The tricky thing is whether you think Lyubushkin (or Petrovic?) is less likely to get victimized. Both of those players have had their own struggles this year, too. But I do think it's a question you have to ask.
Petrovic/Bischel pairing was too successful from last year’s playoffs and during this year to continue, I guess. Specifically, when was Petro that bad this year…and does whatever that is amount to more bad than Myers has been for us? Petro knows the system and the players…basically mentored Bischel into the North American pro game. Put those two back together and start punishing folks entering our zone! Its like we have a red carpet on our blue line welcoming Quinn Hughes in there. Who is going to put the heat on QH on our side?
Myers was given 2 minutes for being tall! Zuccarello made a dramatic jump from Myers right side to his left ... right into Myers elbow. https://x.com/i/status/2045622898044334120 I thought it was a horrible call.
Myers combination of size and skating is a significant asset. He is a realistic fill-in on a 2nd pair. Lyubushkin is not.
I talked to Myers about this today for a bit. I'll write it up for Monday, but short version: he's had to deal with these sorts of penalties his whole career.
It's playoff hockey, and things can and do change on a dime. Just ask the 2025 Colorado Avalanche.
But still. This game was disturbing if you are a Stars fan. They still have the "we are still capable of getting blown out even at home" gene. Was PDB right about Jake (I still say no, but I could be wrong). Are they not good enough to beat the Wild without Roope Hintz? There was some bad puck luck on some of the Wild goals, and they also got goalied themselves, but the score is still a pretty good reflection of the overall play in the game.
My hunch is that the coaches believe that without Hintz, Hryckowian is their third-best center. And while they can move him up top for a few shifts like they did tonight, they'd ideally like to have him on a third line for depth purposes.
However, he couldn't do that tonight, so I think the Stars would be well-served to load up that top line with Hryckowian, move Bäck to center Steel and Benn, and hope Hyry can inject some life on the fourth line.
It's also a valid question to ask whether Michael Bunting could help one of those lines. We'll see what they do in practice tomorrow morning.
Tyler Myers has been really, really bad the last 4-5 games he’s been in in my opinion. I also have no idea what Sam steel is doing on the first line with rants and Wyatt.
I’m no body language expert, but Rantanen does not do a great job of hiding his feelings when steel misses a pass or doesn’t settle a puck that most other linemates of his would/wouldn’t.
I cannot wait till Steel, Myers, and Lyubushkin are off this team. I also don't understand why nobody is talking about just how bad Harley has been defensively given his massive contract. A 10.5M D man needs to show up every game or Nill should've given that contract either
You know what I would really love to see? Ignore the roster decisions, the lineup combinations, the Otter debate... Just one time I would like to see these athletes and coaches mad after a game. I know they are veterans and they've been through this drill before, but with a stomping like that I don't want to hear the same old platitudes. "It's a long series." "Got to win four." "Move on to the next one." All with dull calm indifference. Man, I WANT some difference. I want to see how pissed off they are that they got rolled over at home and embarrassed in front of their fans. Big talk all year about the playoffs and they no show the first game? Let's hope they show up Monday.
Totally agree, doesn't mean I have to like it! 😀 I would love a happy balance, let's see some of their humanity. In a weird way that'd be more reassuring than presenting the composed front. Of course, I'm not in PR or media relations, what do I know?
I would trade out Erne and Blackwell for Bunting and Hyry. Move Ritzy up with Johnston and Rantanen. Move Steel down to play with Benn and Bunting. And go with Back, Faksa and Hyry on the fourth line. But whatever they do with the lines, this team needs to show up and play to win. Wading into the playoff pool in Game 1 was a disaster. Time to dive into the deep end and get after it! The Stars haven’t gone down 2-0 at home in a series since 2005-06 vs. Colorado; and that ended with a 4-1 series loss.
Let’s be real - Tyler Myers shouldn’t be on the playoff roster. Dude is absolutely a net negative. All momentum changed in his dumb 2 minute penalty.
The tricky thing is whether you think Lyubushkin (or Petrovic?) is less likely to get victimized. Both of those players have had their own struggles this year, too. But I do think it's a question you have to ask.
Petrovic/Bischel pairing was too successful from last year’s playoffs and during this year to continue, I guess. Specifically, when was Petro that bad this year…and does whatever that is amount to more bad than Myers has been for us? Petro knows the system and the players…basically mentored Bischel into the North American pro game. Put those two back together and start punishing folks entering our zone! Its like we have a red carpet on our blue line welcoming Quinn Hughes in there. Who is going to put the heat on QH on our side?
Myers was given 2 minutes for being tall! Zuccarello made a dramatic jump from Myers right side to his left ... right into Myers elbow. https://x.com/i/status/2045622898044334120 I thought it was a horrible call.
Myers combination of size and skating is a significant asset. He is a realistic fill-in on a 2nd pair. Lyubushkin is not.
That seems like a pretty obvious penalty there.
I talked to Myers about this today for a bit. I'll write it up for Monday, but short version: he's had to deal with these sorts of penalties his whole career.
Not their very best game.
It's playoff hockey, and things can and do change on a dime. Just ask the 2025 Colorado Avalanche.
But still. This game was disturbing if you are a Stars fan. They still have the "we are still capable of getting blown out even at home" gene. Was PDB right about Jake (I still say no, but I could be wrong). Are they not good enough to beat the Wild without Roope Hintz? There was some bad puck luck on some of the Wild goals, and they also got goalied themselves, but the score is still a pretty good reflection of the overall play in the game.
Yep. Just a resounding loss, and that's not great. But Game 2 will really be the telling one about whether it was a fluke or a revelation.
I’ll wait to freak out until after game 2
I am a fan of scheduling freakouts ahead of time. More convenient for everyone.
I’d think Hyry comes in before Bunting? Esp the way Gulutzan mentioned him and considering the really awful FO% tonight? Maybe?
That one long shift 49-53-96 had possession in the wild o-zone was maybe the best the team looked all night. My kingdom for more 49 with those two.
My hunch is that the coaches believe that without Hintz, Hryckowian is their third-best center. And while they can move him up top for a few shifts like they did tonight, they'd ideally like to have him on a third line for depth purposes.
However, he couldn't do that tonight, so I think the Stars would be well-served to load up that top line with Hryckowian, move Bäck to center Steel and Benn, and hope Hyry can inject some life on the fourth line.
It's also a valid question to ask whether Michael Bunting could help one of those lines. We'll see what they do in practice tomorrow morning.
My vote let Hyry center the 3rd line!
I could see it.
Yuck!!!! That is all, see you in game 2
If you’d written this before I wrote all that stuff above, it would’ve save me a lot of time, Michael!!
Tyler Myers has been really, really bad the last 4-5 games he’s been in in my opinion. I also have no idea what Sam steel is doing on the first line with rants and Wyatt.
I’m no body language expert, but Rantanen does not do a great job of hiding his feelings when steel misses a pass or doesn’t settle a puck that most other linemates of his would/wouldn’t.
Petro in, Ritzy first line, Bunting in
49-53-96
21-95-22
18-10-Bunting (whatever his number is lol)
73-12-14
4-23
55-5
6-28
29
I cannot wait till Steel, Myers, and Lyubushkin are off this team. I also don't understand why nobody is talking about just how bad Harley has been defensively given his massive contract. A 10.5M D man needs to show up every game or Nill should've given that contract either
You know what I would really love to see? Ignore the roster decisions, the lineup combinations, the Otter debate... Just one time I would like to see these athletes and coaches mad after a game. I know they are veterans and they've been through this drill before, but with a stomping like that I don't want to hear the same old platitudes. "It's a long series." "Got to win four." "Move on to the next one." All with dull calm indifference. Man, I WANT some difference. I want to see how pissed off they are that they got rolled over at home and embarrassed in front of their fans. Big talk all year about the playoffs and they no show the first game? Let's hope they show up Monday.
I think they're opting for compsure over fury, at least in public. But I'm sure the words behind closed doors are much harsher than we hear.
Totally agree, doesn't mean I have to like it! 😀 I would love a happy balance, let's see some of their humanity. In a weird way that'd be more reassuring than presenting the composed front. Of course, I'm not in PR or media relations, what do I know?
Let's just go win game 2 and move on from it!
I would trade out Erne and Blackwell for Bunting and Hyry. Move Ritzy up with Johnston and Rantanen. Move Steel down to play with Benn and Bunting. And go with Back, Faksa and Hyry on the fourth line. But whatever they do with the lines, this team needs to show up and play to win. Wading into the playoff pool in Game 1 was a disaster. Time to dive into the deep end and get after it! The Stars haven’t gone down 2-0 at home in a series since 2005-06 vs. Colorado; and that ended with a 4-1 series loss.
Drew, don’t forget about Vegas in 2024! Dallas lost both games at home to go down 0-2, then won the series in seven.
That’s right! Duh. How soon I forget! Still, don’t wanna do that again and go down 0-2 at home. Not a recipe for winning a series very often!