Its not like the Dallas Stars didn’t challenge the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night. The team had their chances – and number of them of the high danger variety. On Monday night, the Boston Bruins bring their own challenges for Dallas.
First and foremost is hot goaltending – and with Matt Duchene missing the last parts of the Vancouver game after taking a hard hit, things aren’t going to get easier for the Stars.
So, Radek Faksa may be close to drawing back in. Matt Duchene is day-to-day, but in any event, Faksa isn’t going to replace what Duchene brings. For tonight, it looks like an eleven forward, seven defender setup with Joel Hanley finally making his season debut.
Dallas Stars Lineup
Jason Robertson (21) – Roope Hintz (24) – Joe Pavelski (16)
Jamie Benn (14) – Wyatt Johnston (53) – Evgenii Dadonov (63)
Mason Marchment (27) – Sam Steel (18) – Tyler Seguin (91)
Craig Smith (15) – Ty Dellandrea (10)
Ryan Suter (20) – Miro Heiskanen (4)
Esa Lindell (23) – Jani Hakanpää (2)
Thomas Harley (55) – Nils Lundkvist (5)
Joel Hanley (44)
Jake Oettinger (29)
Scott Wedgewood (41)
For the last two periods on Saturday, Lindell and Hakanpää were reunited as a defensive pairing. This continued through morning skate – so maybe this is more than an in-game adjustment. Neither player specializes in clean zone exits – and Boston knows how to cycle in the offensive zone.
As strong as Lindell and Hakanpää may be at defensive hockey, the best defense is to play in the offensive zone.
Boston Bruins Lineup
James van Riemsdyk (21) – Pavel Zacha (18) – David Pastrnak (88)
Brad Marchand (63) – Charlie Coyle (13) – Jake DeBrusk (74)
Trent Frederic (11) – Matthew Poitras (51) – Morgan Geekie (39)
Danton Heinen (43) – John Beecher (19) – Oskar Steen (62)
Hampus Lindholm (27) – Brandon Carlo (25)
Mason Lohrei (6) – Kevin Shattenkirk (12)
Parker Wotherspoon (29) – Ian Mitchell (14)
Linus Ullmark (35)
Jeremy Swayman (1)
Poitras is the surprise. With 11 games played, the Guelph Storm center has blown through his NHL tryout games and he will not be going back to the OHL. At 4G, 3A and 11P, he’s been incredibly producting for a late second round pick in the 2022 draft. Poitras has given the Bruins a respectable third line, which has been a major contributing factor the Boston’s great start.
Defensively, the Bruins netminders have consistently been keeping opponents to two goals or less – with save percentages well above 92%.
This may be hard to maintain. Half of Boston’s top defenders are out. Derek Forbort is day-to-day, so he may return – but Matt Grzelcyk has been moved to long-term injured reserve and Charlie McAvoy is in the middle of serving a four game suspension.
Heinen is a recent signing after being on a Professional Tryout.
Keys to the Game
Bruins Defense. The Stars are facing a Boston defense that is missing key pieces. Both teams are balanced – but without Duchene, Dallas needs to find a way to take advantage of the less experienced blue line.
First Period. The first game back after a long roadtrip can be difficult. For a Stars team that has had trouble starting strong in the first period, getting down early could be a significant problem.
Stars. Pastrnak and Marchand have been around for seemingly forever – but they are both still producing. Dallas needs to win the battle of Stars on the top two lines.