:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57079571/858793028.0.jpg)
The Detroit Red Wings are off to a very good start, winning both of their first two games. They have yet to allow a power play goal, and have only allowed 1.50 goals against per game. Jimmy Howard is rocking a .961 save percentage.
What could possibly go wrong when the Dallas Stars take them on?
They haven’t exactly lit the world on fire offensively. A lot of that has to do with the opposing goaltenders they have gone up against looking like Vezina winners. Now they’ll come up against another hot goaltender while they’re looking for an offensive breakthrough.
It’s not exactly a recipe for success for Dallas.
However, not all is lost. The Stars are looking quite good in advanced analytics. 5th in Corsi (they’re controlling puck possession at even strength). 6th in high-danger scoring chances. 29th of 31 teams in PDO (a measure of luck generated mainly but those hot opposing goaltenders). Best team in suppressing shots against per game. And to top it all off, they have an abysmal team shooting percentage.
Several of those metrics are going to regress to the mean, which should lead to more goals and success on the ice. The trick will be for the Stars to trust the system and not start cherry-picking offensive chances or gripping their sticks too tightly. They need to maintain their defensive structure and trust that the goals will come.
Basically, they need patience, the one word that is easier to say and not so easy to embrace.
From Stars PR:
HOTLINE KLING
Defenseman John Klingberg recorded a goal (1-0=1) on Saturday night at Scottrade Center against the St. Louis Blues and now is riding a two-game point streak (1-1=2). Klingberg is tied for the team-lead with two points (1-1=2) and shares the club-lead with one goal. The blueliner has points in three of his last four games (1-3=4) against the Red Wings, potting his first career goal (1-0=1) vs. Detroit on Jan. 12, 2017 in his lone game during the 2016-17 season against them. Klingberg finished the 2016-17 regular-season tied for 10th among NHL defensemen with 49 points (13-36=49) in a career-high 80 games. The native of Gothenburg, Sweden registered career highs with 13 goals and four power play goals last season, which was tied for ninth and 11th among League blueliners, respectively.