The Dallas Stars pick up two more points in their playoff push in a 3-2 win against the New York Islanders. This win gives the Stars their 40th win of the season and puts them back in the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. Not only did the Stars need this bounce-back win after falling short against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday, but the Stars also got some much-needed production out of some of their key players.
Dallas Stars Get Bounce Back Win Over New York Islanders
Marian Studenic Gets His First Goal as a Dallas Star
The 23-year-old, left-handed forward, from Skalica, Slovakia, Marian Studenic, was picked up on waivers by the Dallas Stars in February 2022 from the New Jersey Devils. The young hockey player spent most of his time with the Devils getting healthy-scratched. Only playing in 17 games, Studenic recorded only one goal and zero assists. Since his time with the Stars, Studenic has experienced his fair share of healthy-scratches. But, in eight games, he has scored one goal and has also recorded an assist.
Studenic’s first goal comes against the Islanders off a hefty rebound from a Miro Heiskanen shot on goal; Jamie Benn was also credited an assist. Studenic has been skating well for the Dallas Stars when in the lineup and has been proven to be a solid pick-up from the Devils.
A Potential New Second Line?
Before the start of the game, Dallas Stars Head Coach, Rick Bowness, announced that Denis Gurianov would be out due to a non-covid related illness and Jacob Peterson was out with a lower-body injury. These events put Studenic and Joel Kiviranta in the lineup against the Islanders and ultimately putting Tyler Seguin, Benn, and Studenic on the second line together. This line was responsible for two of the three goals against Islanders goalie, Semyon Varlamov.
Seguin and Benn have shown that they produce with a linemate that has speed. Previously, the Stars have utilized Gurianov in that position. In the post-game media conference, Seguin is asked about this line, to which he responds, “We greased it up, all three of us.” Although this experimental line was only for one game, it seems to have some promise behind it, since all three players recorded a point tonight.
Production from Key Players
Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger had 19 saves on 21 shots on goal. Oettinger continues to perform well for the Stars, despite rarely getting a game off. The young goalie sits at a .916 save percentage and a goals-against average of 2.48. Radek Faksa stole his fifth goal of the season, on a shorthanded goal during Studenic’s delay of game penalty. Heiskanen, a massive presence defensively on the ice, tallies an assist, as well as John Klingberg.
One line the Stars haven’t seen as much production in would be the Joe Pavelski, Jason Robertson, and Roope Hintz line. Despite going through a dry spell, the Dallas Stars top line is arguably one of the best top lines in the National Hockey League. This line, for a good portion of the season, has been the most consistent line for the Stars. Hintz and Robertson both have 30 plus goals thus far and Pavelski is not far behind with 25.
With the Dallas Stars still in an every day, every game battle for a playoff spot, they’re looking for wins any way they can get them and production from every player in the lineup. A huge two points were gained in the win over the Islanders and the Stars hope to gain another two points in their game on Thursday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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