In this weekly feature, I look at where individuals are trending to in this handy-dandy table format. The analysis of each person is done solely by me and my observations — sometimes I do it by committee with other writers, but I’ve got the ultimate say. So if you disagree on any of these, feel free to tell me in the comments! Who doesn’t like a good ol’ hockey debate?
Two rough losses and the Dallas Stars faithful are questioning a lot of things going on with this team. How are the individual efforts in the last week, though?
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Jamie BENN |
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| Comments: Jamie Benn hasn’t scored a goal in 11 games (and counting), and only has one goal in his last 14 overall. Think that qualifies as an official goal scoring slump. | |||
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Jordie BENN |
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| Comments: Jordie Benn hasn’t been playing as well as he was to start the season. Are the defensive injuries and the callups of younger players shaking his confidence in his roster spot? | |||
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Alex CHIASSON |
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| Comments: Alex Chiasson can’t seem to find any chemistry offensively with his rotating winger on the other side. The penalty kill, where he had a big impact early on in the season, has been rough these last few games. | |||
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Erik COLE |
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| Comments: Erik Cole had a nice backhand goal (almost two goals) last night, but he was nearly invisible in the goal scoring fest against the Philadelphia Flyers. | |||
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Kevin CONNAUTON |
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| Comments: Kevin Connauton had a good start to his games, but after getting absolutely lit up in the Chicago game, was back as a healthy scratch. | |||
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Trevor DALEY |
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| Comments: Trevor Daley remains on IR with a high ankle sprain. His steadiness on the back end is missed. | |||
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Brenden DILLON |
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| Comments: Brenden Dillon struggled this week. Taking some ill-timed penalties when you’re one of the key penalty killers is not advised with such an inexperienced blueline to back you up. | |||
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Cody EAKIN |
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| Comments: Cody Eakin lost a key faceoff last night that led to the Predators‘ first goal. He’s still showing strong play with the puck, but the play without the puck at times can be cringeworthy. | |||
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Dan ELLIS |
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| Comments: Dan Ellis looked sharp in the Stars’ win over the Flyers, and appeared in mop up duty against Chicago after that game was way out of hand anyway. | |||
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Vernon FIDDLER |
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| Comments: Vernon Fiddler’s went out with an upper body injury. Expected to return by the end of the current road trip, most likely for the back-to-back set with the Colorado Avalanche next week. | |||
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Ryan GARBUTT |
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| Comments: Ryan Garbutt has been pushing through the bone bruise he has, and factored into the Stars’ only two goals against Chicago. He and Antoine Roussel have some good chemistry working. | |||
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Alex GOLIGOSKI |
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| Comments: Alex Goligoski continues to register points, one of the only ones helping on the offensive from the back end. | |||
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Sergei GONCHAR |
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| Comments: Sergei Gonchar will score a goal soon. I can feel it. He looked quite dangerous last night, and had many shot attempts (even if a lot were blocked) — seemingly the most of any game yet this season. | |||
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Shawn HORCOFF |
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| Comments: Shawn Horcoff has bounced around lines with different linemates, and that inconsistency these last few games hasn’t helped him put up any numbers offensively. Then again, the whole team has kind of struggled there… | |||
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Dustin JEFFREY |
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| Comments: Dustin Jeffrey has speed that actually looked good between Antoine Roussel and Ryan Garbutt. Thought he was lost to yet another injury last night, but he did return so hopefully he’s still good to continue pushing for ice time. | |||
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Kari LEHTONEN |
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| Comments: Kari Lehtonen had a rare off week, posting his worst save percentage of the season so far before getting pulled against Chicago. It’s not normal to see the big Finn between the pipes with such mediocre stats as the past week provided. Hopefully it’s a blip on the radar and he’ll bounce back nicely versus the Winnipeg Jets tomorrow. | |||
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Valeri NICHUSHKIN |
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| Comments: Valeri Nichushkin had quite the breakout performance versus the Philadelphia Flyers. The next step in development for him offensively is to find some consistency in putting up points. | |||
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Jamie OLEKSIAK |
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| Comments: Jamie Oleksiak continues to leave you wanting just a little bit more or just something a little bit different in his play. Could moving him to be a front-net presence on the power play help to bust the team’s slump in that area – and can he do it? Things to ponder as we watch the rookie defenseman. | |||
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Rich PEVERLEY |
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| Comments: Rich Peverley may be the “glue” guy you can shift to any line and play well, but I feel like the poor guy needs a line to stay together for a game or two so he can establish his own game. | |||
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Stephane ROBIDAS |
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| Comments: Still sending all the good wishes for a speedy recovery to Stephane Robidas . | |||
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Antoine ROUSSEL |
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| Comments: Antoine Roussel managed to score the only two goals for Dallas in their loss to Chicago and get 16 penalty minutes, all in the same game! He’s been more than carrying the water on the depth scoring front lately. | |||
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Tyler SEGUIN |
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| Comments: Tyler Seguin bounced back from his five game pointless streak with a natural hat trick in the Stars’ only win this week. | |||
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Ray WHITNEY |
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| Comments: Ray Whitney continues to boggle my mind a little bit. Aging veteran who has lost a step? Bad puck luck? What’s his deal? Jury still out. | |||