Stars failing to impress

Talented squad scoring plenty but struggling to prevent goals

By: Gary Lawless Posted: 12:28 AM CST Friday, Jan. 16, 2015

DALLAS — They were the off-season darlings and in many minds poised to join the giants atop the Western Conference.

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DALLAS — They were the off-season darlings and in many minds poised to join the giants atop the Western Conference.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/01/2015 (3946 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DALLAS — They were the off-season darlings and in many minds poised to join the giants atop the Western Conference.

The Dallas Stars made great strides last season under new coach Lindy Ruff and with the emergence of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin as two of the game’s best young players. GM Jim Nill saw the window opening and went shopping, adding veteran sniper Jason Spezza and giving his team a muscular offence.

The Stars appeared poised to challenge the best in the West and be more than a one-round wonder in the post-season.

LM Otero / The Associated Press
Dallas Stars centre Cody Eakin (20) falls to the ice as Winnipeg Jets center Mathieu Perreault (85) skates past during the third period of Thursday's game. — LM Otero / The Associated Press Dallas Stars centre Cody Eakin (20) falls to the ice as Winnipeg Jets center Mathieu Perreault (85) skates past during the third period of Thursday's game.

Now, despite a very talented roster and the ability to match offence with the league’s best, the Stars find themselves out of the playoff picture with the threat of this season going to waste becoming very real.

“I think because they like that red light going on at the other end. And they think that sometimes if they get over there they might get an easier chance or there might be a breakdown.

“But if there isn’t we’re giving up odd-numbered opportunities, which isn’t acceptable,” said Ruff, when asked why his team had strayed from the structure that made them so dangerous last season.

“When we’re playing our game, we’re defending a lot better. I think that it’s going to start there tonight, if we’re ready to defend, we’ll be in the game.”

Dallas sits third in the league with a 3.07 goals per game average but are 28th in the NHL, allowing 3.29 goals- per-game, adding up to a minus-eight goals differential.

Winnipeg native Ryan Garbutt, who has seven goals and eight assists while playing mostly on the Stars’ third line, says it’s hard to pinpoint why his team has struggled.

“I’m not really sure. I can’t put my finger on it but I think we’re starting to get back to it and it’s actually been a hard work in progress for us. But I think our coaching and having all these skilled players in the room that we have here, I think it’s all going to start to come together here,” said Garbutt.

It’s often said about high-end players they’re “not paid to check,” but a team needs balance and in today’s NHL if it’s all offence and no defence the wins just don’t come.

“Yeah, maybe, but I don’t think having these skilled guys is going to hurt us in the end,” said Garbutt.

“I mean, I think at this point last year we had about the same record and we turned it on at the end of the year and I’m looking for us to do that again this year.”

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @garylawless