One game into a new season is no time to panic. The Dallas Stars picked up their first win of the season, a 4-3 special teams special in Nashville against the Predators. 5×5, the Stars were fine, if a bit rusty. Mason Marchment scored on the power play, although on four opportunities, Dallas spent most of the time trying to figure out the zone entry.
The penalty kill was another story. First off, taking six penalties in one game is not ideal. Esa Lindell and Ilya Lyubushkin handled the bulk of the defender minutes, with a rotating cast of forwards – including Wyatt Johnston as the leader in minutes. Maybe the team is looking for the best combinations – and there is even a chance that the Predators are going to have a quality power play this season – but its hard not to think that Dallas was lucky to only give up one goal against while playing a man down.
The shots that the post didn’t save were flat out misses. It’s not that Jake Oettinger wasn’t good – he seemed focused and made several quality saves – but Nashville left a lot out on the ice Thursday night and in the overall scheme of things, probably should have won the game.
Then again, maybe don’t read to much into this game.
Dallas Stars Lineup
Jason Robertson (21) – Roope Hintz (24) – Logan Stankoven (11)
Mason Marchment (27) – Matt Duchene (95) – Tyler Seguin (91)
Jamie Benn (14) – Wyatt Johnston (53) – Evgenii Dadonov (63)
Sam Steel (18) – Oskar Bäck (21) – Colin Blackwell (15)
Miro Heiskanen (4) – Matt Dumba (3)
Thomas Harley (55) – Ilya Lyubushkin (46)
Esa Lindell (23) – Nils Lundqvist (5)
Jake Oettinger (29)
Casey DeSmith (1)
Until we know better, Oskar Bäck draws in. Once Mavrik Bourque is ready to go, he’ll draw in and the lines will shuffle. Stankoven certainly looked good on the top line against Nashville, and there are reasons to believe that Bourque would be a good fit with Benn and Johnston on a reconstituted third line. Expect Pete DeBoer to experiment with the top nine (maybe six – since Marchment, Duchene and Seguin appear to be sancrosanct).
Defensively, the Heiskanen – Dumba pairing got off to a less than impressive start. Pairings will settle. It will be interesting to see Lundqvist’s spot in the pecking order. Does Brendan Smith draw in once over the weekend, or is he a designated seventh defender?
Given the back to back games this weekend, DeSmith probably makes his Stars debut. I’d venture a guess that it will be against the Kraken, but that’s just a gut feeling.
New York Islanders Lineup
Anthony Duclair (11) – Bo Horvat (14) – Mathew Barzal (13)
Maxim Tsyplakov (7) – Brock Nelson (29) – Kyle Palmieri (21)
Anders Lee (27) – Jean-Gabriel Pageau (44) – Simon Holmstrom (10)
Casey Cizikas (53) – Kyle MacLean (32) – Oliver Wahlstrom (26)
Alexander Romanov (28) – Noah Dobson (8)
Adam Pelech (3) – Ryan Pulock (6)
Mike Reilly (2) – Scott Mayfield (24)
Semyon Varlamov (40)
Ilya Sorokin (30)
Sorokin is practicing with the team after off season back surgery, so Varlamov has the net to start the season.
This is basically the same borderline playoff team from last season, with Patrick Roy getting a full season behind the bench. Defensively, the team relies on their goaltending tandem, plus two solid top pairs on the blue line. Pelech and Pulock have been successful together for multiple seasons, and a good year from Dobson would put him in the Norris conversation. Paired with Romanov, the two are dependable with a bit of offensive upside.
The Islanders biggest issue is on offense. Duclair was brought in to see if anything could be done to make the team more than a one line wonder. Tsyplakov is a KHL transplant, and the hope is that he can handle the tougher competition in the NHL without too significant a dropoff. In the teams first game – an OT loss to Utah Hockey Club – the Islanders top two lines were competitive, but in no way dominating. Given the changes, not unexpected, but the bottom six got caved in. For the Islanders to be successful, the top six need to carry them.
Things to Watch
I’m going to try to do something different this year. Instead of “Keys to the Game”, where I’ve been focusing on areas where each team might take advantage of their own strengths or their opponents weaknesses, this year I’m go to highlight a few areas to keep your eyes while watching.
When I watch games, I tend to concentrate on individual players – not the puck (in my view, being “puck focused” is a way to miss the anticipatory action of the game – and if you miss something big around the puck, the broadcast will usually give you a slow motion highlight anyway, so you really don’t miss it). Following the puck gives a feel for the game, but doesn’t tell you anything deeper.
Anyway, for the game against the Islanders, here is where my eyes will be.
Dallas Right Side Defenders.
Dumba and Lyubushkin are new and still finding a role. Lundqvist needs to identify and solidify a role. One of this trio will be on the ice at all times, so I’ll be watching them. How do they handle pressure, what kind of gaps do they leave. How do they read off of their defensive partners (and interact with their forwards).
Duclair with the Islanders to line.
For the Islanders, keep an eye on Duclair. He has been given a role on the New York top line – and Horvat and Barzal are great partners – but if Duclair can’t find chemistry with them, this Islanders team is going become a one line wonder, and likely miss the playoffs.
On a side note (and I don’t know how you “watch” this), but Patrick Roy is one of those few coaches who seems to have Pete DeBoer’s number. He’s 7-2 over his career (including taking it to the Stars in his first game last year). Dallas is the better team, but they have something to prove tonight.
It’s the home opener, so Carpet Walk and all of the festivities. Victory+ making its debut.