In this weekly feature, I look at where individuals are trending to in this handy-dandy table format. The analysis of each person is done solely by me and my observations — sometimes I do it by committee with other writers, but I’ve got the ultimate say. So if you disagree on any of these, feel free to tell me in the comments! Who doesn’t like a good ol’ hockey debate?
At least they broke that six game losing streak? Silver linings. It’d be nice if they got on a good roll against the Western foes coming up on the schedule fast and furious.
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Jamie BENN |
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| Comments: Jamie Benn scored nearly a point per game this week. I’d like to see him be dominant against more than just the weakest opponents in the league, though. Unfair? Possibly. But those better teams are where the Stars seem to struggle to get points, and your best players need to be their best at those times. | |||
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Jordie BENN |
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| Comments: Jordie Benn and Brenden Dillon aren’t an ideal defensive pairing to my eyes. He struggled mightily versus the Boston Bruins last night. | |||
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Alex CHIASSON |
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| Comments: Alex Chiasson has now gone 19 straight games without a goal. He’s put up eight assists in that span, however. His numbers at the lower levels never really indicated he was a pure goal scorer – is this more the Chiasson we should expect? He also looks like he’s getting some of his strength back, as he’s been stronger on the puck recently than he had been since getting sick. | |||
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Erik COLE |
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| Comments: Erik Cole benefited from shifting up to the top line, but when he gets bumped down he all but disappears for long stretches of the game. His power play goal last night looked more accidental than intentional, but we’ll take them however we can get them. | |||
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Kevin CONNAUTON |
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| Comments: The Kevin Connauton settled in nicely paired with Sergei Gonchar, and he’s been pretty consistent on his style of play recently. He’s made some smarter calls on when to pinch in the offensive zone, and his defensive side is benefiting from it. | |||
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Trevor DALEY |
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| Comments: Trevor Daley made some good plays to keep players off the board, and then he makes a play where he sprawls on the ground to cut off the pass with a guy streaking down the side completely uncovered by his partner and he’s on Kari Lehtonen’s lap to not allow him to make the save. Guess which one is focused on more…? | |||
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Brenden DILLON |
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| Comments: Brenden Dillon has a tendency to be a bit overagressive, and at times Jordie Benn showed panic when Dillon did that. I don’t like defensmen panicking, personally, so I’d prefer these two to be broken up please and thank you. | |||
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Cody EAKIN |
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| Comments: Cody Eakin has centered one of the more consistent lines for the Stars throughout this worst January ever. | |||
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Dan ELLIS |
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| Comments: Dan Ellis improved his save percentage immensely in his next outing after a terrible loss earlier in the month, but he still wasn’t able to get the support necessary to win a game in front of him. | |||
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Vernon FIDDLER |
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| Comments: Vernon Fiddler took on both Adam McQuaid and Zdeno Chara at the SAME TIME. I’m just so happy he survived! | |||
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Ryan GARBUTT |
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| Comments: Ryan Garbutt appears to be taking his coach’s comments to heart. He’s playing a great game right now and figuring out a way to walk the line between “hard to play against” and “reckless”. | |||
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Alex GOLIGOSKI |
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| Comments: Alex Goligoski is a conundrum – is his bad play this stretch caused by his new partner, or is it that his previous partner made him better? | |||
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Sergei GONCHAR |
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| Comments: Sergei Gonchar scored his first goal and I thought looked pretty good paired with Connauton. | |||
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Shawn HORCOFF |
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| Comments: Shawn Horcoff, you really shouldn’t take penalties that put one of your key penalty killers in the box. Bad things tend to happen. | |||
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Dustin JEFFREY |
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| Comments: Dustin Jeffrey can’t crack the lineup consistently, and when he has a chance to show something he’s missing on them. Hard to figure out what you have in him if he’s not used. | |||
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Kari LEHTONEN |
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| Comments: Kari Lehtonen has given the Stars every opportunity to stay in and win games, but the puck support in front of him isn’t giving him any wins. Too bad, as they’ve wasted several good goaltending outings in this stretch with nothing to show for it. | |||
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Valeri NICHUSHKIN |
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| Comments: Valeri Nichushkin has gone five games without registering a point, an unfortunate coincidence to this losing streak? Would be good to see him produce away from the top lines he’s matched up again when playing with Benn and Seguin. | |||
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Rich PEVERLEY |
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| Comments: Rich Peverley cooled off this past week, and on a team that needs consistent depth scoring it’s hurt to see him hit a cold streak at this time. | |||
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Stephane ROBIDAS |
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| Comments: Still sending all the good wishes for a speedy recovery to Stephane Robidas. He was on skates this week. Progress! | |||
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Aaron ROME |
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| Comments: Aaron Rome got injured again in his one appearance this week. Seems like he may be back, but the question is for how long before he’s hurt again? | |||
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Antoine ROUSSEL |
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| Comments: Antoine Roussel is another one finding the good side of that fine line Garbutt is dealing with. Not sure what he said last night, but he’s able to get under some people’s skin on the ice and cause shenanigans. The positive is that he’s either taking guys off with him or not committing penalties and drawing some opportunities for the Stars now, which he wasn’t always doing this season. | |||
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Tyler SEGUIN |
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| Comments: Tyler Seguin found a way to get back on the scoresheet, and lost in the loss last night was the fact that he went 71.4% on the faceoff dot. He can’t do it all himself, though, and he needs guys to contribute as well on offense to see this ship righted. | |||
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Ray WHITNEY |
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| Comments: Ray Whitney can still score. | |||