After a rough opening stretch, the Dallas Stars are starting to resemble the team people expected. Saturday’s 4-0 win over the Chicago Blackhawks made it two straight victories, and it came with the kind of all-around control Dallas had been missing. Jake Oettinger posted his third shutout in six starts, Arttu Hyry scored twice, and the Stars looked far more settled from start to finish.
The game never really drifted away from Dallas once it found its rhythm. The Stars outshot Chicago 32-19, created twice as many scoring chances, and were much sharper in every zone. Jason Robertson started the scoring on the power play, Hyry added two goals, and Roope Hintz supplied the extra cushion.
Glen Gulutzan said the approach was exactly what Dallas needed.
“It’s nice when you have a methodical game. We were patient even when it was 0-0, we got a big save on a breakaway early by Jake, and we stayed with our game and got rewarded”
That patience showed up in the way the Stars handled the game, especially defensively. In his latest Heika’s Take, Mike Heika looks at how Dallas dictated play and why the stronger commitment on that end of the ice could point to more good nights ahead.
Hyry has been one of the biggest bright spots in the recent turnaround. The 25-year-old Finnish forward has scored three goals over his last two games, but his value goes beyond putting the puck in the net. He’s given Dallas useful minutes and added work on the defensive side, which has made his recent surge even more noticeable.
Gulutzan said the confidence level is jumping out.
“You can tell he looks very comfortable in practice, almost dominant. That’s kind of the first step and as that confidence grows, you can see the benefits.”
Those benefits are showing up on the ice. Hyry’s scoring touch gives the Stars another option from the supporting cast, and his overall game has made him harder to ignore.
Oettinger has been just as important. He’s off to the best start of his career and has been a steady force in net, which has given Dallas a foundation to build on.
The schedule now gives the Stars a chance to keep stacking wins, with six straight home games coming up. After Saturday, there’s a real sense that Dallas has finally shown what it can look like when it puts everything together.
Around the Central, the Minnesota Wild were the only division team in action Sunday night and beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1. Kirill Kaprizov kept rolling with the game-winning power-play goal, his 10th of the season, and became the fastest player in Minnesota franchise history to reach double digits. The Wild moved to 6-2-1.
Tonight brings two more Central matchups worth watching: Colorado at Philadelphia at 6:00 PM CT, and Pittsburgh at Utah at 8:00 PM CT. Utah is back home trying to bounce back from Saturday’s 6-2 loss to Edmonton.
Down in Cedar Park, the Texas Stars closed out their four-game road trip with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Manitoba Moose. Dylan Hryckowian scored just 18 seconds into the game, with Tristan Bertucci and Emil Hemming also finding the net. Brandon Halverson stopped 25 shots, and Texas settled for a point while dropping its second straight to Manitoba.
The Texas Stars return home for a two-game set against the Ontario Reign on Friday and Saturday.
In Other News...
Stars Lose A Key Defensive Piece At The Worst Time
The Stars are already dealing with a frustrating injury hit on the blue line, with Esa Lindell expected to be out at least a week because of a lower-body injury. For a Dallas team that leans heavily on its defensive structure, losing one of its most trusted minutes-eaters in the middle of the schedule creates an immediate hole in the lineup and a reminder of how quickly depth can be tested.
Lindell was hurt blocking a shot in Saturday's win over Chicago, a play that underscored both his value and the risk that comes with those heavy defensive assignments. Dallas will now have to manage without one of its steadier pieces for at least the short term, and the timing could hardly be worse as the Stars try to keep their rhythm intact. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Let A 2-1 Lead Slip As Stars Take Over Late
The Bruins had a chance to keep rolling, but a late swing at American Airlines Center sent them home with a 3-2 overtime loss and snapped their five-game winning streak. Boston had carried a 2-1 lead into the final stretch before Dallas found another gear, turning what had been a tight, special-teams-heavy game into a Stars finish after regulation.
Mikko Rantanen was the difference throughout, giving Dallas the kind of star turn that can erase a good road result in a hurry. The game featured plenty of power-play looks for both sides, yet neither club could cash in during regulation, leaving the outcome to be decided when the Stars finally broke through at the end. [Read more 🡒]
Roope Hintz Just Put Dallas' Scoring Decision Under A Spotlight
Roope Hintz did not hide where his loyalties sit when the subject turned to Patrik Laine, his longtime friend and one of the leagues most intriguing unsigned scorers. Hintz said the two talk every day, and he made clear he is bothered that Laine still has not gotten a tryout, especially with the kind of finishing touch that has always made him a dangerous offensive option.
It comes at a time when Dallas has been looking for more punch, particularly on the power play, and the timing of the clubs roster moves has only sharpened the discussion around how the Stars chose to address their forward depth. Laine is still working his way back after core muscle surgery, but the bigger question now is whether Dallas passed on a player Hintz clearly believes could still help solve a scoring problem. [Read more 🡒]