Stray Observations (Game 69): Miscommunication catches up to Dallas, who loses to Minnesota 2-1 in overtime

Not a bad game. Just a bad result.

When we last left our intrepid heroes they played one of their weaker games with a strong individual performance from the most critical position. Jake Oettinger has always been a fascinating player, more for who he is than who he’s perceived to be. Needless to say, I had a lot of fun analyzing Oettinger for D Magazine, and I learned more about him in the process. He’s not a player that lends himself to easy analysis. And yet these last two games have been clear cut arguments in favor of a player bouncing back.

Again, just two games. But that’s been the story these last few games, and it certainly was tonight: Oettinger was the best Star.

It certainly wasn’t a bad game by all involved though. Dallas got some chances late, including on the power play late in the game. But Filip Gustavsson was just a brickwall all afternoon. Wyatt Johnston had some prime looks on the power play while Jason Robertson tallied a whopping eight shot attempts at even-strength. Again, not bad; just not enough.

Beyond that there’s not much to say here. Neither team was 100 percent. Dallas, still down Mikko Rantanen and Roope Hintz while Minnesota is still without Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek. The game really felt like two elite teams with missing pieces. Which means takeaways, be it hot or cold, need not apply.

It doesn’t get any easier for Dallas. They play Vegas tomorrow, then New Jersey, followed by the Islanders, Penguins, Flyers, and Bruins — all within a 10-day window. Some of these are ‘easy’ matchups. But the real test will be Dallas’ endurance.

Jason Robertson with the Guerin dagger

Because Twitter is a cesspool, every now and then I still get sarcastic replies to my old posts criticizing Bill Guerin about not picking Jason Robertson for Team USA. I don’t know if they’re Trocheck and Miller fans, or what, and admittedly I don’t intend to bring up Guerin every time we talk about Robertson, but for now, their fates are intertwined. If it’s Dallas vs. Minnesota in Round 1, you better believe the outcome will include stories about their connection. For now, Guerin is safe from hockey media because he has a gold model thanks to Connor Hellebuyck. However, if Minnesota gets ousted in the first round by the player he snubbed, then all bets are off. Which should be fun. I promise to be a jerk about it. Only for a week. Conversely, I promise not to be a sore loser if Minnesota wins.

Also, this shift is minted. (Yes we’ll get to the other one)

Minnesota counters

I thought Bobby Brink was a great addition, especially for David Jiricek¹. He’s small but talented, and ferocious, like a white collar version of Justin Hryckowian. As such, I didn’t find his goal to be a big deal on the goaltending side. Brink scored 35 goals his draft year. His “lack of speed” is the reason he fell to the second round. Sound familiar? Dude’s got moves and Dallas gave him all the time in the world due to a miscommunication. Analyzing plays like that are reminders why the Eye Test is not as helpful as people think. Yes, we can point fingers at various players, like Lian Bichsel’s pinch or Matt Duchene’s backcheck. But facts and truth are not synonymous. Plays like that are only valuable as a piece of film room analysis if they represent patterns. When good teams play good teams, a broken play is not the same as a play that exposes the other.

That overtime goal

Yes, Robertson is absolutely responsible for Tarasenko on that overtime goal. I’ll mount a half-hearted defense and say that the strange hop off Thomas Harley’s stick as Hughes gets it to Brink might have been the cause for Robertson taking the route he does; perhaps thinking it would go out of play. My other defense of Robertson is that all three players simply can’t collapse on one guy. That’s a recipe for disaster no matter who’s left holding the bag. Still, it’s a bad look and I don’t pretend otherwise. Ultimately though, I don’t care for 3-on-3. I didn’t like that a gold medal was decided that way, and I don’t like that I’m expected to analyze a gamestate that will have no bearing on determining the best when the postseason comes around.

Meandering Strays

• One thing that has really developed over time is Mavrik Bourque’s checking. Just to be clear, Bourque has always had a physical edge; not as a proactive hitter but as a player he can comfortably play through contact. He was fantastic along the wall in the AHL.But that comfort hadn’t really translated. At least until now. I suspect the difference — and it’s true of any trait or skill going from juniors into the NHL — is that rather than wait for contact, he’s initiating his own.

• It was strange to see Dallas’ PP get locked out on that four minute stretch. Minnesota has a decent but mostly mid PK.

• Easily the lone forgettable night for DJ Steel. They got matched up with the McCarron-Brink-Foligno line, and for some reason got crushed.

• For those that don’t pay attention to prospects, Dallas signed Justin’s brother Dylan Hryckowian to a two-year deal. He’ll report to the AHL. And yes, Dylan is exactly like his brother. Does that mean the ‘Hryckovi’ will be an NHL tandem? I don’t know. I’ll try to do a quick film room writeup later this week. If he’s able to set the AHL ablaze like his brother, Dylan is perfect for a Colin Blackwell replacement. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. He’s got big shoes to fill, starting with Cedar Park.

• While the Wild and the Stars are by no means a lock, it’s mostly a lock. Minnesota is fascinating as a first round opponent. They’re a very different team with Quinn Hughes because he’s Quinn Hughes, and this is the not the same Minnesota Dallas has seen in the past, but I’m trying to figure out if Dallas, Colorado, and Minnesota are potentially the rock/paper/scissors of hockey which is either worrying or reassuring.

1. It’s funny how being a small forward is the kiss of death, but somehow a 6’2' or 6’4 defender is desired despite the current track record: Artyom Levshunov, Simon Nemec, David Jiricek, Kevin Korchinski, Carter Yakemchuk, Anton Silyaev, Dmitri Simashev — not saying these are all busts, but their development has been anything but a straight line.