The Dallas Stars had me a tad worried in the first period. It looked like the Anaheim Ducks were about to walk all over us after the Troy Terry goal in the first period. However, the Stars were ten times better in the second period, which led them to a 3-2 regulation win over the Ducks last night.
It was great to see the Stars execute on the power play for the first time Some nights you have to scrap for a win and that’s what happened last night. Here are the three takeaways from last night’s win over the Anaheim Ducks on the road.
Coach gives the Ducks credit for the pressure they put on his team at the start of the game! He also says Robo is doing fine after getting banged up a bit 🤞@Dallasstars | #TexasHockey |@ballysports pic.twitter.com/Nv245xanLu
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) October 20, 2023
Dallas Stars vs. Anaheim Ducks Recap: 3. Slow start is concerning
The Stars must come out of the gate faster than they did last night against Anaheim. The Stars literally looked like they were sleepwalking out there in the first period. With all the turnovers and terrible passing, the Ducks could have chased us out of the building by the end of 20 minutes. You have to give credit to the Ducks for putting pressure on the Stars out of the gate.
I know it doesn’t really help when you have four days off between the first and second games of the season. The Stars need to work on faster starts out of the gate starting this Saturday out of the gate.
"They are not the same Anaheim team we saw last year, and we got a dose of that right away/"
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) October 20, 2023
Pavs chimes in on that win he helped secure!@Dallasstars | #TexasHockey |@ballysports pic.twitter.com/pUV3aGsBHL
Dallas Stars vs. Anaheim Ducks Recap: 2. Finally scored on the power play this season
I thought this day was never going to come but it happened last night. The Stars took advantage of two power plays tonight to give them the lead going into the second intermission. Roope Hintz scored the first power play goal of the night and Joe Pavelski scored the second power play goal in his usual fashion. Without the power play goals tonight, the Stars would have gone home with an L capping off a 0-2 road trip.
The tip king puts us ahead 👑#TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/WKdvLthvN2
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 20, 2023
Dallas Stars vs. Anaheim Ducks Recap: 1. Ryan Suter
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room last night and that was Ryan Suter. He was responsible for both of the goals that Anaheim scored tonight. He got burned by Leo Carlsson who scored his first career NHL goal tonight. I know he can’t be traded because of his NMC but how long does Pete DeBoer give him before sitting him?
He can’t continue to be in the lineup if he continues to play the way he did last night. Based on what I’ve seen from Lian Bichsel from the Texas Stars so far, he would be a better option in the lineup. We will talk more about him on Saturday in the second edition of Down on the Farm recapping how the Texas Stars did this week.