The Stars stumbled to the Thanksgiving table with back-to-back losses in games they should have won.
Happy Friday, DBDers! I hope you all had a pleasant Thanksgiving with friends, family or just yourself if you “roll” like that. While the Dallas Stars’ tough losses on Monday and Wednesday were enough to drive most of us back to the buffet table to grab an extra plate of food we really didn’t need, hope is not lost when analyzing the long-term projections of this team come postseason.
D Magazine‘s Sean Shapiro gives us a breakdown of how the NHL standings at Thanksgiving generally serve as an appetizer (too soon?) for how things shake out come spring:
“Thanksgiving is often the first major reflection point of the NHL season.
It’s the first league-wide break on the schedule, and since the 2005-06 season, 76.7 percent of teams that have been in playoff position when the turkey got carved were still there come April.
…That’s why this week is an ideal time to evaluate where the Stars sit in the NHL landscape. So, as we like to do at D, we reached out to NHL scouts and coaches around the league for their anonymous takes. “
Based on Sean and company’s interviews with various scouts and coaches, feedback included the mention that the Stars tough defense, layered with Oettinger between the pipes is how this team will (should) perform come playoff time that will become a headache for opposing teams. On the contrary:
“The biggest concern scouts had was how opponents have been able to establish positioning in front of the net, which was notable last Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, a game the Stars won 4-2.
“That’s the biggest loss of Chris Tanev,” an NHL assistant coach said. “They still haven’t found the way to protect the net like they did after that trade [last season]. “They’re still trying to find a balance, and I’m not sure if they have the pieces to make it what it was.””
Defense aside, which is one of the best in the league, our offense has been in the top third of the league. Part of this is supported by the success of the Seguin-Duchene-Marchment line that is serving as Clinique cover up for early season struggles for Robertson and Hintz. Also in our favor, one scout believes that the Stars have had a more challenging schedule thus far when compared to the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild, both who lead the Stars in the standings.
If you want an early Christmas present to unpack, you can read more from Sean and company’s interviews with NHL scouts and coaches here.
Stars Stuff
Stars take on the Colorado Avalanche tonight in a Central Division showdown. Tonight’s game is part of the Thanksgiving Showdown Doubleheader on TNT – kicked off with the Pittsburgh Penguins visiting the Boston Bruins.
The Avalanche have been hot as of late, winning 7 of their last 10. The Stars are trying to avoid their first three-game skid of the season after tough losses to the Carolina Hurricanes and Chicago Blackhawks earlier this week [ESPN].
Around The Central
With a blank slate yesterday, all the Central Division teams are back in action tonight – with the exception of the St. Louis Blues, who have an extra day to digest or eat the rest of the leftovers.
- The Chicago Blackhawks take a short flight over to St. Paul to take on the Minnesota Wild this afternoon. [ESPN]
- The Nashville Predators host the Tampa Bay Lightning this afternoon as well. Both teams have lost 3 of their last 4. [ESPN]
- The Winnipeg Jets visit the Vegas Golden Nights in what should be a very competitive game. [ESPN]
- The Utah Hockey Club has a play date with the Edmonton Oilers tonight. Both of these teams have also lost 3 of their last 4 games so let’s hope they play nice. [ESPN]
The World of Chel
Full from food but your mind is still craving more? Don’t worry, there’s a heaping plate of games today!
Finally
Although Thanksgiving was yesterday, many of us are still on holiday. This is too creative not to post:
