Introduction to the Dallas Stars’ New Season
The Dallas Stars walked off the ice at American Airlines Center after practice Monday and were gassed. Tyler Seguin, who isn’t the same 21-year-old he was when he arrived in Dallas over a decade ago, had to go head-to-head with Mikko Rantanen, who earned his nickname Moose because of his size and strength. “I was trying to take on Mikko,” Seguin said. “Not a good decision to go against Moose.”
New Coaching and Team Dynamics
With two games under his belt as the Stars’ new head coach, Glen Gulutzan introduced a new drill at the end of practice with one goal: getting the Stars to compete. The whistle blew, and each Star was paired with a teammate. For 15 seconds, one had to shield the puck from the other. Even the goalies got involved. The drill, while entertaining to watch, also encapsulated the messaging Gulutzan wants his players to take away early this season. “When all talent becomes equal on both sides, it comes down to hand-to-hand combat a little bit,” Gulutzan said.
Compete and Physicality
The Stars are continuing to adjust to their new head coach’s system, and it’s led to lapses in both of their first two games — like defensive breakdowns or allowing the Jets to score two shorthanded goals on a single Stars power play. But as the Dallas players continue to learn what their head coach is expecting in terms of X’s and O’s, they’ve already begun embracing his new style of compete and physicality. “He’s said it from day one: he wants more compete out of our team, whether that’s physicality, whether that’s just 1-on-1 in the corner,” Seguin said. “I think no matter what, both sides were kind of waiting for this maybe. We’re bought into trusting these guys of what they see and what they want.”
Early Season Performance
It was maybe a more competitive practice than you’d expect ahead of Game 3 of a season — the Stars’ home opener against the Minnesota Wild Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. at American Airlines Center. But the first two games were probably more competitive than you’d expect as well, as the Stars traveled to Winnipeg and Colorado to take on their top two Central Division rivals and emerged 2-0-0. Dallas looked poised for a blowout at the start of Thursday’s game at Winnipeg, holding a 5-1 lead early in the third period. The Jets made it close, scoring those two shorthanded goals and adding another late in the period. But Dallas’ penalty kill looked to be in midseason form, preventing the Jets from scoring in the final three minutes.
Divisional Competition and Future Games
Against Colorado, Dallas battled in a back-and-forth contest, and Jake Oettinger carried the Stars to a shootout victory in a 35-save performance. Rantanen delivered the deciding blow in the shootout against his former team. The Stars were far from perfect in their first two games, but they showed they’re ready to compete for the division crown once again. Those four points will undoubtedly matter in April. “You’re gonna try to take wins any way you can,” Gulutzan said. “You can’t win this thing without everybody taking a little piece.” The Stars hope these drills and adverse situations they’re faced with in October will serve them well in June. But lucky for their fans, they don’t have to wait until playoffs for entertaining hockey.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
The two 5-4 finishes show the Stars are already there and that Tuesday’s price of admission will likely be worth it. As the season progresses, it will be exciting to see how the Stars continue to develop under their new head coach and how their competitive spirit and physicality contribute to their success. With a strong start to the season, the Stars are looking forward to a promising year ahead.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Dallas Stars are off to a great start this season, with a new head coach and a renewed focus on compete and physicality. With their strong performance in their first two games, they are looking forward to a promising year ahead. The team’s ability to adapt to their new coach’s system and their willingness to compete at a high level will be crucial in their pursuit of the division crown.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is the new head coach of the Dallas Stars?
A: The new head coach of the Dallas Stars is Glen Gulutzan.
Q: What is the Stars’ record after their first two games?
A: The Stars are 2-0-0 after their first two games, with wins against the Winnipeg Jets and the Colorado Avalanche.
Q: What is the focus of the Stars’ new coaching system?
A: The focus of the Stars’ new coaching system is on compete and physicality, with an emphasis on players being more aggressive and competitive on the ice.
Q: How have the Stars performed in their first two games?
A: The Stars have performed well in their first two games, with a strong penalty kill and a ability to come from behind to win.
Q: What are the Stars’ chances of winning the division crown?
A: The Stars have a good chance of winning the division crown, with a strong start to the season and a renewed focus on compete and physicality.
