Dallas Stars Preseason: Team Shows Poise In Back-To-Back Situation
The Dallas Stars started this week off with a pair of preseason games over two days. It didn’t start on the best note, but it ended with promise. There was a lot to like in the two performances.
In two days, the Dallas Stars will play the final preseason game of their 2017-18 slate against the Minnesota Wild. Six days after that, the regular season begins.
As we continue to barrel towards opening night against the Vegas Golden Knights, the Stars are still trying to fix up their team. Training camp and the preseason have served as large determining factors in helping flesh out these questions.
The Stars are currently 3-2-0 in preseason play. They have followed a back-and-forth pace, bouncing from win to loss and back to win. There have been some inconsistencies, but the team has played well overall. Throughout the preseason, Dallas has also been consistently downsizing their roster.
As the lineup continues to find its shape, the preseason provides a stage for the Stars to try out different combinations.
Dallas Stars
Earlier this week, the Dallas Stars encountered their first back-to-back scenario. They played the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night and followed it up with a game against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Both games were at home and helped close out the preseason slate at the AAC.
Dallas started it off on a bit of a slow note, but definitely picked up the pace as the slate went along.
On Monday night, the Stars lost 4-2 to the Avs, but the score doesn’t necessarily do justice to the play of the team. Dallas outshot Colorado 36-24 and dominated for most of the second and third period in terms of possession and play. Brett Ritchie helped knot the game at 1-1 late in the first period.
Two goals against in the second killed some of the momentum, but Julius Honka’s early goal in the third resurrected hope. In the end, it was an empty-netter that finished the Stars off. But Dallas played well with a relatively young lineup and simply met up with a hot goaltender.
The Dallas Stars’ response on Tuesday was something to be proud of, though. Coming off of the loss, Dallas welcomed a Minnesota Wild team that fronted a relatively solid lineup. Dallas did the same and came out with a dominant 4-1 victory.
Tyler Pitlick scored in the first minute of the game, Tyler Seguin notched two goals of his own, and Jason Dickinson found the back of the net as well. Kari Lehtonen was solid, stopping 32-33 and finishing with a .970 save percentage.
It was a balanced effort with plenty of players pitching in. Dallas outshot the Wild 37-33, went 5/5 on the penalty kill, and owned the face-off dot.
That’s the kind of play that the Dallas Stars need this season. Whenever times are tough, they’re quick to rebound and retaliate. Last season, the Stars endured multiple losing droughts and depressions. The play throughout this preseason has been encouraging and will hopefully carry into the preseason.
Next: Which Stars Unit Will Be Most Fun To Watch This Year?
On Saturday night, we’ll see if the Stars can close it out on a positive note in Minnesota. Until then, keep your feet on the ground and your head in the clouds. Oh, and keep the countdown rolling.