This one is going to be short and sweet.
The Dallas Stars put a hurt on the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday night. My prediction beforehand was that a few lucky breaks could carry the Stars to victory – but don’t bet on it. Boy was I wrong.
Dallas outplayed their recent nemesis, throwing pucks with reckless abandon at a seemingly unbeatable Thatcher Demko. Vancouver took advantage of their limited opportunities, and when Joel Hanley couldn’t break up a pass to the post, it looked like the losing streak was alive and well.
But…. it turns out that Demko couldn’t control the five hole. He opened up for Hintz on the Stars second goal. He did it again as Thomas Harley tied it with time running out. And then, with a shootout looming, he did it again for Matt Duchene on the overtime winner.
Now, whether this is a one off opportunity or not, I don’t know. I’m sure that Sean Shapiro could pull out some InStat numbers and let us know whether this was an anomaly or not, but for this brief moment, I don’t particularly care. It worked.
There is a bunch more to talk about. The Johnston-Benn-Dadonov like looked as good as they have in a month. The fourth line dominated possession, right up to the point that they gave up goals.
For now, however, it’s on to Nashville for an early game, then home for Christmas before heading back out to St. Louis. Happy Holidays.
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)
Maybe a Nils Lundkvist/Ty Dellandrea gift? We won’t know until this has already been published.
Nashville Predators Lineup
Filip Forsberg (9) – Ryan O’Reilly (90) – Gustav Nyquist (14)
Juuso Parssinen (75) – Thomas Novak (82) – Luke Evangelista (77)
Yakov Trenin(13) – Colton Sissons (10) – Keifer Sherwood (44)
Cole Smith (36) – Michael McCarron (47) – Philip Tomasino (26)
Ryan McDonagh (27) – Roman Josi (59)
Jeremy Lauzon (3) – Alexandre Carrier (45)
Tyson Barrie (22) – Luke Schenn (2)
Juuse Saros (74)
Kevin Lankinen(32)
Nashville has most if its money invested in their defense. Josi continues to put up good numbers as he heads toward his mid-thirties. For now, the Predators have a youngish second pair surrounded by veterans. Nashville’s blue line will change next year, but for now they’re riding the older guys and its kept them in playoff contention.
Up front, the top line can skate with anybody and the third line can be dangerous and physical. That said, the second and fourth lines are filled out with low cost, youngish prospects. Several were good in the AHL last year, and there is some talent there, but there isn’t a lot of day to day consistency.
In net, Nashville rides Saros hard – and who can blame them. He’s one of the best.
Keys to the Game
Early game, start strong. Comeback wins are great, but who needs the additional stress over the holidays?
Duchene. The Predators are paying Matt Duchene almost as much as the Stars pay him (and its going up next year). He may not be popular in the building, and there’s nothing quite like sticking it to an organization that paid you to go away.
Early Christmas. The temptation is to be halfway changed and back on the plane home. A strong finish will make that short hop all the more sweet.