My friends who are Chicago Blackhawks fans only want to talk about Connor Bedard. Looking at what is going on with the team, its easy to understand why.
This is only one way to look at things.
The macro read on the chart is easy. Without Bedard, the Blackhawk power play looks a lot like playing 5×5. I suppose you could wonder who that is on the right half wall, and maybe consider a shot or two from the left blue line – but that’s trivia.
If you’re a longstanding Dallas Stars fans, having lived through the Chicago glory years, this has to feel pretty good (enjoy it while you can – Bedard is the real deal and more high picks should be on the way). You can also celebrate the season of Jason Dickinson, who is second on the Blackhawks in goals scored. I’ve watched enough of Chicago to see that Dickinson still takes an inordinate number of shots to the face.
The Dallas Stars end 2023 with two straight home games against these bottom feeders. Nothing is guaranteed – not even wins (ok – you can guarantee a large number of Blackhawk sweaters filling the American Airlines Center) – but these games should be a setup for the Stars to hit the New Year on an up beat.
Dallas Stars Lineup
Jason Robertson (21) – Roope Hintz (24) – Joe Pavelski (16)
Mason Marchment (27) – Matt Duchene (95) – Tyler Seguin (91)
Jamie Benn (14) – Wyatt Johnston (53) – Evgenii Dadonov (63)
Craig Smith (15) – Radek Faksa (12) – Sam Steel (18)
Ryan Suter (20) – Miro Heiskanen (4)
Esa Lindell (23) – Jani Hakanpää (2)
Thomas Harley (55) – Joel Hanley (44)
Scott Wedgewood (41)
Matt Murray (32)
Murray’s lone win in net came against the Blackhawks. The Stars don’t really have any back-to-back games for the next few weeks, but if ever Wedgewood could get a break, this is the time for it.
Likewise, Ty Dellandrea and Nils Lundkvist should at least find one game over the weekend to make an appearance.
Chicago Blackhawks Lineup
Nick Foligno (17) – Connor Bedard (98) – Philipp Kurashev (23)
Anthony Beauvillier (91) – Jason Dickinson (16) – Taylor Raddysh (11)
Ryan Donato (8) – Tyler Johnson (90) – Colin Blackwell (43)
Lukas Reichel (27) – MacKenzie Entwistle (58) – Reese Johnson (52)
Alex Vlasic (72) – Connor Murphy (5)
Jarred Tinordi (25) – Isaak Phillips (41)
Kevin Korchinski (55) – Nikita Zaitsev (22)
Petr Mrazek (34)
Arvid Soderblom (40)
Mrazek doesn’t have a winning record, but he’s been one of the few highlights for Chicago. Soderblom hasn’t been up to the challenge, but he is a work in progress and should ultimately be the goalie of the future.
Seth Jones is out, leaving a Blackhawks blue line short on quality (but not in size).
The Chicago top line can produce, and there is some talent mixed in through the other lines, but there is a large thread of Rockford Ice Hogs getting significant playing time.
Keys to the Game
Don’t play down. Early in the season, this was the type of game that Dallas was winning without too much stress. Lately, the Stars have returned to the play up/down to the competition streak of earlier years.
Start Strong. This went away briefly. It’s back. Don’t give the team or their red wearing fans in AAC any hope.
Happy New Year. Have a safe (and sane) weekend. See you for the 2024 Stanley Cup run.