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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Stars Refocus On Defense As Ottawa Contest Looms

Is the best offense a better defense - at least for now? Plus, preparing for Fiesta Night, the Seattle Kraken has the kind of problem you (may) want, and more.

The Dallas Stars are giving up fewer penalties, but they’re also giving up more net-front goals. As a consequence, they’re poised to edge back toward their core identity as a defensive team.

The Dallas Morning News’ Matthew DeFranks previewed this focus shift in his latest article:

Following Tuesday night’s 4-0 loss to the Maple Leafs, the Stars now have given up 23 goals in their last seven games. It was the ninth time in the last 14 games that Dallas had given up four or more goals.

“The things that jump out at me: soft around the net and penalties,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said after practice on Wednesday afternoon. “We’re starting to clean up the penalty problem, which obviously puts a lot of pressure on your goaltending. The front of the net stuff is something that we’re talking about and spending time on.”

One player who might be spending less time on ice in general: Ryan Suter. The veteran defender will probably see his minutes limited in selective ways, starting on the second power-play unit:

“It’s a long season, Sutes is a very valuable guy for us, but he’s not 20 years old anymore,” DeBoer said. “He can’t play 25 or 28 minutes and in every situation. It’s another option for us there with the second unit, if Sutes’ minutes get too high and we need him in other areas.”...

“Playing 24 minutes a night early in the season is different than playing 24 minutes a night at Game 70 and into the playoffs,” DeBoer said. “The bottom line is everybody on this team is sacrificing some minutes to play the way we want to play.”

Matt has more. [SportsDayDFW]

Stars Stuff

The Victory Green Gang is protecting the house on Fiesta Night. Here’s how to watch.

Around The Leagues

In On The #Kill Taker

  • Kirill Kaprizov set a new franchise record, but the Minnesota Wild wrecked themselves with penalties in a 5-3 loss to the Calgary Flames. [Hockey Wilderness]
  • It happens to the best of them, apparently: The Colorado Avalanche lost their third in a row in a 4-0 shutout by the Boston Bruins. [Mile High Hockey]
  • And the Arizona Coyotes ended a 14-game road trip with an 8-2 drubbing by the Edmonton Oilers. [Five For Howling]/

The #MurderDeathKill Division is the only one with five teams in the Super 16 – including the Stars in the Elite 8.

The Seattle Kraken have made a stunning turnaround in their second season. But will they do better by shooting for the playoffs now, or by committing to a multiyear plan?

The good news: Hockey Canada’s Rule 11.4 is working. The bad news: It’s working too hard.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

If you need another reason to drop in on the Texas Stars, there are a couple of big ones to mark this weekend’s home-and-away with the Chicago Wolves.

Finally

It’s official: Denis Gurianov wins Holiday Wars. Enjoy.

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