The Dallas Stars seem to have fallen off of their game over the past week. Part of that is due to inconsistency in the back end, but a large part has to do with a lack of scoring. That being said, the Stars need their top players to step up and do it quickly.
I went to the movie theater to see The Greatest Showman a few weeks ago. As a junior in college, it seemed to be the only movie that people were talking about. And though I’m not the biggest fan of musicals, I thought I would try it out to see if the hype was real.
I’ll start by saying that I was thoroughly impressed by the movie. In fact, it was one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while. The plot and the incorporation of singing and dancing to tell the story was really well done in my opinion. Overall, it was an intriguing movie that was well worth the time.
But one of the big selling factors for the movie was the acting. Though there were a few central characters in the movie, the characters played by Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, and Zendaya seemed to carry the most significance, at least in my eyes. In other words, the movie would not have been near as special or memorable without their roles in the show. While the supporting characters played their parts well, there’s something about Efron and Zendaya swinging around on a trapeze that just clicks.
This idea can also be applied to the Dallas Stars this season, specifically in regards to their offense. While they have a solid supporting cast on offense, their lead roles are the lifeblood of the production. It’s the same with any NHL team and can very well make or break a franchise if they don’t plan properly.
Dallas Stars
So which Dallas Stars are the Hugh Jackman’s of the production that is the 2017-18 season? Well, it’s pretty easy to find out. All you have to do is take a look at the top of the stat sheet.
The three Stars forwards that find themselves at the very top are Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Alexander Radulov. And rightly so, considering each one has played an influential role on the Dallas offense this season.
Benn (21 G, 53 PTS) is still running the show as captain. His contributions in both ends of the ice and on the power play and penalty kill make him a vital part of the operation. Radulov (21 G, 53 PTS) is putting up incredible numbers in his first season with Dallas and is an outstanding presence on the first line. And finally, Seguin (29 G, 51 PTS) is leading the charge on the power play and giving the Stars a new presence down the middle.
All three of these guys give the Dallas Stars a threatening look on offense and provide an extra boost. That is, when they are actually clicking. But as for right now, that’s not happening.
Instead, the Stars’ top line is playing a quiet and altogether insignificant role on offense right now. That cannot continue happening if the Stars are still aiming to get into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Over the past three games, the Stars’ top line has struggled in making their presence known. Jamie Benn is the only one of three players with any points in the past three contests after tallying an assist against St. Louis. But that’s it.
It may be a small sampling size, but it’s a very telling one. In this three-game span, the Dallas Stars are 1-2-0 and have been outscored 12-4.
Puck Prose
While their defense and goaltending have shown some glaring problems in the two losses, the offense has been practically nonexistent.
Only four goals have been scored by Dallas in the past 10 days, with Mattias Janmark, Stephen Johns, Gemel Smith, and Tyler Pitlick finding the back of the net. While it’s nice to see the depth players having an impact, it’s strange not seeing any of the Stars’ superstar players taking the reins. And it’s not just Benn, Seguin, or Radulov either. There are a few different players on this list that could step up and chip in. But these are the three offensive “juggernauts” on Dallas that have contributed in a large way all season.
When the Dallas Stars kicked off their 2017-18 season, things started out on a bit of a bumpy note. Dallas could not find consistency in their performances and struggled to stay in the top eight in the standings.
And through the first 20 games or so, there seemed to be one primary source of offense and scoring; their top line. While the depth scorers struggled to get on the board on a regular basis, the top three carried the load in the offensive end. It seemed to be a problem for Dallas, but Benn, Seguin, and Radulov were insistent on keeping the Stars afloat in the early going.
But over the past few games, that hasn’t happened. While the depth scorers have come around and built themselves a more influential presence on the ice, the “Big 3” aren’t finding the back of the net. This three-game stretch is tied for Seguin’s longest points drought this season and is also Radulov’s second-longest stretch without a point.
In addition to the lack of offensive output, the top line has combined for a -12 rating over the past three games. That’s unacceptable for any top line. The Stars need all of the offensive pressure they can get, and right now, they are unable to get any from the players that have been ultimately reliable up to this point.
That’s a problem at this point in the season. At the moment, the Dallas Stars are locked in a fierce scrap for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The race is as tight as its been this season and even though Dallas sits third in the Central, they could easily find themselves outside of the playoff picture by Thursday night. That’s why every game is so critical right now.
With every game being critical, it’s crucial that the Stars receive the best effort from their best players. And right now, that’s not happening.
Benn, Seguin, and Radulov are the only three forwards on the Dallas Stars this year with 20-plus goals and 50-plus points. But over these past three games, they aren’t acting like it. That will need to change immediately if the Stars want to stay afloat in the postseason push.
Dallas has a crucial game in Anaheim tonight that could potentially push the Ducks above the Stars in points. Following tonight’s game, the Stars will square off with the Kings in Los Angeles before heading home for a date with one of their Central Division foes, the Winnipeg Jets. It’s not an easy stretch by any means, and the Stars will need all of the production they can get from their high-caliber players if they expect to come out with points.
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This all goes back to The Greatest Showman. While it’s nice to have The Bearded Lady and Tom Thumb doing their thing and putting on a show, the movie needs its stars in order to truly succeed.
The Dallas Stars need their big names to get back in the scoring column and fast. At this point in the season, their playoff lives could depend on it.