Stray Observations (Game 41): Do you really want to read about this one?

Because I don't. But we have new fans to welcome!

First thing’s first: Happy New Year everyone. I don’t know why I didn’t say that in my last piece, but I wish everyone well here (I know now’s not the perfect time), which is somewhat fortuitous since a lot of new subscribers came in (where did ya’ll even come from?). It’s great to have you here, we’re always around in the Discord if you can’t log off, but otherwise make yourself at home. This week’s paid piece is tomorrow. It’s a Stars Stuff feature, in which I talk about Dallas’ Cup contender checklist, more musings on Robertson, and some generic “resolutions.”

We’ll keep this one short. Because there’s not much worth revisiting. Far and away this was Dallas’ worst game of the season IMO. It was another game in which one player had an outsized effect (in this case Spencer Knight, with an assist from Artyom Levshunov, who is looking more and more like the second overall he was selected as), and in response, the Stars just sort of meandered toward a perfunctory finish outside of a brief flurry in the waning minutes (okay, extended enough to make this game look close).

As I’ve said before, single-game analysis is pointless. It’s why I focus on this format. Observations allow me to linger on player performances, and running threads for the stuff I believe does matter (special teams, lack of even-strength offense, the missing Jenga blocks on the forward lines, coaching, etc).

And so if there’s any broad takeaway, it’s that tonight’s contest was a sober reminder that winning one-goal games (which they’ve been doing a lot) is the proverbial double-edged sword. Dallas is too good to live life on the edge against bad teams. I’m convinced this is simply a bad patch, but if any month will test that it’s this one: they have a ton of games this month, against far better competition. The Stars are locked into a playoff spot. But suddenly Minnesota is breathing down their neck and in position for potential home-ice advantage if Dallas doesn’t right the ship.

Ping pong

Another awkward start by Dallas, in which they allowed Chicago too much zone time, but still got out okay. I’ll talk more about this tomorrow, but Mikko Rantanen taking over a shift, and scoring a pretty goal was just what 2026 needed. There’s not a ton of discussion about the combo of Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston. Perhaps because they’re so productive, it’s easy to miss some of their warts. But also seeing Sam Steel completely botch a pass on the 2-on-1 might have been the final straw for some fans, who might be convinced that Dallas needs to trade for a forward (or two) rather than a defender.

Rage Quitting

The second period really felt like frustration in puck form. Miro Heiskanen’s bizarre and uncharacteristic penalty, breaking the glass with his stick was never going to make anyone’s bingo card. But that really encapsulated Dallas’ play. There was zero cohesion. And in response to that lack of cohesion, they compounded it by forcing plays and taking penalties. Games like this are fine in a vacuum. Players are allowed to be emotional. And they’re even allowed to channel those emotions into poor play (stick with me). But the real question is whether or not some of that frustration stems from foundational issues.

The penalty wilt

I don’t think the PK needs to be dragged across concrete for allowing a couple of goals. Sure, they weren’t great. But it’s still a great PK, and it’s rare to see Sam Steel and Colin Blackwell get cut up like that. Remember: they had a fantastic shorthanded chance prior. Yes, you can make your jokes about the lack of finish here. But forcing opponents to defend the PK in their own zone is a hell of a way to PK.

There’s too much to talk about the whole, so stay tuned for tomorrow’s piece! And yes, I know. Losing sucks, and losing streaks are even worse. But do what I do: log off! (I’m actually still working on other writing, but I WILL take a 20-minute break to finish Doggerland by Ben Smith. Still not sure how I feel about this one, but it’s not your typical sci-fi, opting for melancholy as its’ mode rather than bleak, which is how the wrong people of Goodreads tend to describe it.)