Dallas Stars Weekly: Chaotic Playoff Preview, Hughes, Clutch Points, Injuries, Oettinger and Benn Honored – Hockey Writers – Dallas Stars
After defeating the Calgary Flames on Tuesday and the Minnesota Wild in another one-goal affair on Thursday, the Dallas Stars prepare for their final home game of the regular season on Saturday against the New York Rangers.
Related: Upcoming All-Star Week: Schedule & News – Injury Bug, Nill Extension & More
In addition to printing playoff tickets in December, there is no missing a game for the Stars as the season wraps up. Between home ice racing, up-and-coming rookies, and key players being nominated for awards, there’s a lot going on in Starsland as the season approaches.
Playoff preview in the ACC
It was hard to know exactly what to expect when we got back to the Stars-Wild game. It has been known for a long time that the teams will face each other in the first round of the playoffs, it remains to be seen whether it helps at home.
Would both teams play methodically and keep their game plan close to the vest? Was it going to be a low-scoring, one-and-out kind of game? Or can both teams leave it all on the ice and leave a physical impression of what to expect in a week’s time? It was the latter.
Both teams were throwing their whole body, especially the Wild, and the two teams combined for 32 penalty minutes. Eight of those penalty minutes (four a side) came with 15 seconds left when all hell broke loose.
After Wyatt Johnston opened the scoring with his 44th goal less than five minutes into the game, the Wild rattled off three straight, including two on the power play. The Stars came back to tie the game, Ryan Hartman scored another own goal to put the Wild past 4-3 with 11 seconds left in the second half. Mikko Rantanen and Jason Robertson were involved in the third, scoring the go-ahead goals to give the Stars a 5-4 win and a four-point lead in their pursuit of home ice.
On paper, this was already going to be an amazing series. After what we saw that night, it’s safe to say there’s going to be some downright chaos, no matter where Game 1 takes place.
Quotes From Thursday Night
If I had to choose one word to describe Thursday night’s contest, it would be emotional. You can hear it from the puck drop to the final buzzer.
“That’s exactly what you’re going to expect (in the playoffs). Guys finishing hits, taking hits to make plays and then as the game goes on, trying to make more plays, it cools down. But that’s just going to be it,” Robertson said after the game. “This was one of the most emotional games of the season at the end of the year. We will play them in a week and a half. We will definitely learn from it and prepare ourselves and be ready.”
“It was a hard fought game,” head coach Glen Gulutzan said. “They scored three power play goals, which makes them more intense the whole game, especially spreading them out like that. This time it gave them less shots. I thought our guys did a good job bouncing back from that and came together hard in the third to get the win. I thought it was a good character win, especially with all the power play goals they got.”
“It was one of those games where it’s clear that the good character won if we were able to come back like that,” said Colin Blackwell, who outscored the Wild 3-2 in the second half. “We’ve done a lot of good, but there’s a lot we have to work on. Penalty killing, things like that.”
The 29-year-old rookie’s first NHL goal
At the age of 29, and in his fourth NHL game, Cameron Hughes scored his first NHL goal to tie the game 3-3 in the second period.
“It’s been a long time coming. I’ve always wanted to score my first goal,” said Hughes. “To score in a game that means something and it’s a big game makes it even more special. It was a lot of fun. This is going to be a series finale.”
Hughes has played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for nine seasons and was third in the league in points this season with 66 points, including 16 goals.
The Stars have a lot of injuries, so once he’s healthy, it’s hard to know where Hughes will be on the roster. Meanwhile, it was a big night in a big place.
Key Players Coming Clutch
The Stars are a very deep team, and in the playoffs, they will need every member of the roster. However, when the chips are down, important players will need to step up. If the last two games, let alone the entire season, are any indication, he’s ready.
Trailing the Flames 3-1 in the third period on Tuesday, Johnston and Robertson put up a game-tying layup in the first five minutes of the period. Then it was Johnston, again, who won the game in overtime.
On Thursday, it trailed again in the third period, this time 4-3, with Rantanen tying the game at 4:28. At 10:35, Robertson hit the game-winner to seal the victory.
In the playoffs, every team needs unsung heroes. But at the end of the day, it’s the star players who will perform when it matters most. Think back to Rantanen taking Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche in the opening round last year. This team continues to grow, but where these guys go, the Stars go.
Injury Clarity Before Playing Games
The Stars are dealing with a seemingly permanent injury, and Gulutzan clarified his situation on Friday.
Sam Steel is getting closer to the playoffs and will likely play in one of two road games to close out the season. Michael Bunting is likely to feature in Saturday night’s game, while Tyler Myers has rehabilitated an earlier injury and is likely to remain out. The Stars do not expect Roope Hintz to return this regular season, and he is already questionable for the first game next weekend.
Miro Heiskanen was injured on Thursday and will be out for the rest of the regular season.
Benn and Oettinger were honored
This past week, captain Jamie Benn was honored as the recipient of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL player who best exemplifies endurance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Voted by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.
On Friday, Jake Oettinger was selected for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to a player who demonstrates leadership on and off the ice, as well as humanitarian contributions to their community.
Next for the Dallas Stars
The Stars will wrap up their home games on Saturday when they face the Rangers. Then, they will finish the season in Toronto against the Maple Leafs on Monday and in Buffalo against the Sabers on Wednesday.
