Some Further Thoughts on Justin Hryckowian, Glen Gulutzan, and These Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars are 41-14-10

At today’s optional practice, Glen Gulutzan answered various questions about the Stars’ win over Edmonton last night, the run they’re on, and how they can translate their current play into playoff success.

On that last point, Gulutzan had a lot to say when asked if he can see the Stars’ taking what they did last night into the playoffs.

“I do,” Gulutzan said, before continuing, “There were a few things, again, that I think we can touch up in our game. We do have to run that balance of emotion and our hockey intelligence in our game. And I felt that, at times, our emotion got us running a little bit, for lack of a better term, hunting for maybe a hit that wasn’t there.”

To my eyes, that was particularly apparent after the game got to 5-0, as the Oilers were pushing back out of pride, and the Stars were getting a little antsy to pile on the goals and hits alike, leading to two Edmonton goals, as well as a shorthanded Adam Henrique shot off the post that could have made it 5-3.

Here’s how Gulutzan continued his answer.

“You can’t do that against great players, and that’s the balance we’re trying to run,” Gulutzan said. “Playing at an intense, high, physical level, you’ve got to run a good balance. You can’t just run around. It doesn’t work, and I thought there were elements of that creeping in a little bit because the emotions got so high.”

Here’s where it’s important to distinguish something, though: I don’t think Gulutzan was necessarily talking about the moments that you might have seen all over social media last night. Because when Gulutzan was asked about the involvement of Justin Hryckowian in that game, and whether rookies have to be especially careful to walk a fine line of intensity without getting overly aggressive, he gave a very affirming answer about what the rookie brought to bear last night.

“I haven’t seen Ritzy get overzealous yet this year,” said Gulutzan. “He walks that line pretty good. And one thing as a coach you look for with those guys, are they coming out of their way to play physical, or are they getting away from structure to go play a different game? And Ritzy doesn’t. Ritzy plays within structure, and he can play that agitating, hard style with great hockey IQ. And that’s what I like the best about it.”

Gulutzan went on to say that he didn’t have a problem with any of the end-of-period antics between Draisaitl, McDavid, Hyry, and Hryckowian. Both teams were sticking up for their guys, and that’s all well and good. Arttu Hyry wasn’t trying to shoot a puck at Leon Draisaitl at the whistle, but the fallout was all pretty organic and understandable. Hockey stuff, in other words.

As Gulutzan said last night after the game, the Stars were simply responding to what the Oilers were bringing as the game devolved, and he liked their response, from Hryckowian on out.

The reason why Gulutzan’s affirmative answer sticks with me so much is because of what happened last year in Game 5 against Colorado. One of the most enduring images of the Stars’ 2024-25 last year’s playoff run was this clip of Lian Bichsel in the penalty box after getting into it in a game the Stars ended up winning 6-2: