GDT: 2/9 Stars @ Arizona 3 PM

[Troy McClure]

Same lineup as before.

[B Kat]

AZ is probably gonna be a bit pissed from the last game, but it would be nice to get a win for the Moms.

[ScubaSteve]

Coyotes retro jerseys, nice.

[wonko80]

When did Klingberg lose his front teeth?

[wonko80]

That was a bad line change by the forwards on the PK

[ToddM]

Moms are clearly bad luck.

[ScubaSteve]

Moms are clearly bad luck.

It’s understandable that the offense has gone quiet again, it must be awkward trying to score in front of your mom.

[wonko80]

The offense has gone back to the perimeter. Not surprisingly, they aren't scoring goals.

[ToddM]

We're not going to win many games when Klingmann, Benn, and Radulov all play like dogshit.

[ScubaSteve]

The offense has gone back to the perimeter. Not surprisingly, they aren't scoring goals.

Yep, this team is great at cycling in the corners for 40 seconds at a time before getting tired and losing the puck without ever generating a chance. The best was when they had that 3 on 1 just now and pulled up to start a cycle instead of attacking the net.

[ToddM]

Took them 57 minutes to try the middle of the ice.

[SaintAngerBH]

Eating the puck along the boards should always be a delay of game penalty. You might as well hold the puck in your hand or stuff it down your pants because you are verbatim delaying the game by doing that.

[Troy McClure]

Don’t let the recent win streak fool you, the drought continues for most of the forwards.

Nichushkin: no goal since the Brexit vote
Gurianov: no goal in last 16 games
Spezza: 1 goal in last 26 games
Hintz: 1 goal in last 22 games
Dickinson: 1 goal in last 22 games
Radulov: 1 goal in last 12 games
Benn: 1 goal in last 10 games
Cogliano: 1 goal in his 9 games as a Star
Pitlick: no goal in last 8 games

[wonko80]

Gurianov and Hints are now definitely in the "it's great you can create chances, but sometimes you actually have to score" category. Kinda wordy title I admit.

[SaintAngerBH]

They are heading quickly toward Nichushkin island.

[Troy McClure]

Gurianov and Hints are now definitely in the "it's great you can create chances, but sometimes you actually have to score" category. Kinda wordy title I admit.

They sure are busy Tom Wandelling it up out there.

I sure hope Robertson or Dellandrea have something and can hit the ground running. I am *fargin'* sick of the usual “be patient” Stars prospect who, after waiting a few seasons, just isn’t that special. I’m looking at you Shore, Dickinson, Nichushkin, Honka, etc., guys who, at their very best, are depth scrubs.

[ToddM]

Hintz-Gurianov-Heiskanen actually looked pretty dangerous on the second unit PP, WAY more so than our perimeter-based first unit. Gurianov was taking clean shots from Seguin's spot, and Hintz nearly cashed in on a perfect setup from Gury in the first period (buncha Coyote sticks in the way, tho).

And we were headed for a lethargic shutout until Hintz turned on the jets, blew past two guys and got a tough shot off in heavy traffic, which Ritchie then knocked in. That one play seemed to wake up the entire team (57 minutes too late).

I'm not really worried about either of our young fast guys. They seem to be improving every game with the added responsibilities. Especially considering they have 50 games of NHL experience between them, combined. I'm more worried about how Klingberg continues to make lazy backhand passes and how Benn has started "reaching" for pucks just out of his grasp instead of skating, which has led to problems in the past. These are vets who should know better.

[B Kat]

We were due for a stinker. Not to use the tired excuse, but winning takes a lot of energy and then having to deal with your Mom for a half a week.

Hintz and Gurianov are fine for now. They are getting NHL experience. Neither is giving it up defensively, so yay and they are producing some.

[slaps]

I don’t think the issue is whether they are “fine” or not. The issue is that they aren’t good. They aren’t scoring. Like, at all. It’s part of a larger trend that our drafting and development seems to produce a lot of “be patient” and then “they’re fine,” but never any “holy *poo poo*, this guy’s awesome.”

[Troy McClure]

Yeah, or even something between be patient and holy *poo poo*. Like maybe even a moderate trickle of goal scoring would be nice.

[B Kat]

Everyone is upset with the Dallas Stars drafting, especially the high 1st round picks. Being mad at the players for not living up to their draft position is kind of misplaced. Hintz and Gurianov are progressing. They could be worse.

[slaps]

I don't think its being mad at them for their draft position so much as for not doing the things they need to do in order to score. Going to the front of the net is kind of...basic hockey. The draft position things comes into play because they were drafted high enough to have the expectation that they can score, and they've shown they can at the AHL level. But then they don't do the good things at the NHL level.

And saying "they're progressing" is a maddening phrase, given what other players in comparable draft positions are already doing. It's not a one-time miss by the Stars, its a constant thing.

[SaintAngerBH]

Yeah. The trend line barely has a positive slope with these guys.

Gurianov shows an occasional flash that makes me think he might suddenly break out. But, it's rare. Usually, he looks outmatched by the opposition's defense.

[ToddM]

I'm not sure what you guys expect after 19 NHL games, but I think Gurianov has been pretty good, and getting better. Last game he and Hintz were the only forwards not rimming it around the boards, and they sparked a near-comeback via their individual efforts. Our second unit PP is looking pretty good in their limited time on the ice. At least in comparison to our first PP unit.

Not every rookie can be an Ovechkin or Pettersson (or.. ahem.. Chiasson) and just start potting 10 goals in their first 10 games.

[BigAl]

FWIW, an average NHL forward scores at about .35 - .40 points per game.
Loui Eriksson scored at a pace of .32 ppg his rookie year. (Age 21)
Hintz and Gurianov are scoring .22 ppg.
Steve Ott scored .16ppg at age 21.

[BigAl]

Hintz and Gurianov are 32nd and 33rd in scoring for forwards drafted in 2015.
http://www.nhl.com/stats/player?reportT ... ntsPerGame

[ScubaSteve]

32nd and 33rd out of like 35 players eligible for that particular stat sorting.

[Troy McClure]

I'm not sure what you guys expect after 19 NHL games, but I think Gurianov has been pretty good, and getting better. Last game he and Hintz were the only forwards not rimming it around the boards, and they sparked a near-comeback via their individual efforts. Our second unit PP is looking pretty good in their limited time on the ice. At least in comparison to our first PP unit.

Not every rookie can be an Ovechkin or Pettersson (or.. ahem.. Chiasson) and just start potting 10 goals in their first 10 games.

Is it too much to ask for Gurianov to have shot one *fargin'* puck in one *fargin'* net?

[B Kat]

And I do recall all the *poo poo* Loui got as a 21 year old.

We can wish the players were better, but I just try to be realistic. The drafting has been poor, even accounting for hindsight is 20/20. Hintz and Gurianov ARE progressing. I'm happy that they are not regressing. I'm still going to root for them and hope they become better at the NHL level.

[wonko80]

Holy *poo poo*, some dude named Rudolfs Balcers, which is apparently a real name, has a higher PPG rate than Gurianov this season.