Dallas Stars: Three Things Learned In Victory Over Pittsburgh

The joyous feelings experienced last night are still resonating throughout the city of Dallas on this warm Friday afternoon.

More From Blackout Dallas – Dallas Stars Shine, Knock Down Penguins 3-0

The Dallas Stars went into Thursday night looking for a strong performance and two points in their first game of the 2015-2016 regular season. They achieved that, and then some.

The Stars welcomed the Pittsburgh Penguins into the American Airlines Center, but would quickly run them out of the building. On opening night for both teams, the Stars performed exceptionally in all areas and knocked the Penguins off 3-0.

There were a few things that Stars fans acknowledged last night that could be driving factors for the rest of the season. Let’s take a look at the top three things you need to know about the new Dallas Stars in regards to their first performance.

1. Mattias Janmark Preparing To Tear It Up

There may not have been a better forward on the ice last night than Mattias Janmark. The 22-year old shocked the NHL when he found himself a spot on the opening night roster.

After being part of the recompense the Stars received in the March 1st trade that sent Erik Cole to the Red Wings last year, most Stars fans did not give him the time of day. He was expected to be a long shot forward still at least two or three years from the NHL roster. The fact that the Stars already had an extensive offensive program in their farm system did not leave much hope for him.

But Janmark did not let it slow him down. After proving himself in training camp and the preseason, the Dallas Stars put Janmark above a few other candidates and gave him a spot on the roster. He made sure to capitalize.

In is first NHL game on his first NHL shot, he scored his first NHL goal. Throughout the rest of the game, Janmark was constantly hounding the puck carrier and using his excellent vision to find gaps in the defense. He played like one of the elites on the ice and did it all in his debut. Not a half bad way to start a career.

Antti Niemi Could Save The Dallas Stars:

Yes, it is true. After taking a gamble by signing an aging but veteran goaltender in June, GM Jim Nill has found a way to show off his genius once more. For now, at least.

We all know where Antti Niemi came from and what his past looks like. We also know how Niemi looked in the preseason, which pulled out a red flag for opening night.

But that red flag has turned to green after game one, and Niemi is starting to look like the saving grace the Stars have been searching long and hard for.

The Stars Offense Is Learning How To Share:

Last season, the Dallas Stars owned the second best offense in the NHL. They fell short of being the best by just one goal. Still, it was clear the Stars were going up in offensive power.

But GM Jim Nill did not care for having the second best. Instead, he wanted to tack on more influencers and push the Stars over the hump. He did this by adding veteran sniper Patrick Sharp in the offseason through a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The reason for the Stars success on offense last season was mainly due to the excessive usage of their top line. Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin practically carried the club for the year, and there was rarely a night where one of them did not have either a goal or assist.

After last night, it looks like there may be a distribution of power. The Stars top line was primarily quiet last night, with only Benn tallying a point. But the point came on the power play, so the first line did not end up contributing to his goal.

Mattias Janmark and Ales Hemsky scored the other two goals, and both are on different lines and probably not the first guesses you would take on which Stars scored a goal. The fact that the bottom lines were able to help out last night is an encouraging sign going forward in the year.

In the end, the Dallas Stars gave their fans a lot to look forward to and lay their trust in. A 3-0 win is always a great way to kick off the year. It will be interesting to see if they carry the momentum into Colorado, a place where they have not won in over two years.

Next: Dallas Stars Morning After Thoughts: Wow, What A Win

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