Friday Dallas Stars Roundup: Sam Steel's Primary Assist, Comparing Southern Hockey Markets, and Mattias Janmark's Swedish Reunion

And some more Wyatt Johnston praise from DeBoer

The Stars had an optional morning skate today ahead of Game 2 against Edmonton, so we didn’t get a peek at what lines the Stars might be going with just yet. DeBoer isn’t revealing any lineup changes for now, so we’ll have to wait until warmups to see what the Stars are going to go with.

One of a couple changes happened during last game, when Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson were moved apart late in the second period of Game 1 after spending the first half of the game together as wingers on Matt Duchene’s line. That line had been on the ice for both of Edmonton’s 5-on-5 goals, and Johnston was eventually put back with the familiar duo he played with for much of his debut season: Evgenii Dadonov and Jamie Benn.

So today, DeBoer was asked about what he’s seen from Johnston, whether at forward or right wing, and he reiterated his unshakeable faith in the 22-year-old forward.

“I think Wyatt, like the rest of our forward group, has had an up and down kind of playoff,” DeBoer said today. “The one thing about Wyatt you can count on is the bigger the game, you can always count on him being there, and that’s been the case even in this playoffs, [like in] Game 7 against Colorado.”

Indeed, Johnston’s been able to step in big moments, and his game-winning goal in that marvelous Game 7 was a big part of it. But he’s been quiet on the scoresheet in more recent games, with just one goal and zero assists across the Winnipeg series and the first game against Edmonton.

But Deboer pointed out today that Johnston isn’t the only one who’s not quite been at his best in some regards.

“We have a group of forwards that’s still fighting to find their elite level,” DeBoer said. “I think the opponents we’ve played have something to do with that also.”