The Dallas Stars have a few days to take stock of what the team has done over the last week before making a two-night road trip to the east coast to take on the New Jersey Devils and New York Islanders. There has been plenty to like on the offensive end but also much to clean up on the defensive side of the puck.
In their last two games, the Stars have racked up a combined 11 goals. The top line duo of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn has been on a tear ever since their breakout night in Columbus. Jason Spezza had a four-point game against Philadelphia last Saturday. Meanwhile, other players (most notably Erik Cole and defenseman Trevor Daley) have been contributing to the offense.
After some early hiccups, the Stars power play has come alive in the last few games. With so many potent weapons at head coach Lindy Ruff’s disposal, the team should have many fruitful nights to come when they get the man advantage.
On the downside, despite the club’s current 3-0-1 run over the last four games, the Stars team defense must get considerably better if the club is keep pace with the titans of the Western Conference. The first period of the Pittsburgh game, the majority of the Philadelphia game and the final 38 minutes of Tuesday’s game against Vancouver (pretty much from the point that the Stars roared out to an insurmountable 5-0 lead by early in the second period) were very sloppy defensively.
While Kari Lehtonen had a mediocre outing against the Flyers, he almost single-handedly kept Dallas in the Penguins game until the Stars finally got going and staged a dramatic comeback. In the Vancouver game, Lehtonen was frequently left to his own devices. If not for Lehtonen making numerous excellent saves, Vancouver could easily have scored seven or eight goals instead of three. That does not even include a disallowed Vancouver goal for goaltender interference. There are also some injury concerns for the club. Defenseman Alex Goligoski missed practice yesterday. According to the Stars’ official site, Goligoski sustained a skate cut near his ear in Tuesday’s game. He also has an undisclosed injury that has his availability questionable for the New Jersey game. While Ruff would not elaborate to the Dallas media, it is known that Goligoski briefly left the game in Pittsburgh in the third period after taking a shot off his leg.
Ales Hemsky, who has produced only one assist and has yet to score a goal in the regular season after a productive preseason, is also reportedly battling an undisclosed nagging injury. However, he has played through it and was able to practice yesterday.
Additionally, there is some progress being made by injured forward Valeri Nichushkin (groin/hip) and Sergei Gonchar (ankle). However, neither will be able to play during the upcoming mini road-trip. Patrik Nemeth (forearm laceration) was lost for the season in Saturday’s game.
Ruff juggled lines at practice yesterday, according to Stars’ Inside Edge reporter Mark Stepneski. These were the lines:
Jamie Benn – Tyler Seguin – Colton Sceviour Erik Cole – Jason Spezza – Ales Hemsky Antoine Roussel – Cody Eakin – Ryan Garbutt Shawn Harcoff – Vernon Fiddler – Patrick Eaves / Curtis McKenzie
Jyrki Jokipakka – Trevor Daley Jordie Benn – Brenden Dillon Kevin Connauton – Jamie Oleksiak
Kari Lehtonen / Anders Lindbà¤ck