Two weeks ago, the Dallas Stars took care of the Columbus Blue Jackets on home ice. As you might expect, the Blue Jackets got up early, but once the second period came around, the Stars grabbed the lead and never really looked back.
If you don’t recall, this is one of the first games where the Matt Duchene line with Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment started to show promise. Marchment, having been benched after taking a momentum breaking penalty against Boston, should be back in Pete DeBoer’s good graces, at least for now.
At some point, Marchment’s penalty propensity needs to be addressed. He is averaging over 10 penalty minutes per 60 – double Jani Hakanpää’s number (and he’s no slouch). Of players with more than 100 minutes played, Marchment ranks third in the league – and in case you’re wondering, he’s second in number of penalties taken per 60 – so he’s not loading up on misconducts. These are run of the mill, sit down for two minutes in the box infractions.
For now, the Stars are surviving – mostly due to a league leading 95.8 save percentage on the penalty kill – but this is no way to achieve long-term, consistent success.
Dallas Stars Lineup
Jason Robertson (21) – Roope Hintz (24) – Joe Pavelski (16)
Jamie Benn (14) – 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)
Thomas Harley (55) – Nils Lundkvist (5)
Esa Lindell (23) – Jani Hakanpää (2)
Jake Oettinger (29)
Scott Wedgewood (41)
The big news is that Duchene and Faksa both participated in an optional morning skate and are expected to draw in against Columbus.
Defensive pairings – moving Harley with Lundkvist – appears to be sticking. There is certainly an upside to having an offensive pairing, as long as the Lindell – Jani Hakanpää can negotiate the puck out of the defensive zone.
Columbus Blue Jackets Lineup
Johnny Gaudreau (13) – Boone Jenner (38) – Jack Roslovic (96)
Dmitri Voronkov (10) – Adam Fantilli (11) – Kirill Marchenko (86)
Yegor Chinakhov (59) – Cole Sillinger (4) – Alexandre Texier (42)
Justin Danforth (17) – Sean Kuraly (7) – Mattieu Olivier (24)
Zachary Werenski (8) – Damon Severson (78)
Ivan Provorov (9) – Andrew Peeke (2)
Jake Bean (22) – Erik Gudbranson (44)
Spencer Martin (30)
Elvis Merzlikins (90)
Peeke is back on the second pair, so the Blue Jackets are back to being healthy on the blue line. Chinakhov replaces Kent Johnson, trading a 2021 first round pick for a 2020 first round pick. Columbus is 1-1-1 since facing the Stars in Dallas.
Patrik Laine appears to be closer to a return, but will miss this game against the Stars. Keep an eye on the middle six – all young and talented and either first or second round draft picks (ok – Voronkov is technically a fourth round pick, but after putting up quality numbers in the KHL, he’d likely go higher if the draft was to take place now).
Keys to the Game
Respond to adversity. Dallas has been stoned by top notch goaltending in their two recent losses. The quality chances have been there – no need to over-react.
Top Line. Robertson, Hintz and Pavelski have been OK – but not the dominant line that they’ve been in the past. The Duchene line has been reunited, but the top trio could use a breakout game.
Slow Starts. Yes – this is getting old. But its going to be a key until it gets resolved.