Dallas Stars: Injuries Give Lineup New Look Against Capitals

Tonight’s game against Washington is a big one for the Dallas Stars. But as unlucky as it may seem, the Stars will be without some of their usual soldiers. That could either be a good thing or a bad thing.

The Dallas Stars aren’t going to look like the Dallas Stars tonight. At least, not entirely.

On Tuesday morning, it was announced that multiple Stars will miss Tuesday night’s game against the Washington Capitals. Aside from Ben Bishop (left knee) and Marc Methot (hand) who have been missed the past few games, the Stars will also be minus Brett Ritchie (lower body) for the second straight game and Jason Spezza (back).

That’s two forwards, one defenseman, and one goaltender that are regular starters in the lineup. And now they are out with the Stars’ season on the line.

But Dallas has no time to mope or complain about it. They simply have to adjust and get back into the race. And how do they adjust? Well, by filling the gaps, of course.

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Kari Lehtonen will resume as relief starter after serving in the role for a brief stint from March 6-16. Julius Honka is expected to slot into the lineup once again in relief for Methot. And finally, Gemel Smith will hop in as a reserve forward while Curtis McKenzie is expected to be in D.C. in time for the game after being called up this morning.

So, the Stars will look significantly different on the ice tonight. They may even look like a replica of last year’s lineup around this time. A fifth of their regular lineup is missing tonight and they have to find a way to work around it. That could either be a really good thing or a really bad thing.

These injuries grant the Dallas Stars a few things. First and foremost, it grants them a fresh look on offense. With two new forwards slotting into the lineup, Ken Hitchcock has a chance to shift some things around and try new combinations. Both Smith and McKenzie bring different qualities to the lineup and give Dallas new offensive skills. Though Ritchie and Spezza have started for a majority of the season, neither has had an influential role on the Stars offensive output, with just 13 goals and around 12 minutes of average ice time.

So it’s a chance for two young forwards to step in and help make a quick impact. After all, the Stars’ season could very well depend on it.

On defense, it’s another opportunity for Honka to continue trying to prove himself to the Dallas coaching staff. He’s been given very few chances to be a sizable influence on the Stars’ roster this year, but has played well in his recent stretch of starts. It will be interesting to see what he does to help the Dallas offense generate from rushes from their own end and sustain zone time.

And finally, the Dallas Stars’ playoff hopes now seemingly boil down to the success of goaltender Kari Lehtonen. After serving as the Dallas backup for the majority of the regular season, Lehtonen now has the reins with the season in potential turmoil. His play over the next four or five games will largely determine whether the Stars keep their foot in the door or fall out of the race entirely.

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It’s up to this new lineup to keep the flame burning. Every area has a new look, which could either further complicate things or give the Stars a much-needed spark. We’ll see what it’s capable of tonight at 6 p.m. in the nation’s capital.

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