal on his first NHL-level shot.

It was quite the impressive shift and another impressive feat he can add to his resume. But you are probably racking your brain right now because you feel as though another Stars’ player has accomplished that same milestone.

The fact of the matter is, the Dallas Stars are becoming known for producing goal scorers right off the bat. In the past two seasons, three rookies have already scored goals on their first NHL shots in their first NHL games as well.

Back on December 31, 2014, the Dallas Stars called up Brett Ritchie from the minors but kept it a secret from the media and public. Ritchie dressed out and ended up finding his way into the lineup for his first NHL game. With 12:38 remaining in the second period, Ritchie received a pass from Travis Moen directly in front of the Arizona Coyotes’ net and cashed in on the same parameter: first goal on first shot.

Stars fans thought that was way cool, and Ritchie continued to perform as an effective big-body player for the remainder of the 2014-2015 season. But the Dallas faithful were in for another surprise as a new season approached.

Not only did the Dallas Stars surprise their entire fan base and the NHL as a whole with their dominating play this year, but they started the season off with a taste of what the year would eventually end up being like. On October 8, 2015, the Stars welcomed the Pittsburgh Penguins to town as both teams prepared for game one of their NHL seasons.

Mattias Janmark had worked his way into the Dallas Stars system throughout training camp and the preseason, and eventually landed a roster spot for opening night. Coming from the Detroit Red Wings in a trade the March before, he was a rookie prospect that had yet to see the bright lights of the NHL.

Janmark hit the ice that night and made the Penguins pay for not keeping a sterner eye on him. In his first NHL game and on his first NHL shift, he scored his first goal just 1:39 into the season opener.

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Since then, Janmark has continued to prove himself as an offensive threat in the Dallas Stars’ lineup and is looking to be one of the Stars’ most lethal young threats for years to come.

All three of these rookies scored their first career NHL goals at the AAC in front of roaring crowds, and each one did it in memorable fashion. That not only says something about the Dallas Stars scouting, but also the organization as a whole. They won’t just be taking a run to the playoffs this year, but have an even more bright and promising future in the works.

Next: Stars Crush Colorado, But Can't Clinch Central

Last night was a good night for the Stars. Defeating the Colorado Avalanche for the second straight time in who knows how long and continuing their hunt for first place in the Central Division. Let’s see if they can keep the fire burning for one more game.