After watching yesterday’s 2-0 loss against the Nashville Predators, you can’t blame Dallas Stars fans for rolling their eyes and saying, “Here we go again.”
Sure, it was just an exhibition game that didn’t count for anything. But there was enough similarity between the game and how the Stars played during their six-game losing streak to end the regular season:
“The timing was off, you saw guys who were wide open and we made bad passes,” [interim head coach Rick] Bowness said. “The decisions were the right ones, but the timing was bad.”
The lack of shots on net were a big concern, and highlighted the Stars’ scoring woes from the past couple seasons. The players were getting their shots off — they just weren’t going anywhere:
“We had 59 shot attempts, but the disappointing part is the 23 shots blocked…” Bowness said. “I think we were a little slow releasing the puck and I think some of our best looks we didn’t get good wood on it. There were some things we liked, and we’re just going to have to keep working on it.”
You can read more from Mike Heika here.
Stars Stories
Sean Shapiro gives his thoughts on the game in his first non-scrimmage 20/20 in *checks notes* forever:
Stars 20/20: Lack of offense and Seguin’s ailment concerning in exhibition loss https://t.co/eCxcTJ9h3c
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) July 31, 2020
Matthew DeFranks has the same takeaways:
An identity and a personality flaw, one in the same, even in an exhibition game. https://t.co/s49B1ItJdm
— Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) July 31, 2020
Here’s some more quotes from Bowness in his post-game interview:
“There’s some things that we liked and things we’re just gonna have to keep working on.”@ATT | #GoStars pic.twitter.com/E8k4GGe7Y8
— x-Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) July 30, 2020
And here’s Jamie Benn, who is definitely a “mood”:
“Now the real game begins.”
The Captain speaks…and he’s ready for playoff hockey.@jamiebenn14 | @DallasStars | #GoStars pic.twitter.com/PhA2bBgQGV
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) July 31, 2020
Around the League
The other two games from last night wrapped up the exhibition period with a pair of 4-1 wins — the Columbus Blue Jackets over the Boston Bruins and the Vegas Golden Knights against the Arizona Coyotes:
Blue Jackets dominate Bruins early in postseason dress rehearsal https://t.co/x4vxBn43eb
— The Cannon (@cbjcannon) July 31, 2020
RECAP: The Golden Knights took a solid first step in their long, abnormal journey toward the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the 4-1 win over Arizona. #VegasBorn https://t.co/Yyg2fXY7Fd
— Knights On Ice (@knightsonice) July 31, 2020
Personally I’m not a huge fan of quizzes like this, but that might be because I always suck at them:
ICYMI: Take our NHL refresher quiz and prove you remember the 2019-20 season. | @seangentille and @m_bultmanhttps://t.co/IDVrcqyPQS
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) July 31, 2020
Still can’t wrap your head around this year’s playoff system? Greg Wyshynski has got you covered:
Much has happened since the NHL shut down in March. We all could use a refresher. In the spirit of my “lapsed fan” guides for WWE, here’s a FAQ about the Stanley Cup Playoff restart. Please read and pass it on to the casual fans in your life (on Facebook). https://t.co/ckgi43smeJ
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) July 31, 2020
Pierre LeBrun spoke with Bill Daly on the playoffs, the new CBA, and more:
A one-on-one interview with NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly who discusses the NHL’s return to play, the new CBA and 2020-21 season. | @PierreVLeBrun https://t.co/YrDRR7Nhki
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) July 31, 2020
Finally, this is why you do not give 31 year-old goaltenders seven year deals worth $10M annually:
What should the Florida Panthers do with Sergei Bobrovsky if things don’t improve? https://t.co/hOx7RQ7SW1
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) July 31, 2020