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Stargazing, A Dallas Stars Puckcast – Episode 249: Round 1, Game 1

Wes and Mark work After Dark on the Dallas Stars’ days off. Get ready for our 80-percent homer takes.

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

Wes and Mark work After Dark on the Dallas Stars’ days off. Get ready for our 80-percent homer takes.

Whether you think the Dallas Stars have already lost this series, or already won it…you’re right. Last night’s narrow Game 1 defeat can support almost any preconceived narrative of your choice. So why even bother to watch the rest of them?

…Well, let’s not go that far. Wes and Mark have had a few hours to assimilate everything, and they have thoughts. And takes. Takes, especially – on everything from officiating to special teams and from board battles to point shots (or lack thereof).

Does Jake Oettinger need to do a miracle, or just the expected? It’s time for Stargazing After Dark, and it’s brought to you by BetOnline.

Need to vent? Let us know in the comments, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on that one app that used to be the other app. Impress your friends and get a shout in our next cast!

And please don’t forget to rate, review and share. You make us feel brand-new.

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