Dallas Stars Season Opener Finally Here: Get Hyped
It is hockey season once again deep in the heart of Texas. Feel free to celebrate accordingly. Also be prepared for tonight when it all officially kicks off.
Wake up. Get dressed. Grab your coffee. Eat your breakfast. Brush your teeth. Go to work. But above all else, GET READY FOR HOCKEY SEASON BECAUSE THE DALLAS STARS ARE BACK IN ACTION TONIGHT.
It seems like it’s been an eternity since May 11th when the Stars last exited the ice for the offseason after being eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the St. Louis Blues in an ugly game seven affair. It was an extremely sour way to end such a special season and playoff run.
But that is all in the past. A champion was crowned and they had their fun with the Stanley Cup in the offseason. Now it’s time to determine who the new champion will be.
The Dallas Stars’ 2016 offseason road definitely came with a large number of unexpected twists and turns. Three starting defensemen departed for opposing teams, Valeri Nichushkin unexpectedly bailed for the KHL, Dallas signed forward Jiri Hudler in late August, and to top it all off, the Stars faced one of the worst injury plagues in franchise history BEFORE the preseason started.
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All of these crazy events aside, the Stars are still intact and have hockey to play tonight. That’s an amazing feeling to once again possess.
The Anaheim Ducks will meet up with the Stars at the American Airlines Center at 7:00 p.m. tonight, and each team will be looking to start their season off on the right foot. A Western Conference battle between two teams who have a bitter hate for each other that sprouted during the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Could it get much better?
Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf will have targets on their backs the entire night, as they always do when they visit Dallas. The fans tend to have no mercy on them, which is perfectly justified (see 2014 Western Conference quarterfinals for more information). Stars fans don’t have the highest regard for either of these players, and it will show once again tonight throughout the game.
Former Star Ryan Garbutt is also projected to be in the lineup. It would not be surprising to see Garbutt and Antoine Roussel jarring with each other all night. However you look at this game, it’s going to be exciting and fast-paced.
A revamped Dallas Stars lineup will be in formation for the first time and it will be interesting to see how they mesh and if they can produce. The offense is missing some key pieces. The defense is young and on the slightly inexperienced side. Lastly, the goaltending is still striving to be considered “elite.”
Must Read: Stars Milestones To Keep An Eye Out For
On a side note, the Ducks should feel lucky that they are playing Dallas to open the year. If the past plays any part in determining the future, Anaheim may as well crown themselves 2017 Stanley Cup champions.
That’s because to open up the 2014-15 season, the Stars welcomed the Chicago Blackhawks to town. A few months later, Chicago won the Stanley Cup. Last season, the Stars handily defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins at home on opening night by a final score of 3-0. I’m sure you remember who won the Cup most recently. It’s a strange occurrence, but let’s hope it doesn’t latch on for a third year.
2016-17 will be my third full season to cover Dallas Stars hockey for Blackout Dallas, and I am so excited to be locked in for another year. The site has grown so much since I first started here, and it’s not just because of the Stars’ recent success. It has just as much to do with the increase in readers and fans.
Next: Blackout Dallas Predicts The Stars' 2016-17 Season
We at Blackout Dallas would like to thank all of y’all for sticking with us and growing with us over the past few years. It means the world, and we’re glad we can be one of your prime stops for all things Dallas Stars.
Only a few hours separate us from game one of 82. Let’s see what the Stars have in store for this season. Are you ready?