Dallas Stars Get Second Swing At Winnipeg Jets: Keys To Victory
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars continue their homestand tonight against the Winnipeg Jets. Let’s take a look at what they need to do in order to come away with the win against Winnipeg this time around.
The best gift in life is a second chance. It’s also a pretty good gift in NHL hockey. That’s exactly what the Dallas Stars are getting tonight as they hit the middle point of their three-game homestand.
The Stars welcome the Winnipeg Jets to Dallas tonight for the second game of a three-game stretch at the AAC. It’s the second time that the division rivals have met up this season, with the first meeting coming just four days ago. In it, the Stars were the victims of a 5-2 shellacking up in Manitoba.
It was arguably the Stars’ most humiliating and baffling loss of the season. But that game is in the past, and there is a new opportunity for Dallas to redeem themselves tonight.
Redemption isn’t going to be easy, though. On Thursday night, the Dallas Stars played a game of catch-up but could never get it done. They coughed up three goals early in the first period and fought valiantly to get the game back to even. Dallas got the game to 3-2, but that was as close as it would get. Winnipeg dropped two more goals on the board in the third, making it a 5-2 final.
Dallas Stars
The loss was a difficult one to bear considering it was another missed opportunity at points in the division and it spoiled the Stars’ chance at a three-game win streak. Dallas fell back into the pit of inconsistency that they had become so accustomed to in the previous two weeks.
The Stars did, however, make a statement on Saturday night to kick off the homestand. Dallas played their most complete game of the year so far in a 5-1 routing of the Buffalo Sabres. They jumped on the Sabres early with four goals in the first period and coasted through the final two periods with strategic shutdown defense.
Now there is a chance to make another statement on home ice and pick up a Central Division win. Here are a few keys for the Stars as they welcome in the Jets in for their sixth divisional matchup of the season.
Ben Bishop’s performance
Just a little over two weeks ago, Stars goaltender Ben Bishop was leading the charge in the midst of a four-game win streak. Since the win over Carolina on Oct. 21, Bishop is 1-2-0 with a .875 save percentage and 13 goals against in 3 1/2 games played. It’s safe to say that his performance took a serious downturn.
After falling hard in games against Colorado and Edmonton, Bishop was benched in favor of Lehtonen. He served one game as the backup before coming back and providing a strong bounce-back performance against Vancouver. Then he fell right back in the hole against Winnipeg last Thursday.
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Bishop served as the backup on Saturday as Lehtonen led the charge to his second consecutive victory. Tonight, it’s up to Big Ben to shake off the rust and get some well-deserved revenge in his second shot at Winnipeg. If he can focus and get the bounce back that he needs, the Stars should be able to feed off of it and make a push at the Jets.
Getting ahead early
It cannot be stated enough that the Dallas Stars need to start strong on a more consistent basis. On Thursday night, the Jets came out as the faster and more determined team, and that put Dallas in the backseat. The Stars took a few lazy penalties as a result and Winnipeg capitalized. Midway through the first period, Dallas was in a 3-0 hole.
In conclusion, the Stars were careless and the Jets took advantage. Even though Dallas fought to claw their way back into the game, the deficit was already too large.
It will be up to the Stars tonight to get the first goal on the board and be the more dominant team in the early part of the game. They have the tools to take control and throw the Jets off balance, but they have to use them. If they don’t, Winnipeg will surely grab the reins and push the Stars back.
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Playing for 60 minutes
On Saturday night, the Dallas Stars gave a constant and well thought out 60-minute effort against the Sabres. As a result, they won 5-1.
On Thursday night, Dallas gave a solid and respectable effort for about 40 minutes. As a result, they were on the wrong end of a 5-2 decision.
The Dallas Stars have had a problem with playing a full 60-minute game over the past few years. In the Lindy Ruff era, their main problem came with building a lead through 40 minutes and coughing it up in the final period.
Now, their main issue seems to be starting on a strong note and keeping it going. The Stars can start out dominantly and set the tone for the game, yes. But they have to continue controlling the flow of the game. Even if that means “parking the bus” and playing a defensive style of game after building an early lead. Whatever works and as long as it works.
The Dallas Stars will be missing a few players (Radek Faksa and Tyler Pitlick are doubtful) from their regular starting lineup tonight. That could lead to some significant changes, including a chance that Jamie Oleksiak plays at the forward position with Martin Hanzal and Gemel Smith.
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Either way, the team will have to configure their way around the injuries and be ready for a gritty Winnipeg team that never makes things easy.
Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. from the American Airlines Center. Make sure to tune in.