Lock thing down, play from the beginning to the end and win the goaltending battle. Those were the Dallas Stars Keys to the Game against the Winnipeg Jets. Spot on, as Jake Oettinger put up his first shutout of the year, while the skaters in front of him gave him his best 200 foot support in recent memory.
It could be argued that Jets Head Coach Rick Bowness dominated the game. Both teams played a shutdown, dump and chase, low event hockey. The ironic thing is that Bowness’s old team beat his new team at their own game. Even the third period turtle led to a Stars goal.
The Calgary Flames will be a different story. In two games this year, the teams have combined for 14 goals – and this season isn’t an anomaly. After seeing the results from Tuesday night, the Stars may want to push for a lower event game against the Flames. Dallas certainly can win a track meet, but playing within a more controlled system seems to lead to better results.
Dallas Stars Lineup
Jamie Benn (14) – Roope Hintz (24) – Joe Pavelski (16)
Jason Robertson (21) – Wyatt Johnston (53) – Evgenii Dadonov (63)
Mason Marchment (27) – Matt Duchene (95) – Tyler Seguin (91)
Craig Smith (15) – Radek Faksa (12) – Sam Steel (18)
Ryan Suter (20) – Miro Heiskanen (4)
Esa Lindell (23) – Jani Hakanpää (2)
Thomas Harley (55) – Nils Lundkvist (5)
Jake Oettinger (29)
Scott Wedgewood (41)
The Flames game was arguably the worst game this season by the Duchene line. All three forwards had an expected goal percentage in the 10-20% range. Nothing here indicates that Calgary did anything to stop the trio that has been the Stars best line over the last month. Just a bad game.
Oettinger was also uncharacteristically fighting the puck for most of the night. Again, not a long term concern – and it would be difficult to keep him out of the net to follow-up on Tuesday’s shutout.
Presented without comment:
Calgary Flames Lineup
Andrew Mangiapane (88) – Elias Lindholm (28) – Yegor Sharangovich (17)
Jonathan Huberdeau (10) – Mikael Backlund (11) – Blake Coleman (20)
Connor Zary (47) – Nazem Kadri (91) – Martin Pospisil (76)
A. J. Greer (18) – Adam Ruzicka (63) – Dillon Dube (29)
MacKenzie Weegar (52) – Rasmus Andersson (4)
Noah Hanifin (55) – Christopher Tanev (8)
Dennis Gilbert (48) – Nikita Zadorov (16)
Jacob Markstrom (25)
Daniel Vladar (80)
Markstrom missing the Flames game against the Vegas Golden Knights with the flu. He’s back skating, and should get the start.
Calgary has balanced scoring throughout all four lines. The fourth line contributed two goals in the last matchup, at critical times.
Keys to the Game
Memories. Less than a week ago, the Stars Captain followed by the team’s best player broke sticks over the net after giving up an empty net goal that finished off a disastrous third period. The Flames comeback and that bitter feeling should be enough to the Dallas up for this game.
Tight vs. Loose. During the most recent homestand, the Stars lost a bit of their defensive structure. Against Winnipeg, the structure returned, leading to an Oettinger shutout. Dallas plays better when they don’t default to pond hockey.
Full game. Jump out early, finish strong. Don’t repeat last Friday’s debacle.