Tonight, the Dallas Stars will take on the Washington Capitals. After breaking their six-game road losing streak with a win over the Florida Panthers, Dallas will need to evaluate their game and figure out how to translate what went right into the rest of their season.
After the dust of trading settled, it was time for the Dallas Stars (26-29-10) to get down to business. They packed their bags, grabbed their fathers and boarded an airplane to begin their two-game road trip.
It all began with a trip to visit the Florida Pathers (29-24-11).
Efforts by captain Jamie Benn and a last-minute goal from John Klingberg helped the team to a 2-1 victory.
On an unrelated note, this was an exciting experience to share with their fathers.
The Stars players brought their dads along with them on the road trip, so it was a treat for the fathers to witness a victory. Although it was fun to see the teams’ families, I have to admit that I needed to look twice at this picture. Their jackets kind of took me by surprise but you can make your own opinion. Back to the ice.
Dallas Stars
After an unfortunate injury endured by forward Antoine Roussel on Thursday, Dallas called up 21-year old Remi Elie from Cedar Park to make his NHL debut.
He was a key player on the Florida ice, using his skill that created very significant plays for the Stars’ offensive line.
"“I thought he played excellent,” Stars’ coach Lindy Ruff said. “I thought he worked hard and had three or four opportunities, he was hard on the puck. He played a good game for us.”"
What can the Stars learn from Elie?
The first thing I noticed during my trip to Cedar Park a few weeks back was Elie’s speed. It was clear that he had athletic talent, which was lethal when matched with hard work and stick skills. He utilized speed and puck handling to create his plays, rather than the dump-and-chase method that is most commonly used in Dallas.
This method proved successful on Saturday, as many of the Panther defensemen could not steal the puck from Elie. So, if there’s something that the rookie can bring to Dallas, maybe it’s the example that the Stars’ current offensive method isn’t the only option.
Speed and stamina need more emphasis on the Dallas ice. Opponents win over the puck too many times due to the fact that some Stars’ players aren’t fast enough. Either they will need to adopt a different, more successful, method of getting the puck deep into the opponent’s defensive zone or at least learn how to maneuver around defensive lines with more organized offensive practices.
The dump-and-chase explained:
Let’s use the example of the Stars vs. the Capitals, to make tonight a little more practical. In order to crash the goal, the Stars need to out-skate the defensive line to make quality shot chances.
Per usual, the forwards will shoot the puck into the backboards, and attempt to beat the defenseman in front of them.
The thought process: More time to continue forward momentum toward the puck, providing ample time for the forward to create a quality offensive play. The forward-facing defenseman will have his back on the puck and have to pivot to fight for the puck.
The method used to prove successful for Dallas, but as NHL teams began to recruit faster and more agile defensemen, the Stars found themselves being consistently out-skated. How can the Stars make offensive plays if they don’t have the puck?
Next: Remi Elie Replacing Roussel in Lineup Tonight
Elie’s skills could able to rub off on some of the veterans, bringing them back to their puck-handling roots. Certainly, Elie has much to learn, but he brings a presence to the ice that Dallas can and should take note of.