We didn’t give Winnipeg much credit in the preview for the parallel universe where it’s Dallas vs. Winnipeg in round 1. But that preview was always about who the two teams are, and assessing their components in a vacuum. I stand by that assessment.
But if we’re gonna pretend like one game warrants broad takeaways, it’s that each playoff series is its own ‘model.’ As great as the Stars are, their point total is a reflection of who they are in the regular season. In the playoffs, all bets are off. Just look at Boston’s record regular season from last year. Granted, I don’t see last season’s Bruins as anything like this year’s Stars, but it warrants emphasis all the same. Especially if it’s Dallas vs. Vegas in Round 1.
Still, I didn’t see a ton to talk about. In the same way the Buffalo game was a perfunctory win, this felt like a perfunctory loss. Yes, Winnipeg’s defensive structure and neutral zone trap did a good job of stifling Dallas’ offense, but it’s not like Dallas hasn’t beaten teams that do this, Winnipeg included. Did you see anything worth worrying about?
It really felt like a classic Rick Bowness game, with the Bowness team getting the right breaks.
The few chances that were available, Dallas had. They simply missed.
Nils Lundkvist: is this thing on?
I’m well aware that DeBoer doesn’t trust Lunkvist. Lundkvist not being part of Dallas’ future is what it is. DeBoer choosing Hakanpaa is relatively logical (even if I don’t agree with it). DeBoer punishing Lundkvist for his mistakes as a prompt, also, is what it is. But benching him from jump street just seemed like an insult.
I get it. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Also, I’m totally ready for the bizarro universe where Lian Bichsel, kicking ass with underdog Rogle BK right now, somehow gets a playoff shift. (It won’t happen obviously, but you never know with injuries.)
Duchene vs. DeMelo and Morrissey
Not much to say here. The Matt Duchene line matched up against Dylan DeMelo and Josh Morrissey and the end result was not pretty.
Although to be fair, they got their chances in the third period and seemed to be much more visible as the game wore on. The Duchene line fascinates me because I wonder how opposing teams view them now that they’ve slowed down. Do they draw slightly more favorable matchups as the book is now out on Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven. Or do teams respect the veteran experience on that line and roll the dice on letting the kids cook?
Defense pair blender
There’s nothing to read here except that I think there’s more flexibility to be had with Dallas’ defense pairs, at least long term. Tanev with Lindell and Harley with Heiskanen are an elite top four, possibly on par with Carolina’s (definitely not as an entire group though), but it’s hard to go wrong. I always wondered why Lindell with Heiskanen wasn’t an immediate thing when it became available. While I wouldn’t at all expect this shuffling to continue, it might be a good solution to sheltering the bottom pair, which will undoubtedly be the topic of way too many conversations.
The Winnipeg perspective
The Jets are more or less locked into a first-round date with the Avalanche. Technically, Winnipeg could end up first in the division if they won the rest of their games, and Dallas lost the rest. Given the rest of Dallas’ schedule, I would call that unlikely. The biggest aim for Winnipeg is creating some momentum going into the postseason — along with washing that Nashville taste of their mouth. (They won that game, but it was an absurd lack of anything resembling effort.)
Winnipeg’s issue is maximizing their forward lines and being able to play at a level fitting for the kind of season Connor Hellebyuck is having. I don’t think they’re some plucky underdog versus the top teams like Dallas, Edmonton, or Colorado, but they also play a style with enough depth to be an incredibly difficult out. So while I don’t think this game served as a playoff preview, I will say that of all the matchups Winnipeg could draw, Colorado is easily the best. (Although I don’t believe Colorado is losing that one. It’ll be tight. But I just don’t see it. MacKinnon distracts from how good Colorado’s other players are, but he’s on the kind of level that wins Cups. Needless to say, the Jets will have their work cut out for them.)
I'm chomping at the bits to watch a Gorilla dance about with a broom in Texas!
Lian's been playing in the 2-4 role, judging off minutes, in Rogle. He'll likely be in 1-3 spot if helps out CP and Dallas could definitely utilize him at the moment in the 5-7 role.
SHL Finals start on the 19th and they'll likely be matching up with Skelleftea. If Bichsel could somehow drag Johnathan Pudas back state side for a Cup run, that would be too cool. Extremely improbable, but a fun thought non the less.