Comments / New

Dallas Stars Daily Links: The Process Breaks Down Against Toronto, 7-4

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

The Dallas Stars had to come back to Earth, and last night proved it. The team scored four goals and still lost as John Tavares and the Toronto Maple Leafs pounced on power play opportunities and sloppy defense to win 7-4.

Stars senior staff writer Mike Heika reflected on head coach Jim Montgomery’s tenets for winning, collectively called The Process, and how the Stars stumbled over them last night:

It’s important, because it hammers home things that need to become instinctive. It’s important, because it’s an easily identifiable reminder of things that can be very difficult to do against a team like the Maple Leafs. It’s important, because it provides a structure to use when you go to video sessions or three days of practice before meeting Anaheim on Saturday.

”This is going to be a good learning experience for us,” Montgomery said. “I thought our effort and our emotion was very good. Our execution wasn’t where it needed to be against a very good hockey club. I think their speed and creativity forced our mistakes. Our rush defense was poor tonight. We got beat for icings that should never happen.”

The defense came in for a fair share of responsibility for the loss:

They gave the puck away, they failed to clear the front of the net, they read the neutral zone wrong. John Klingberg and Esa Lindell were front and center in those deficiencies, and Klingberg said he simply has to be better than that.

Mike has more. [Dallas Stars]

Klinger also says the Leafs were “more hungry in front of the net”:

Jason Spezza bemoaned the “easy goals” the Stars gave away:

But hey, at least this game produced another Tyler Seguin viral moment:

Stars Stories

“Today we kind of didn’t do enough, and they make us pay.” Alexander Radulov on last night, in a nutshell.

Miro Heiskanen earned his first NHL point and looked as if he’d rather have the W.

Finnish sports media is loving it, though, as “Heiskanen [opens] his point account.”

Segs posted another amazing stat even in loss.

Around the League(s)

It was a rough night for #Death, mostly:

  • The Colorado Avalanche lost a 5-2 contest to the Columbus Blue Jackets, in which Nick Foligno scored two goals and Alexander Wennberg earned two points. [The Cannon]
  • Mike Smith earned the shutout and Johnny Gaudreau earned assists on every goal as the Calgary Flames blanked the Nashville Predators 3-0. [Matchsticks And Gasoline]
  • The Winnipeg Jets fared better against the Los Angeles Kings, 2-1 – even as Jack Campbell stopped 37 shots for L.A. and earned Third Star of the Game honors. [NHL]/

In Amazing Accomplishments news, Mark Scheifele finally caught ’em all last night.

And there’s more good news for former Stars out in California: Patrick Eaves practiced with the Anaheim Ducks yesterday and is getting closer to a return to action. [NHL]

The Victory Green Gang got a long, uncomfortable look at Auston Matthews and his frightening shot last night. Justin Bourne has taken an even closer examination.

Matt Murray is on IR with his second concussion in nine months, and the Pittsburgh Penguins need to think long and hard about their goalie pipeline, writes Jared Clinton.

The Carolina Hurricanes are doing something new after wins, and seems to be weirdly polarizing among people who are not Canes fans. What do you think?

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park

The Texas Stars are the new home of Nicholas Caamano, and they want you to know it.

Finally

NHL on NBC takes you back to 1993 and one of the most jaw-dropping displays of weaponized derp ever captured on video: the very first season opener of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Enjoy, or something.

Talking Points