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Top Line Detonates, Philly Implodes

December 8, 2013, 10:39 AM ET [4 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Dallas Stars Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Heading into yesterday afternoon's matinee at the American Airlines Center, it was only a matter of time until the Stars' reunited top line of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Valeri Nichushkin got untracked. It took one additional frustrating period of hockey for it to happen, but the inevitable explosion started in the second period and it was quite a sight to see.

Once the carnage was done, Seguin had himself a natural hat trick and an assist. Nichushkin had a goal and three assists. Benn had just one assist, but nearly deflected in one of the goals credited to Seguin (it went off Philadelphia defenseman Luke Schenn instead of Benn). Meanwhile, the Stars got themselves three goals in a 63-second span, and turned a 1-1 tie into a commanding 4-1 lead that eventually became a 5-1 blowout win.

With the win, the Stars have gained at least one point in 12 of their last 15 games.

Although neither Seguin nor Benn got on the scoresheet in Toronto (Nichushkin had one assist while playing on a different line), you could see the breakthrough was about to come soon. So it was no surprise to me that the line went off against Philadelphia.

However, I thought the Sean Couturier line -- which had been red hot both offensively and defensively heading in this game -- might have a little more success than it did in containing the Stars' top unit. Meanwhile, the Seguin line later ate the Claude Giroux line alive when matched head-to-head with Philly's top line.

I wrote this in a previous Stars blog, and will say it again: The trio of Seguin, Benn and Nichushkin reminds me a bit of Philly's Legion of Doom line in its potential to take over a game and produce multiple goals in a short period of time. The trio did it against Calgary, too, a few weeks ago. The Flyers and Flames will not be the only ones to run into a buzzsaw in games where that line gets rolling.

The scariest part of all: All three players are still young and improving. The Stars top line has only scratched the surface of its potential.

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