Dallas Stars Daily Links: Stars’ Win Looks Like A Jim Montgomery Work

The Dallas Stars scored three times in 96 seconds to defeat the Arizona Coyotes in front of a raucous home crowd. Fans could hardly have asked for a better way to start the 2018-19 season, and much of it was wrought by a veteran goalie and a rookie bench boss.

A peak-form Ben Bishop kept the scoring at zero until the Stars’ offense heated up, with Devin Shore breaking through in the second period to begin the rapid-fire goal bonanza. The victory highlighted exactly the sort of hockey new head coach Jim Montgomery has promised, wrote Matthew DeFranks in The Dallas Morning News:

It was a renaissance of the high-flying Stars, one largely absent last season with Ken Hitchcock implemented his defensive style. It was what Montgomery preached when he took over his first NHL job, and part of what will assimilate the Stars with the modern game of hockey. The Stars will pressure the puck, possess the puck and unleash their skill.

”I thought the guys did a good job of pushing the pace that first half of the game,” Bishop said. “I thought we were really taking it to them and had some good opportunities. You got a little glimpse of the style of play he wants us to play, and hopefully we can keep building on it.”

There’s more under the paywall. [SportsDayDFW]

Stars Stories

Montgomery was positively buoyant in the postgame presser.

NHL.com’s headline says, “MUST SEE: Alexander Radulov’s amazing backhander,” and are they wrong?

Jeff Veillette approves.

Around the League(s)

The #MurderDeathKill Division is starting the season true to form:

• The Nashville Predators won their own opening night, defeating the New York Rangers 3-2 behind Pekka Rinne’s .944 SV%. [On The Forecheck]
• Patrick Kane scored the overtime winner as the Chicago Blackhawks squeaked past the Ottawa Senators 4-3. [Second City Hockey]
• The Winnipeg Jets trounced the St. Louis Blues 5-1 with the help of three goals in the third period and a 41-save performance from Connor Hellebuyck. [NHL]
• And in more Central-on-Central violence, the Colorado Avalanche spanked the Minnesota Wild 4-1 and won the shots-on-goal battle 41-20. [Mile High Hockey]

Rasmus Dahlin made a much-anticipated NHL debut with the Buffalo Sabres, but the Boston Bruins drove them to defeat 4-0.

The Vegas Golden Knights dropped a 5-2 season opener to Wayne Simmonds and the Philadelphia Flyers, and here’s a sudden realization:

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

The Texas Stars open their season tonight in Cedar Park, and here’s their official 2018-19 roster.

Finally

The NHL’s latest generational talent may have had a rough debut, but he can take comfort from this fan tribute, sung to the tune of a Dolly Parton classic. Enjoy.