Stars’ stars need to get it in gear

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This article was published 24/09/2020 (1905 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON — As far as we know, Jim Lites hasn’t summoned his highest-paid superstars into his office for a little chat — or any local media that covers the team, for that matter. But the volatile Dallas Stars CEO is likely not a very happy camper these days with the return on his investment.

Tyler Seguin, the club’s leading scorer during the regular season who makes US$9.85 million per campaign, doesn’t have a point in three Stanley Cup final games. Nor does captain Jamie Benn, who is right behind him on the club payroll at US$9.5 million.

That’s a big part of why Dallas is trailing the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, which continues Friday night with Game 4 inside Rogers Place. 

You’ll recall Lites publicly shredded the pair during the 2018-19 season, summoning local reporters to call Seguin and Benn “(expletive) horse(expletive),” among other things. And now, with the Stars vying for their second NHL championship in franchise history, and first since 1999, the dynamic duo have gone missing in action.

“Do we need more from the top guys? Every team does, We’re hoping that’s coming. But until it does, and if it does, we’re going to keep battling, stay in games and give ourselves a good chance to win based on team play and everyone competing at different times,” Stars interim head coach Rick Bowness said Thursday, trying his best to be diplomatic.

Fair enough, but you can’t argue Tampa Bay needs anything more from its best players. Their top five skaters — Steven Stamkos, Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Ondrej Palat and Victor Hedman — all scored in Wednesday’s dominating 5-2 win.

“I know we’re down 2-1, but we’re here by committee. That’s how we’re going to keep battling, We’ve had a lot of guys step up and score big goals for us. We’re here because of committee, because of team play. It hasn’t been focused on one line or one guy,” Bowness insisted. 

“There’s at least some signs they’re getting more offensive chances. When you’re getting those chances and all of a sudden you score, then it becomes a little bit easier. But when you don’t, it’s just magnified, because you can’t get away from it. But we’re seeing some encouraging signs, that they’re generating really quality chances. And you just gotta hope that one of those will go in. That will take a lot of the stress off, for sure.”

In a results-oriented business, close won’t cut it. But it would be unfair to simply signal out Seguin and Benn. Alexander Radulov, the other member of the top trio, had a dreadful Game 3, taking two penalties, including one that led to a power-play goal by Hedman early in the second period that proved to be the game-winner. 

Some credit must go to the Lightning and especially the terrific third line of Blake Coleman, Barclay Goodrow and Yanni Gourde, which has made life miserable for the Stars.

“I think our line, we like to play the same way. We generate from the forecheck, we like to get pucks in deep. We’re a pretty physical line that likes to take away the other team’s time and space by getting on the body,” Goodrow said Thursday. “I think it doesn’t really matter which line we’re playing against, were going to play the same way. But if we are playing against the top line, we take even more pride in trying to shut them down.”

Dallas forward Joe Pavelski, who leads his team with 10 goals during the playoffs, believes it’s only a matter of time before some of the other big offensive weapons start firing on all cylinders.

“There’s a different level to this Stars team, for sure. There’s another level for us, bottom line,” he said. “(Tampa) have been pretty strong defensively, they haven’t given us a ton. But yet, when we’ve tried to go to create we’ve given them goals at times with just little breakdowns that are uncharacteristic of this group through most of these playoffs. So our details have to get a little sharper, our execution needs to get a little bit better. If we can do that, we’re in every game.”

There’s not a lot of time left to figure it out, especially with back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday night. 

“Right now there’s one game on our mind, and that’s the next one. It’s a key moment in the series, 2-2 looks way better than 3-1,” said Pavelski.

The NHL is trying to finish the playoffs as quickly as possible, with approximate costs of US$1 million per day to operate in the bubble. That poses a unique challenge for both teams, who may not have a lot of gas left in the tank by the time Game 5 rolls around. 

“At this time of year you just focus on the first game. We have the luxury that we don’t have to travel. It’s just a matter of worrying about (Friday) and not even looking ahead to Game 5, because (Friday) is such an important game. We’re kind of laser focused on that. We now they’re going to come out hungry because it’s a desperate time for them,” said Lightning defenceman Kevin Shattenkirk.

One big question revolves around Dallas goaltender Anton Khudobin, the 34-year-old career backup who has been thrust into a starting role with an injury to No. 1 netminder Ben Bishop. He’s been sensational in the playoffs, at least until Game 3, when he was pulled after giving up five goals on 29 shots through two periods. 

“He’s been doing everything you want your starting goaltender to do, to give you a chance to win the game. He doesn’t have to do anything better, he doesn’t have to do anything different. In terms of our team, it would help him a lot if we didn’t make it so easy for the other team to play against us sometimes,” said Bowness.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg