First Shift: Stars look for ways to improve, refine ahead of matchup with Penguins

Despite a 5-4 OT win over the Flyers on Saturday, the Stars did not play their best hockey.

They were outshot 40-25 and were credited with 13 giveaways to just one for Philadelphia. It was a bit of a wakeup call early in the season that even though the record is 3-0-1, the actual play on the ice can still improve greatly. But how do you do that?

On one hand, the players have to be much more focused by putting their brains to work on the details of the game. On the other, they also have to be able to relax and not overthink things.

“That’s always the line you have to find, and it doesn’t come easy, it doesn’t come naturally,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “We got to it last year and we got to it consistently for a time. But if you look at the beginning of last year, it took us a while to get to that point. I’m not surprised we’re going through a little bit of this. The good thing is we’ve got a smart group and they understand, so I’m confident we’re going to get there.”

Dallas finished second in the NHL in goal differential last season, and had analytics that supported strong overall team play, as well as outstanding special teams play. So while allowing three shorthanded goals against the Flyers was alarming, it was definitely out of the norm. Dallas was first in faceoff success, third in goals against, and third on the penalty kill last year, so it had a very responsible game. It also was 25-11-3 on the road. Consistency was a theme in a lot of ways.

“You have to be smart and play simple,” defenseman Esa Lindell said.

When asked how they find the right balance, he said it’s a combination of intensity and calm.

“I think it’s all of those things,” Lindell said. “You obviously can’t have that many turnovers, so we have to concentrate and be better about that. But at the same time, we want to make plays, so we just have to be calm and play our game with confidence. It’s easy to say, but you have to find a way to do it.”

The Penguins are 2-3-0 and coming off losses at Detroit and St. Louis. DeBoer said that could be a good thing for a Stars team who still is trying to put together a complete game.

“You’ve got a proud group, a Stanley Cup pedigree group, that is coming home and they’re going to be angry about their most recent games,” DeBoer said. “That’s a tough opponent, and I think it will be good for us. I think we need something like that right now.”

Key Numbers

100 percent
The Stars are the only team in the NHL that has yet to allow a power play goal, stopping all 12 opposition power plays so far. Pittsburgh has hit on 15.4 percent of its power plays.

21
Penguins center Sidney Crosby has 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 21 games against the Stars. 

5
Stars winger Jason Robertson has 5 assists in 3 career games against the Penguins.

He Said It

“I think the best thing we can do is stay out of the box and play 5-on-5. I don’t think you want to give them a lot of looks.”

- Stars coach Pete DeBoer on facing a loaded Penguins power play.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.

Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.