Stars Are Winning Many Games, But Powerless Power Play Needs To Be Better
As the Dallas Stars’ defense continues to power them to win more games than they lose – including a 4-2 victory over Tampa Bay Saturday – one thing sticks out like a sore thumb: their powerless power play, which now sits 23rd-overall in the NHL at 17 percent.
The Stars are winning games because they can clamp down on the opposition’s offense – they’ve limited opponents to two goals or fewer in 12 of their 19 games this season – but special teams can be the difference between winning and losing games, and Dallas’ performance with the man-advantage simply hasn’t been good enough.
Currently, (and per Puck Pedia), Dallas has a first power-play unit in center Roope Hintz, right winger Jason Robertson, left winger Jamie Benn, center Wyatt Johnston and star defenseman Miro Heiskanen. Thus far this year, Johnston has four power play points. Hintz has two power play points. Robertson has two power play points. Heiskanen has two power play points. Benn has one power play point. And no one on the roster has as many or more power play points than center Matt Duchene (eight points) and left winger Mason Marchment (five points).
Related: Projecting the Stars: Matt Duchene
Meanwhile, the second PP unit is comprised of Duchene, center Tyler Seguin (two power-play points), Marchment (five power-play points), center Logan Stankoven (three power-play points), and D-man Thomas Harley (zero power-play points). Better than the first power-play unit, but not exactly white-hot, either.
These numbers are clearly not enough. And it’s no wonder Dallas only has a slightly-above average in terms of its offense (currently ranked 12th overall at 3.42 goals-for per-game) this season. Stars coach Peter DeBoer has earned a reputation as someone who pays attention to detail, so you have to know this power-play problem is eating at him.
Many, if not most nights of the season, special teams success is the difference between winning and losing. This is why it’s imperative for Dallas to improve their PP sooner than later. Game-by-game, they could be giving up crucial standings points because they failed with the man advantage. So there’s no two ways about it – the Stars have to start producing PP points, or continue in the mid-tier of their division.
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