PREVIEW 5:45 AM
For the first time since narrowly missing the playoffs last spring, the Dallas Stars will take the ice in game action. The lockout-shortened 2013 season starts tonight at the American Airlines Center with a clash against defending Pacific Division champion Phoenix. The game starts at 7:00 p.m. central time and will be broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest.
Last season, the Stars were in first place in the Pacific as late as March 30. But Dallas lost four in a row and seven of 10 to fall out of the playoffs. That rendered their final regular season game (versus St Louis) to be utterly meaningless apart from the fact that it was the last game the Stars would play before the end of the lockout.
In last year's season series against Phoenix, the Stars won three games (3-3-0) but Phoenix (3-0-3) skated away with at least one point out of every match.
In October 2011, the Stars pulled off a pair of third-period comebacks, prevailing by shootout. On Nov. 26, home team Phoenix had little trouble blanking an injury-racked Stars team, 3-0. On Feb. 7, the Coyotes once again put the screws to the Stars, this time by a 4-1 count at the AAC. Two weeks later in the desert, the Coyotes captured a 2-1 overtime decision. Finally, on March 20, the Stars blew a 3-1 lead in the third period but won via shootout.
Since that time, there has been a lot of turnover on the Stars' roster. The likes of Steve Ott, Mike Ribeiro, Adam Burish, Sheldon Souray and Mark Fistric are gone, while Derek Roy and 40-something Jaromir Jagr and Ray Whitney were brought in to help provide some offensive pop. Whitney, of course, was with Phoenix last year, leading the team in scoring with 77 points.
Unfortunately for the Stars, the team must begin the shortened season without the services of its best player, Jamie Benn. The unsigned restricted free agent center remains at home in British Columbia while his agent, Rich Evans, continues to haggle with the Stars. For now, the Stars must proceed as if Benn were an injured player who will be out for a few games to start the season.
As a result of Benn's absence, the Stars have slid Roy up from the second line to the top unit and plugged Tom Wandell temporarily into Roy's spot. The Swede's natural skill set has always suggested offensive ability. However, his production even when he's gotten scoring-line ice time has never been very high. As a short-term arrangement, however, it could be adequate for a couple games.
On the injury front, the Stars will be without newly acquired defenseman Aaron Rome (groin pull) for the opener. With the recent trade of Fistric to Edmonton, that means both Jordie Benn and Brenden Dillon get into the lineup.
On paper at least, the Stars' opening night defense looks to be undersized, deficient in physical play, and average-at-best in positional defensive ability but above-average in overall mobility and puck movement capabilities. The forwards will need to help out significantly in the backchecking and zone-clearing departments.
Dallas will also need a very strong start to the season from goaltender Kari Lehtonen. The big Finn has been one of the NHL's most underrated netminders the last two seasons and, as long as he remains healthy, remains one of the Stars' biggest equalizers in games in which the team gets outchanced.
Former Stars netminder Mike Smith thrived last season in ex-Dallas coach Dave Tippett's defensive-minded system in Phoenix. He also played a big role in the Coyotes' run to the Western Conference finals a year ago. The Coyotes also boast one of the NHL's best bluelines, led by the offensively gifted All-Star defenseman Keith Yandle and rising star Oliver Ekman-Larsson. In the offseason, the club also reacquired shot-blocking specialist Zbynek Michalek to add to aging veteran holdover Derek Morris and the rest of the D.
Up front, the Coyotes are not particularly explosive. But they've retained their heart-and-soul leader in team captain Shane Doan and can be opportunistic in making other teams pay for mistakes. There is a combination of good team speed and grit, which makes Phoenix tough to play against even if it is far from the most potent forward attack in the Western Conference. The Coyotes are a team that knows how to score just enough to win.
Phoenix enters the regular season with no known significant injuries. However, controversial forward Raffi Torres will be forced to sit out the first eight games of the regular season as a result of a carryover suspension for the vicious playoff hit that put Chicago's Marian Hossa in the hospital. He is eligible to return to the lineup on Feb. 2 when the Coyotes host the Stars in Phoenix.
Projected lineups (subject to change)
STARS
Loui Eriksson - Derek Roy - Jaromir Jagr
Ray Whitney - Tom Wandell - Michael Ryder
Brenden Morrow - Vern Fiddler - Eric Nystrom
Ryan Garbutt - Cody Eakin - Reilly Smith
Alex Goligoski - Stephane Robidas
Jordie Benn - Trevor Daley
Brenden Dillon - Philip Larsen
Kari Lehtonen
[Cristopher Nilstorp]
COYOTES
Mikkel Boedker - Antoine Vermette - Shane Doan
Steve Sullivan - Martin Hanzal - Radim Vrbata
Lauri Korpikoski - Matt Lombardi - David Moss
Paul Bissonnette - Boyd Gordon - Kyle Chipchura
Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Zbynek Michalek
Keith Yandle - Derek Morris
Rostislav Klesla - David Schlemko
Mike Smith
[Jason LaBarbera]
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