What the heck was that?
The Dallas Stars, throughout the off-season, were expected to be a team that would score many goals, and perhaps struggle on the back end. We’ve labored through the first two weeks of the season to reconcile that with the realities of what’s been seen on the ice thus far, and the results have been…confusing.
Low scoring affairs, struggles on the power play… It hasn’t always made a lot of sense. Until tonight, where they finally got to five, but struggled on the defensive end. Which was what we expected, and now hate, to see. The Stars lose SIX to five, and remain winless at home on the season.
The Flyers out-played the Stars from start to finish tonight, using their physicality and a strong cycle game to hem Ruff’s bunch in their own end for elongated stretches of play. Dallas struggled to find open ice for their transition game, and threatened virtually only when Seguin’s line was on the ice.
The final shot total was 37 to 23, but that doesn’t illustrate the lopsided nature of possession in this game.
On the bright side, the power play was great. The penalty kill was nearly good enough, until being tasked one too many times, finally surrendering the game-winner in overtime.
Trevor Daley was involved in everything. Two power play goals, both from Seguin and Spezza. A really unfortunate own-goal late in the third, and a clearing attempt that he sent right into the linesman that came back to bite them. Either way, go pick him up in fantasy if he’s still available.
Jordie Benn was involved in much as well.
Then burn the tape of this one.
I’ll be back with more in a bit.