Dallas Stars Look To Jet Back To Top Against Winnipeg
The Dallas Stars will look to rise above recent onslaughts of injury and loss to make a statement against the Winnipeg Jets that their depth and composure is up to meet the challenge.
With your Dallas Stars operating without what seems to be half its roster of forwards, things could get a little hairy when the Winnipeg Jets come to town. However, the Stars have proven in the past that they know how to shine under pressure, and that they have the depth to make the most of tough situations.
But our Stars have also been known to experience some meltdowns and add insult to injury when the outlook is bleak. Which will it be tonight?
If you’re as curious (and anxious) as I am, make sure to catch the game and every action-packed moment on Fox Sports Southwest (FSSW), or on 1310 AM/ 96.7FM The Ticket. And from puck dropsat 7:30 PM at the AAC to the very last buzzer, we’ll be keeping you up to date, as always, with all things Stars.
Records and Scores
The Dallas Stars have accumulated a 2-2-1 record so far, sitting only at eighth place in the Western Conference. While we’re no strangers to the concept of humble beginnings, this is a bit behind where the Stars saw themselves starting out the season.
Due to their most recent shutout loss against the Blue Jackets and an overtime loss to the Kings before that, the Stars are on a two game losing streak that they’ll want to break heading into a two-game stretch against the Jets.
With a 2-3-0 record, the Winnipeg Jets sit a few places behind the Stars at twelfth place in the Conference. The Jets won only one of their last three home games, suffering two low-scoring losses to Boston and Edmonton on either side of its 5-4 overtime win against Toronto. Their tilt against the Stars will signal the beginning of a mostly on-the-road stretch in which they’ll be taking on many division opponents.
Storylines
Seeing Stars
Okay, so it’s not really a secret that the Stars are dropping like flies, but it’s newsworthy nonetheless. Add Hemsky, who was almost set to return, and Sharp to the injured list, and you don’t even have the worst of it. Jason Spezza, who was operating as one of the most productive and consistent top forwards, is now off the bench for now after being unable to finish Monday’s practice.
So without 7 (that’s right, seven) of its usual (and rather important) suspects, what’s a hockey team to do?
The Stars have made several call-ups, choosing players who were eliminated from its training roster most right before the season began. In order to patch the holes and keep from sinking, the Stars will be seeing more of Gemel Smith as well as Justin Dowling.
With so many foundational forwards as well as power forwards gone, the Stars’ remaining top line guys are really going to have to step it up. While Benn and Seguin shouldn’t be expected to carry the team on their backs all the time, tonight would be an appropriate exception.
If Ruff’s words after Saturday’s loss have sunken in, I would expect to see the Benneguin duo come alive in this game and be well represented in the final score.
Role reversal
It might take a game or two to get used to the idea that the Stars need to focus more on their unstable offense than on their defense. In the last few games, although the defense is nowhere near perfect, Kari Lehtonen has done more than his fair share to try to keep the Stars afloat in their own zone with a .926 save percentage in games he’s played this season.
If Lehtonen continues to stand tall in the crease, expect to see him become a regular starter, with Niemi transitioning to more of a back-up role.
There are other things the Stars need to experience a transition in. Although usually known for their speedy skating and quick plays, the Stars seemed jammed and slow against Columbus. From the defense to the offense, the Stars need to get back to a place where they are releasing passes quickly and smartly, not hanging on too long to try and find the prettiest play.
We’ve been there before, too. When the Stars feel the pressure of trying to make each run replay-in-slow-motion worthy, they clog up their own production ability. But on the other hand, when they throw every puck not in their zone at the net, they get sloppy and lack the tight play that gives them the ability to skate circles around the opponent.
In short, the Stars need to find the happy medium between the head approach and the hands approach.
Injury Report
Although it seems like the entire Dallas Stars team is down for the count, here’s where things stand currently: Spezza (undisclosed) and Eaves (lower body) are doubtful for tonight but perhaps relatively close to return.
However, Hemsky (groin), Hudler (illness), Sharp (concussion-like symptoms), Eakin (knee), and Janmark (knee) are all on injured reserve for the foreseeable future. Here’s to hoping, at least, that this is as long as the Stars injury report will ever get.
The Winnipeg Jets are in a better place, it seems, with only center Brian Little (lower body) out of rotation.
Projected Lines
Dallas Stars
Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Jason Spezza?
Antoine Roussel – Radek Faksa – Brett Ritchie
Lauri Korpikoski – Devin Shore – Adam Cracknell
Curtis McKenzie – Gemel Smith – Justin Dowling
Patrik Nemeth – John Klingberg
Jamie Oleksiak – Stephen Johns
Winnipeg Jets
Patrik Laine – Mark Scheifele – Drew Stafford
Nikolaj Ehler – Matthiew Perreault – Blake Wheeler
Kyle Connor – Alex Burmistrov – Brandon Tanev
Shawn Matthias – Adam Lowry – Joel Armia
Josh Morrissey – Dustin Byfuglien
Tobia Enstrom – Tyler Myers
Bian Chiarot – Paul Postma
Next: Dallas Stars Recall Justin Dowling In Light Of Injury Meltdown
Predictions
This is going to be a tough one for the Stars. Even though the Jets are coming off their own losses, it will be difficult for the Stars to hit their stride as soon as the puck drops, which is what the Stars really need to play a good, full 60 minutes and come out on top.
As much as I hate to, I’m calling this one another loss, with the Stars falling behind 3-2 from lack of firepower.