I don’t know what the analytics will say, but my eyes saw a Stars team that was outcompeted in all three zones. Also, I hope that we are not seeing the early signs of mean reversion on respective scoring chances for both teams, but the hockey PDO Gods eventually come for everyone. That’s one of my two major longer term concerns right now; the other is that the team often looks slow. They were a step or two behind the Sabres all night long. See also "outcompeted."
It’s so frustrating when I then switch to the Blues-Avs game and see Colorado up 5-0 and outshooting the Blues 41-11. Why can’t the Stars play like that even for a 10 minute stretch, much less the whole game. It’s still mostly the same team that the Stars eliminated in the playoffs.
I hope this game was an anomaly but it seemed to reinforce my concern about how is this team going to be more physical in the playoffs after subtracting physical players and adding none. For the first 2 periods Buffalo consistently pinned the Stars in the defensive end by winning all the puck battles, being faster and more physical. It looked like a Stars-Oilers playoff game. I just don’t know how this team can ever go to the Finals with this roster- they just aren’t physical enough. I hope I’m wrong.
I think this team misses Bischel a bit more than we might have anticipated. I love him but I think I’m ready to leave the Lybushkin playing on the left side experiment behind along with 2025.
Thank you Mr Tiffin. While the game was not fun to watch, it is a wonderful way to start the New Year to wake up and read your cogent analysis of all the big and little things that went wrong last night and turn the page to 2026.
We asked Gulutzan about this earlier in the year, and he said that in general, he wants to leave the top guys out there for longer on the power play, so long as they haven't had to go up and down the ice a bunch and expend all their energy.
Given how successful the power play has been, it's hard to argue with the approach. Rantanen and Robertson in particular are just as deadly 90 seconds into the man-advantage, which is why they tend to be on both units.
I don’t know what the analytics will say, but my eyes saw a Stars team that was outcompeted in all three zones. Also, I hope that we are not seeing the early signs of mean reversion on respective scoring chances for both teams, but the hockey PDO Gods eventually come for everyone. That’s one of my two major longer term concerns right now; the other is that the team often looks slow. They were a step or two behind the Sabres all night long. See also "outcompeted."
Gulutzan said many of the same things. It’s pretty evident that they didn’t play well enough to win tonight, and voila.
It’s so frustrating when I then switch to the Blues-Avs game and see Colorado up 5-0 and outshooting the Blues 41-11. Why can’t the Stars play like that even for a 10 minute stretch, much less the whole game. It’s still mostly the same team that the Stars eliminated in the playoffs.
Yep. Colorado is on another level this year.
I hope this game was an anomaly but it seemed to reinforce my concern about how is this team going to be more physical in the playoffs after subtracting physical players and adding none. For the first 2 periods Buffalo consistently pinned the Stars in the defensive end by winning all the puck battles, being faster and more physical. It looked like a Stars-Oilers playoff game. I just don’t know how this team can ever go to the Finals with this roster- they just aren’t physical enough. I hope I’m wrong.
I think we’re still a fair bit from the playoff lineup this team will ice in April. We shall see.
Happy new year Robert!
I think this team misses Bischel a bit more than we might have anticipated. I love him but I think I’m ready to leave the Lybushkin playing on the left side experiment behind along with 2025.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year, Tiffin.
Happy New Year!
Thank you Mr Tiffin. While the game was not fun to watch, it is a wonderful way to start the New Year to wake up and read your cogent analysis of all the big and little things that went wrong last night and turn the page to 2026.
Thanks, Weston!
Is it just me, or are the Stars shifts longer this year, especially on PP1?
It used to be - target 45 seconds. Yes, Miro is an exception. Normally at +60 seconds your energy is down, especially for forwards. Comments?
We asked Gulutzan about this earlier in the year, and he said that in general, he wants to leave the top guys out there for longer on the power play, so long as they haven't had to go up and down the ice a bunch and expend all their energy.
Given how successful the power play has been, it's hard to argue with the approach. Rantanen and Robertson in particular are just as deadly 90 seconds into the man-advantage, which is why they tend to be on both units.