The Dallas Stars close the book on their 2017 preseason slate tonight against the Minnesota Wild. Here are some key storylines to watch for in the final game.
Tonight, the Dallas Stars will close out preseason play in Minnesota in their second matchup against the Wild. After tonight, the next event on the Dallas schedule is opening night against the Vegas Golden Knights.
This game is the equivalent of Christmas Eve in a typical NHL season schedule. It’s not as great as Christmas Day, but it has a lot of promise and helps remind you of just how close the big day actually is.
It might only be a preseason game, but the stakes could not be much higher for certain Stars players.
Tonight’s game is the final chance for many bubble players to prove themselves. The roster slims down as each game passes, and only a few more players need to be moved before the final roster is set. It’s the last opportunity for many players to make their cases known and earn a final spot.
Dallas Stars
There’s a lot of moving pieces both on offense and defense. These pieces need to be sorted out before Wednesday when the regular season starts. The game against the Wild will play a significant factor in answering all of the questions.
It won’t be televised, but stats serve as somewhat of a reliable tell.
Here are some of the things you will want to keep an eye out for as the game develops.
The defensive decision
Since the addition of defenseman Marc Methot in June, the Dallas Stars have been facing a problem. This problem has to do with their overstocking of NHL-ready defenders.
The Stars currently have nine defenders remaining on their preseason roster. All nine have started for the Dallas Stars at one point or another and proven their abilities at the NHL level. Each of the nine defenders have a valid claim at making the opening night roster, but which ones make it is anyone’s guess after all that has transpired in training camp and the preseason.
Going into training camp, it was assumed that John Klingberg, Marc Methot, Esa Lindell, Stephen Johns, Dan Hamhuis, and Julius Honka would be the starters come opening night. In addition, Jamie Oleksiak, Greg Pateryn, and Patrik Nemeth would battle it out for the seventh spot on defense.
But now things seem to be leaning in a different direction. Head coach Ken Hitchcock has spoken highly of Oleksiak’s performance and has talked about how impressed he is with the Big Rig’s skill set.
Hitchcock won’t release his exact pairings, but told the media that he has decided on which six defenders will start on Friday night.
Which players has he chosen? There are some probables, but are still a few spots that could go either way. Make sure to watch Oleksiak and Honka in play tonight on defense. Their performances could play a final role in determining where they fall in the lineup on opening night.
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The 12th forward
As much of an overstocking that the Dallas Stars have on defense, they also have one on offense. The Stars’ top three lines are locked in for the most part, but the fourth line is still up in the air.
Players like Remi Elie, Gemel Smith, Jason Dickinson, Adam Cracknell, and Curtis McKenzie are all vying for one of the final spots on the fourth line. Similar to the situation on defense, all five of these players have NHL experience and proved their worth to Dallas last season. This doesn’t make the decision any easier.
All of the players listed above except McKenzie are in the lineup tonight, along with rookie Roope Hintz. Each player has a claim at a spot, so tonight’s game will help clear things up.
Hanzal and Spezza
Jason Spezza and Martin Hanzal will make up the Stars’ top six center group tonight, with Spezza taking the first line and Hanzal taking the second. This will be Hanzal’s first game in Victory Green after nursing an ankle injury through training camp and the past five preseason games.
One of the big questions going into opening night is where these two centers will fall in the lineup. Hitchcock has said that both Hanzal and Spezza will likely play their natural position at center this season. That report comes after months of speculation that Hanzal would slide into the second line center position, previously owned by Spezza, while no. 90 would shift to the wing.
With Tyler Seguin owning the top center spot, these two will likely fit on the second and third lines. Both players offer a diverse set of talents. While Spezza is known for being a fast and proficient scorer, Hanzal is a big body that can provide a physical net-front presence.
It’s going to come down to which skill set Hitchcock would rather have backing up Seguin. Tonight’s game could help make that decision.
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The preseason is drawing to a close and the regular season is around the corner. Tonight’s game will help paint a clear picture of how the 2017-18 Dallas Stars will line up to kick off the year. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. so keep your phones or computers close by.
We’re almost there, folks.