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Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Stars Need The Best Versions Of Benn And Seguin

If change is going to come, it needs to start at the top of the roster, writes Mike Heika. Plus, the Jerk Store is back in business, the Jake Muzzin injury fallout, and more.

No lead is safe from, or for, the Dallas Stars. That fan truism showed itself again on Monday, when the Victory Green Gang blew a two-goal lead and allowed the Vegas Golden Knights four unanswered goals.

So what will they try to do differently today against the Colorado Avalanche? Stars senior staff writer Mike Heika thinks the change needs to start from the top:

Right now, the Stars’ best players are struggling. Both Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn were near invisible Monday in a 5-3 loss to Vegas in the first game of Dallas’ round-robin competition at the NHL playoff bubble in Edmonton. Their line with Denis Gurianov didn’t record a shot on goal and the trio was a combined minus-8.

“They didn’t get a shot on net, and I double shifted them a couple of times, just to try to get them going,” Bowness said. “They didn’t have a very good game, so we have to count on them being a lot better (Wednesday). If we want to win this thing, we have to count on those guys being a lot better.”

That said, the vital signs in the roster depth are looking better and better:

One of the more intriguing revelations Monday was the fact Joe Pavelski’s line was terrific (he scored a goal) and Corey Perry had several offensive chances (he scored on the power play). Both are veteran additions who could help Dallas advance further than last season.

“They were creating offense. They were spending good quality time in the offensive zone,” Bowness said. “Pavelski’s line got us on the scoreboard. Corey made a huge power play goal and made some other really good plays that didn’t result in us scoring goals, but they were still quality offensive plays. Both of those lines were generating good offensive quality chances, so very encouraging signs.”

There’s more at Mike’s place. [Dallas Stars]

Stars Stuff

The Stars want a reset, and Rick Bowness is expecting one.

Josh Clark got a glimpse of how that might look in yesterday’s practice.

Ben Bishop is a natural spokesman for the effectiveness of wearing a mask for safety.

In a world where the game experience depends more than ever on the talent at the soundboard, Grubes is, more than ever, the hero we need.

Around The League(s)

#Murder Was The Case

  • The Nashville Predators evened their series with a 4-2 win over the Arizona Coyotes, thanks to depth scoring and a playoffs-worthy performance by Juuse Saros. [On The Forecheck]
  • Injuries – including the self-inflicted kind – are taking a toll on the Winnipeg Jets, now down 2-1 in the play-in round after a 6-2 drubbing by the Calgary Flames. [Arctic Ice Hockey]
  • Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild gave up their series lead with last night’s 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks – who got two-point games from three players. [Hockey Wilderness]/

The Jerk Store called, and the playoffs are back in stock. The Carolina Hurricanes have swept the New York Rangers in qualifying.

Does the casual cross-check need to go the way of the dead puck? The sight of Jake Muzzin getting stretchered off the ice has opened an old wound.

If Muzzin’s injury – possibly a hyperextended neck – doesn’t put him on long-term injured reserve, will he still be able to re-enter the bubble? It depends.

In case anyone wonders if the NHL doesn’t really have any diversity issues, Greg Wyshynski goes back to where the work began – in 1994.

The AHL has already postponed its 2021 All-Star weekend.

But in case you missed it, the current plan is for the AHL and ECHL to begin the new season on the same day.

Finally

Does anything say “Everything’s gonna be all right” like a game-day hype video? I’m not sure anything does. Enjoy.

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