What am I missing? Everyone seems to be giving this game positive marks, but I don’t see it. Stars got beat on the dots, played sloppy, went missing for large chunks of time at 5-on-5, and still haven’t had a lead since the midway mark of the second period against Vancouver (10.5 periods ago). Outside of the first 17 minutes of the game, LA was clearly the better team and deserved the two points.
I think it’s more a factor of the big picture. We all know the problems, and this team can’t keep sitting around .500 letting others build up big leads. But either things are absolutely broken to a degree that will sink their season (which is hard to believe), or there are growing pains, and they’re trying to work their way through it while still making mistakes.
I don’t think you can expect them to flip a switch. But fixing the defensive play and generating more scoring chances are the main building blocks of long term success with good rosters. This game was largely in Dallas’s favor outside of the freak Ceci bounce and the bad penalty call to put them down two men.
You don’t have to feel positively about the result. But any signs of life feel like a big step after the last few games. But now they have to take another one.
I have gotten so used to the Stars being thought of as a legitimate Cup contender, winning a large percentage of available game points, and not having to talk about their process improving in games that they still lose as if they were the Sharks or the Ducks. 😑
If they’re still around this same mark in 30 games, then we’ll have concerns. But if you trust the talent to slowly turn things around, then processes are easier to look favorably on, I suppose.
I’m looking at Thanksgiving, so a little sooner than 30 games. You don’t want to be chasing down a playoff spot by that time. The talent is there, but it needs to show up. The entire Central Division looks improved this season.
You're more optimistic about this team -- and its coaching staff -- than I am, Robert. Yes, the sample size is small, but it's getting larger and the team's play is not improving no matter what Guluckson says in his presser. The Kings would be lucky to finish fourth in the Central Division, and we can't beat them at home?
This game was a huge improvement defensively. I’d argue that assertion. The Kings got practically nothing going at 5-on-5, outside of a lucky bounce for Ceci. That’s a big step for where they’ve been. Now they have to take another.
A few thoughts: 1) Harley is playing himself out of any consideration for the Olympic team (what's going on?); 2) I thought the idea was to be "heavier" on the forecheck, in what world do we see that? There is almost no forecheck other than from Moose, WJ and Robo; and 3) If I were coaching a team and one of my star players dogged it in overtime (no effort to back check) like Hintz did his ass would be on the bench for an "extended" period of time. That was bull crap and directly led to what turned into an L......
The OT goal aside, I really enjoyed watching Miro get a little more aggressive offensively in this one. I know he’s arguably our best, most important player, but it’s usually in a more subtle way. It was fun watching him go superhero mode for a bit.
I am concerned about his play. Ever since his injury he has not looked right. His speed is nowhere near where it used to be. ANd his puck handling and stickwork just looks.....clumsy. He's making as many mistakes per game as he used to make in a month.
His and Harley's struggles IMO are a real part of the team's overall struggles. They're elite puck-moving DMen but thus far this season they've both been meh.
A few things I noted while I try and squint to see as many positives as possible.
1. I could feel the frustration in the crowd last night (at least I thought I could). To me, it was almost as quiet after the Kings second goal as it was when Edmonton went up 2-0 in Game 5 last year.
2. We're still missing Benn and Dutch (and Back). Sure, folks may see them as old, but there's a bit of grit and leadership there that's not currently on the ice. Talent needs veteran leadership, imo.
3. I am a bit nervous about the upcoming schedule. It's BRUTAL if we don't start playing better. The Canes (Whalers) are coming and they're LEGIT. The Preds in Nashville on a back to back. The Caps. Then Tampa. Then Florida. Then the Oilers. I could see us losing several of those if we aren't careful.
4. Thank you for sharing the GREAT Theo Katzman to your readers. More people need to know about him and his amazing talent (oh, and Vulfpeck and Jacob Jeffries new album and The Fearless Flyers and Cory Wong's solo stuff....I could go on).
It's just hard to feel positive when everyone else in the division is off to such a strong start, 3-3-1 isn't a horrible 7 game record in a vacuum but as mentioned above the upcoming schedule isn't easy and its not hard to see how things can get out of control quick
The Stars won seven straight games from games 69-75 last year. Then they lost seven games in a row immediately after that.
I think you probably want closer to a 15- or 20-game sample size to start doing really deep dives, but obviously the issues have been pretty evident. And the solutions are likewise pretty clear.
What am I missing? Everyone seems to be giving this game positive marks, but I don’t see it. Stars got beat on the dots, played sloppy, went missing for large chunks of time at 5-on-5, and still haven’t had a lead since the midway mark of the second period against Vancouver (10.5 periods ago). Outside of the first 17 minutes of the game, LA was clearly the better team and deserved the two points.
I think it’s more a factor of the big picture. We all know the problems, and this team can’t keep sitting around .500 letting others build up big leads. But either things are absolutely broken to a degree that will sink their season (which is hard to believe), or there are growing pains, and they’re trying to work their way through it while still making mistakes.
I don’t think you can expect them to flip a switch. But fixing the defensive play and generating more scoring chances are the main building blocks of long term success with good rosters. This game was largely in Dallas’s favor outside of the freak Ceci bounce and the bad penalty call to put them down two men.
You don’t have to feel positively about the result. But any signs of life feel like a big step after the last few games. But now they have to take another one.
I have gotten so used to the Stars being thought of as a legitimate Cup contender, winning a large percentage of available game points, and not having to talk about their process improving in games that they still lose as if they were the Sharks or the Ducks. 😑
If they’re still around this same mark in 30 games, then we’ll have concerns. But if you trust the talent to slowly turn things around, then processes are easier to look favorably on, I suppose.
I’m looking at Thanksgiving, so a little sooner than 30 games. You don’t want to be chasing down a playoff spot by that time. The talent is there, but it needs to show up. The entire Central Division looks improved this season.
You're more optimistic about this team -- and its coaching staff -- than I am, Robert. Yes, the sample size is small, but it's getting larger and the team's play is not improving no matter what Guluckson says in his presser. The Kings would be lucky to finish fourth in the Central Division, and we can't beat them at home?
This game was a huge improvement defensively. I’d argue that assertion. The Kings got practically nothing going at 5-on-5, outside of a lucky bounce for Ceci. That’s a big step for where they’ve been. Now they have to take another.
I always try for the optimistic angle and it often comes back to how fun it is to watch the Moose play
Seems like every he:
1) has a shift where he puts heavy checks on two different opponents - like he's just reminding them he can do it
2) makes several no-look passes where it seems like he has eyes in the back of his head
3) Is surrounded by opponents but somehow maintains the puck and then creates a chance for a teammate
Dude really is fun to watch. I didn't realize how good he was with the Avs. How did a team with McKinnon, Rantanen and Makar not win more?
This one made me feel better, thank you.
A few thoughts: 1) Harley is playing himself out of any consideration for the Olympic team (what's going on?); 2) I thought the idea was to be "heavier" on the forecheck, in what world do we see that? There is almost no forecheck other than from Moose, WJ and Robo; and 3) If I were coaching a team and one of my star players dogged it in overtime (no effort to back check) like Hintz did his ass would be on the bench for an "extended" period of time. That was bull crap and directly led to what turned into an L......
The OT goal aside, I really enjoyed watching Miro get a little more aggressive offensively in this one. I know he’s arguably our best, most important player, but it’s usually in a more subtle way. It was fun watching him go superhero mode for a bit.
I am concerned about his play. Ever since his injury he has not looked right. His speed is nowhere near where it used to be. ANd his puck handling and stickwork just looks.....clumsy. He's making as many mistakes per game as he used to make in a month.
His and Harley's struggles IMO are a real part of the team's overall struggles. They're elite puck-moving DMen but thus far this season they've both been meh.
I get it, but it’s still really early. I think they’ll get it together.
A few things I noted while I try and squint to see as many positives as possible.
1. I could feel the frustration in the crowd last night (at least I thought I could). To me, it was almost as quiet after the Kings second goal as it was when Edmonton went up 2-0 in Game 5 last year.
2. We're still missing Benn and Dutch (and Back). Sure, folks may see them as old, but there's a bit of grit and leadership there that's not currently on the ice. Talent needs veteran leadership, imo.
3. I am a bit nervous about the upcoming schedule. It's BRUTAL if we don't start playing better. The Canes (Whalers) are coming and they're LEGIT. The Preds in Nashville on a back to back. The Caps. Then Tampa. Then Florida. Then the Oilers. I could see us losing several of those if we aren't careful.
4. Thank you for sharing the GREAT Theo Katzman to your readers. More people need to know about him and his amazing talent (oh, and Vulfpeck and Jacob Jeffries new album and The Fearless Flyers and Cory Wong's solo stuff....I could go on).
Anyway, on to the next one.
It's just hard to feel positive when everyone else in the division is off to such a strong start, 3-3-1 isn't a horrible 7 game record in a vacuum but as mentioned above the upcoming schedule isn't easy and its not hard to see how things can get out of control quick
One game short of 10% of the season… what’s the saying, we are what our record says we are???
The Stars won seven straight games from games 69-75 last year. Then they lost seven games in a row immediately after that.
I think you probably want closer to a 15- or 20-game sample size to start doing really deep dives, but obviously the issues have been pretty evident. And the solutions are likewise pretty clear.
Thank you for the great update/summary of last night's game, I wasn't able to watch it :(
You're welcome!