Next man up: Injuries giving Stars rookies more time to stand out

Stars (10-10-8, 28 points) vs. Lightning (23-6-2, 48 points)

The Stars continue to dig deep into their depth, with injuries affecting some key players and forcing others to step up in terms of minutes or responsibility.
Jason Robertson continues to be the biggest surprise. The 21-year-old rookie has 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in 23 games, and is averaging 14:50 in time on ice. However, in recent games, Dallas has received boosts from 20-year-old rookie Ty Dellandrea and 25-year-old rookie Rhett Gardner, who have combined for three goals in the past two games.
Dellandrea is a first-round pick who has had to earn his way into the lineup this season. Much of his checklist is simply getting experience, as he played in the OHL last season and really has not been given the training in the AHL that most rookies get before being asked to step up.
"He works so hard every game, and in the shootouts in practice he is very good. He gives you 100 percent in every game, and you know that," Stars coach Rick Bowness said. "As a 20-year-old kid, he would benefit playing a little bit in Austin, but that's not going to happen, and give him great credit. He is playing hard, and he hits everybody, and he gives you everything he can every shift. Is there inexperience showing? Absolutely, but that's to be expected. He is all heart and is a great teammate, and he gives you everything he can every shift and that's all you can ask as a coach."

Dellandrea said he has just tried to stay focused and that playing on a line with Jamie Benn and Joe Pavelski last game was a nice boost. Because the Stars have game-time decisions on key player like Roope Hintz and Alexander Radulov, younger players can be moved up the lineup.
"I felt pretty good," Dellandrea said after Sunday's game where he logged 16:13. "I just keep getting that opportunity to play with Jamie and Pav and to support them and get them the puck. I am trying to gain confidence and keep going and play some solid hockey."
Dellandrea's goal was on a redirection, and he said that's something Pavelski has been helping him with.
"Pavelski has helped me multiple times on tipping the pucks and giving me advice," Dellandrea said. "To be honest, it was more just being in front of the net. They kind of hit me and I was just in the right spot to get it, but I have been trying to get to the net more and get in the goalie's eyes. Things happen when you get in front of the net."

Gardner went to the University of North Dakota and has had to fight his way through the minors to get to the NHL. That's why scoring his first NHL goal on Sunday was such a nice memory.
"I figured it would probably be not the prettiest of goals," he said of a shot where he got a piece of the puck and sent a change-up past Pekka Rinne. "It just popped right to me, I fanned on it a little and it snuck in five hole."
It was a big play in a close game, and one that players like Gardner and Dellandrea will have to keep making if the Stars hope to deal with all of their injuries.
"He has had some really good looks," Bowness said. "I think he hit the post a couple of games ago and I think in every game he seems to come close to scoring, so it's good for him to finally get one. Again, he is a rookie trying to figure out his way through this league, so it is nice for him to finally get one."

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Can Stars get to Vasilevskiy again?

Andrei Vasilevskiy is battling for the Hart Trophy as league MVP this season, and his performance against the Stars is one of the reasons.
The Tampa Bay goalie is first in wins at 20-3-1, second in goals against average at 1.86 and first in save percentage at .930. Against the Stars, he is 3-0-0 with a 0.97 GAA and a .960 save percentage.
Ironically enough, the Stars actually got to him the last time they met and scored three goals. Before that, he had put together 200 minutes of shutout hockey dating back to the Stanley Cup Final last season.

Vasilevskiy has tied the franchise record with 11 wins in a row and can break it tonight.
"It was one of those games where, especially in the second period, we relied on him a little too much," Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said after a 4-1 win over Chicago on Saturday in which Vasilevskiy had 30 saves.
"There are going to be games like this throughout the course of a season, but you just want to try to minimize them…We know we have the best goalie in the world, he showed it again tonight. You don't want to rely on that too often."

Khudobin back in net

Stasr goalie Anton Khudobin will get the start in net He is 6-8-2 on the year with a 2.48 GAA and .909 save percentage, including 3-5-0 in his career against the Lightning with a 3.16 GAA and .886 save percentage.
Roope Hintz and Radek Faksa are game-time decisions. Alexander Radulov did not skate in the morning.

By the numbers

17

In 18 career regular season games against Tampa Bay, Stars captain Jamie Benn has 17 points (nine goals, eight assists).

20

In 16 career regular season games against Dallas, Tampa Bay's Ondrej Palat has 20 points (five goals, 15 assists).

32

Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman leads all NHL defensemen in scoring with 32 points (six goals, 26 assists) in 31 games.

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He said it

"Keep shooting. He has a great release and has got an offensive mind. Offensive players have to be able to use their creativity, but he has that quick release and he beat the goalie tonight. On the other one, the goalie made a really good save after that timeout we took, and John had a really good chance. The goalie made a good save, but he has a great release and we want him to keep shooting." -- Bowness on defenseman John Klingberg, who set up a goal and had a couple of other near misses Sunday
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.