Last night, the Dallas Stars played the kind of fast-paced, uptempo game that once made them look like the future of the NHL. Unfortunately, they no longer seem to be good at it.
The 5-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs showed what tends to happen when the Victory Green Gang faces a team that’s embraced that identity fully. Sean Shapiro takes a look at how the Stars’ evolution has taken them away from the style that used to be their signature:
It’s through the minutiae that they play the most effective, boring hockey in the NHL. When games are boring, the Stars are typically winning. They’re locking down the other team and nothing really happens.
When games are exciting and provide substantial entertainment, they tend to end poorly for the Stars.
That’s what happened against Toronto. Dallas failed to lock things down on its end, and even though it scored thrice, it had to play from behind and let the high-flying Maple Leafs get loose too often on breakdowns or turnovers.
Was it just last year that the future was overpowering opponents with speed and possession?…
It’s not stunning when you look at the Stars over the past two seasons, but it is a massive reversal of mindset from what Dallas planned to adopt before the 2018-19 season.
Remember when the Stars hired Jim Montgomery and offered platitudes about how they would become a puck-possession team that played relentlessly?
There’s more behind the paywall. [The Athletic DFW]
Stars Stuff
Dear Stars: Please keep letting Denis Gurianov do things like this.
Too fast, too furious 😎
Gurianov puts the pedal to the floor (again) and buries this one top shelf to get the @DallasStars on the board!#GoStars | 📺: FSSW pic.twitter.com/1ZX85dlt5X
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) January 30, 2020
The team celebrated former Star Jason Spezza in fine fashion.
Nice little tribute for Jason Spezza’s return (and a big grin 😁). #GoStars #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/pbYoLN3wAK
— SportsDay Stars (@dmn_stars) January 30, 2020
And Jamie Benn got a stick tap for something he didn’t do.
Excellent pick-up by Friedman/Burke/Marek here … Department of Player Safety should use this as a teaching vid. Benn could’ve ruined a vulnerable opponent, onus is on hitter to avoid the head, he wisely passed where a few years ago few most players would’ve lit the guy up. pic.twitter.com/vsnlT7WqiP
— Justin Bourne (@jtbourne) January 30, 2020
Around The League(s)
#Murder Was The Case
- Jarred Tinordi netted his first NHL goal as the Nashville Predators ground out a 5-4 victory over the Washington Capitals. [On The Forecheck]/
Even in loss, Alex Ovechkin wins. He scored his 693rd NHL goal, passing Steve Yzerman for ninth place on the all-time list.
The Great 8 did this, too.
Alex Ovechkin wearing Kobe’s number 24 in the warm-up for the @Capitals tonight. He will sign it and auction it off for charity. pic.twitter.com/SPAk0mxDu9
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) January 30, 2020
Because you may want to know the ending, even though the story sucks: Zack Kassian vs. Matthew Tkachuk in Canada Wars Part Next.
The tilt the hockey world has been waiting for – Zack Kassian gets his shot at Matthew Tkachuk in the Battle of Alberta. 👀 💥 💪
(🎥: @Sportsnet) pic.twitter.com/TyGgIVAqkf
— theScore (@theScore) January 30, 2020
Kassian has plenty to celebrate, even though the Oilers lost to the Flames.
Kassian contract breakdown:
Year 1: $2.5M salary, $1M signing bonus.
Year 2: $2.5M salary, $1M signing bonus.
Year 3: $3.5M salary.
Year 4: $2.3M salary.The contract does not include any type of no-trade protection.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 30, 2020
Silly season is approaching, so here’s your chance to figure out what a team will have to give up to get Shayne Gostisbehere.
Will the Penguins circle back to former trade target Zucker? What are the Maple Leafs pursuing? And is a prominent Flyers defender on the market?
Find out more in the latest Rumor Roundup:https://t.co/hMpgS8Z7CE
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) January 29, 2020
Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park
Some lucky fans could be having a pretty memorable Valentine’s Day, courtesy of the Texas Stars and their rascally mascot.
.@TXStarsRingo himself will be personally delivering Valentines this year! 💕
Email Ringo at ringo@texasstars.com for more information!
The deadline to order is by noon on Friday, February 7th. Location restrictions apply. pic.twitter.com/Yny8pdbQkN— Texas Stars (@TexasStars) January 29, 2020
Finally
Brett Hull, mic’ed up at the NHL All-Star Game. That’s it.