Stars played with their food for way too long, but eventually showed up. The 🫎 line is rolling. Wyatt Johnston is a space alien. Oettinger was great except for that one very soft goal that he gave up. Always love to see a little offense from the Swiss Piss Missile. Bring on the Penguins.
I remember watching the the late-era Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls, the team that set the (then) record for most wins in a season. I wasn't a Bulls fan but watched them a lot because they were just fun. They were especially fun when they were down like midway through the 3rd quarter. Because you KNEW something good was coming.
I would watch them turn a 12-point deficit to a 15-point lead in a matter of minutes. They were dominant on both sides of the court and every possession seemed to feature a "wow" play at both ends - a block or a steal that led to a transition basket ending in an impressive dunk, as an example.
I felt that exact feeling tonight. I just couldn't understand how, through 35 minutes, the PREDATORS looked like the better team playing against a (relatively) rested Stars roster that is, arguably, the deepest in the league.
Then in 15 minutes we saw the Stars just thoroughly dominate at both ends, making plays in every way and illustrating in an indisputable manner which was the better team.
The play where Rantanen backchecked to prevent a high quality slot attempt that immediately turned into a textbook example of transition hockey ending in an uncontested tap-in goal for Hintze is NHL hockey at it's very finest.
Yeah, I'd prefer the team wouldn't take periods off. But man, if you aren't impressed with what this team is doing right now I don't know what to tell you. When they get things rolling it seems like every shift features a highlight.
None of this guarantees anything come playoff time when a single home game 1 loss can immediately derail a very promising season. But I honestly can't recall the Stars at any point in franchise historoy featuring so much pure talent that they can just thoroughly outclass opponents, even if for only 10 or 15 minutes.
This is fun. Fans should applaud. Fans should be excited. Realize that Colorado has claimed 29 of a possible 36 points in their last 17 games (81%) and are now at 98 points....tied for 2nd among all team not named Dallas or Winnipeg. Imagine how frustrating it must be for them to be winning at such a rate and yet....still 6 points behind the Stars.
I don't want to dismiss the times when Dallas looks.....anemic....because it's not hard to squint and seeing a disciplined, talented roster doing that to Dallas and NOT allowing that big avalanched of talent to break through.
But man....there's so much to like right now. I am super impressed and trust me, that doesn't happen easily.
This is pretty spot-on, I think. Only thing to add is how they basically punted on Game 1 of their last few playoff series, but either won or went up 2-1 (Edmonton) each time.
Being a really good team means margin for error. It's unfortunate that they have used that margin, but I guess it's burning a hole in their pocket, so it's hard to begrudge them.
Appreciate the piece Rob. I can't help feeling it's missing a certain element though. Can't quite put my finger on it but I think it's a darkness element. I'm just a humble reader though. Not sure if I know anything
Care to elaborate? I didn't mentioned the Blackout sweaters potentially going away (haven't confirmed that), but if you're talking about the music, I didn't hear it last night. The painkillers may be making me obtuse, though.
I was trying to be tongue in cheek with the darkness drop since the last Nashville game in Dallas killed it. You had referenced it in the piece. Sarcasm doesn’t work over text
Ah, that's my bad. I obliquely mentioned not mentioning it and forgot. This is embarrassing for me. Thankfully it's the internet where nothing gets brought up from the past.
Stars played with their food for way too long, but eventually showed up. The 🫎 line is rolling. Wyatt Johnston is a space alien. Oettinger was great except for that one very soft goal that he gave up. Always love to see a little offense from the Swiss Piss Missile. Bring on the Penguins.
I remember watching the the late-era Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls, the team that set the (then) record for most wins in a season. I wasn't a Bulls fan but watched them a lot because they were just fun. They were especially fun when they were down like midway through the 3rd quarter. Because you KNEW something good was coming.
I would watch them turn a 12-point deficit to a 15-point lead in a matter of minutes. They were dominant on both sides of the court and every possession seemed to feature a "wow" play at both ends - a block or a steal that led to a transition basket ending in an impressive dunk, as an example.
I felt that exact feeling tonight. I just couldn't understand how, through 35 minutes, the PREDATORS looked like the better team playing against a (relatively) rested Stars roster that is, arguably, the deepest in the league.
Then in 15 minutes we saw the Stars just thoroughly dominate at both ends, making plays in every way and illustrating in an indisputable manner which was the better team.
The play where Rantanen backchecked to prevent a high quality slot attempt that immediately turned into a textbook example of transition hockey ending in an uncontested tap-in goal for Hintze is NHL hockey at it's very finest.
Yeah, I'd prefer the team wouldn't take periods off. But man, if you aren't impressed with what this team is doing right now I don't know what to tell you. When they get things rolling it seems like every shift features a highlight.
None of this guarantees anything come playoff time when a single home game 1 loss can immediately derail a very promising season. But I honestly can't recall the Stars at any point in franchise historoy featuring so much pure talent that they can just thoroughly outclass opponents, even if for only 10 or 15 minutes.
This is fun. Fans should applaud. Fans should be excited. Realize that Colorado has claimed 29 of a possible 36 points in their last 17 games (81%) and are now at 98 points....tied for 2nd among all team not named Dallas or Winnipeg. Imagine how frustrating it must be for them to be winning at such a rate and yet....still 6 points behind the Stars.
I don't want to dismiss the times when Dallas looks.....anemic....because it's not hard to squint and seeing a disciplined, talented roster doing that to Dallas and NOT allowing that big avalanched of talent to break through.
But man....there's so much to like right now. I am super impressed and trust me, that doesn't happen easily.
This is pretty spot-on, I think. Only thing to add is how they basically punted on Game 1 of their last few playoff series, but either won or went up 2-1 (Edmonton) each time.
Being a really good team means margin for error. It's unfortunate that they have used that margin, but I guess it's burning a hole in their pocket, so it's hard to begrudge them.
WOuld really like to see a 1st period of the 1st game in the playoffs that looked liked those 15 minutes of hockey we saw last night.
I'd forgotten how they lose every game 1 the last couple years. No more of that please.
Appreciate the piece Rob. I can't help feeling it's missing a certain element though. Can't quite put my finger on it but I think it's a darkness element. I'm just a humble reader though. Not sure if I know anything
Care to elaborate? I didn't mentioned the Blackout sweaters potentially going away (haven't confirmed that), but if you're talking about the music, I didn't hear it last night. The painkillers may be making me obtuse, though.
I was trying to be tongue in cheek with the darkness drop since the last Nashville game in Dallas killed it. You had referenced it in the piece. Sarcasm doesn’t work over text
Although looking back at the piece, I was reading the paragraph talking about the fist Nashville game wrong. Whoops
Ah, that's my bad. I obliquely mentioned not mentioning it and forgot. This is embarrassing for me. Thankfully it's the internet where nothing gets brought up from the past.
Time-traveling Benn is my new headcanon. Thank you, Robert!
REAL ONES KNOW
I know he had a great season, but I'm still salty that Beniers won the Calder over Johnston.
Also, "disconnected the goalies controller" is the best sports metaphor ever.