Comments / New

Stargazing, A Dallas Stars Puckcast – Episode 302: Net Positive

Are the Stars finding their equilibrium again? Wes and Mark talk about what went well, and what comes next.

Defending Big D's Stargazing podcast logo, featuring a Dallas Stars Victory Green cassette tape with tearaway jersey texture and nets over the sprocket holes, designed by Jason Lara
Logo design: Jason Lara | @NHLMaps

Four Dallas Stars scored last night! Unfortunately, two of them were playing for the Los Angeles Kings. That left Our Team with one point, another loss, and a lot to contemplate.

We here at Stargazing acknowledge our fault in this, mainly by making this season’s Doom Cast so much longer than…well, every other cast we’ve done so far. In this episode, Wes and Mark pull back a little. There’s plenty to like in the Stars’ latest run of play (breakouts, neutral zone coverage, the power play), as well as plenty that still needs work (two words: penalty kill). We cover all of it in the time it’ll take you to complete your afternoon commute. Probably. Maybe.

Do we need to end the “Esa Lindell is the Alex Ovechkin of Dylan Sambergs” talking point? We’re Stargazing, and we’re thinking about it. What’s your take? Tell us in the comments.

And please give us a rate, review or share wherever you listen. Welcome to the podcast. We love you.

The Dallas Stars have visibly struggled with late-season injuries in the past couple of weeks. And nowhere has this been more apparent than in the depleted forward corps. How do you rotate lines when the second line is missing? In this episode, Wes and Mark talk about this in depth. They discuss whether Michael Bunting needs to play on the first line, the possibility that Tyler Myers has a Jordie Benn problem, the state of the defense, how the Stars' run-up to the Stanley Cup Playoffs is panning out, and – of course – who falls where on the Expected Rawr (xRawr) chart, now enhanced with up to 37 percent more made-up stats. You take two of your best players off the roster, and all of a sudden forward depth is an issue. We’re Stargazing, and we get it. We really do. Which Stars are in which xRawr quadrant? So far, Wes and Mark have calculated rankings for the following players, current and historic: Sam Steel Jason Spezza Alex Radulov (Yes, we are this committed to the bit. Get on board now, or risk an injury when you try to jump this train during the playoffs.) Let's talk more at Defending Big D. And don't forget to give us a rate, review, or share wherever you get your podcasts. That's, like, our whole thing right now. Welcome to Stargazing. We love you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
  1. Dropping Lines
  2. You're The Man Now, Dawg
  3. Post-Deadline
  4. Push Play
  5. Olympic Break Score Sheet

Talking Points