Two unsung gamers — one a veteran journeyman and the opposite a teen who has labored his means onto the staff and into the lineup — are taking part in vital supporting roles within the Dallas Stars’ level streak.
Dallas is coming off back-to-back defeats that each went past regulation however has earned factors in six straight video games (3-0-3) coming into a Tuesday contest in opposition to the visiting Edmonton Oilers.
Adam Erne scored Dallas’ solely aim on Thursday in a 2-1 time beyond regulation street loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning — the staff that drafted him in 2013. Justin Hryckowian bought his first NHL aim, a power-play tip-in, within the Stars’ 4-3 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday in Dawn, Fla.
Erne, 30, is along with his fifth group. He didn’t play within the NHL final season after present process hip surgical procedure, and he signed an expert tryout contract to return to camp with Dallas in September.
The Connecticut native is averaging 10:20 of ice time per contest and has one help by means of 9 video games for the Stars. The aim on Thursday was his first since Dec. 21, 2023, when he was with the Oilers.
“I believed he was our greatest ahead the opposite night time,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan mentioned of Erne’s effort in opposition to the Lightning.
Hryckowian, 24, was an undrafted free agent. He didn’t even enter school at Northeastern College till he was 20.
Hryckowian made the Stars out of camp, and with accidents to Jamie Benn (collapsed lung throughout the preseason), Roope Hintz (undisclosed) and Matt Duchene (higher physique), is averaging 9:43 of ice time in 11 video games.
His power-play aim on Saturday tied the sport 2-2 late within the second interval.
“You want that,” Stars basic supervisor Jim Nill mentioned. “You want gamers to step up and seize a chance. It might actually make a distinction on your staff.”
Duchene and Hintz are day-to-day, however defenseman Nils Lundkvist (decrease physique) was positioned on long-term injured reserve on Sunday.
The banged-up Stars subsequent face an Edmonton staff that might be taking part in the second of back-to-back video games.
The excellent news for the Oilers on Monday was Connor McDavid recording two assists to succeed in and surpass 1,100 factors.
He’s the fourth quickest (726 video games) in NHL historical past to attain that milestone. Solely Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy bought there sooner.
The dangerous information is that Edmonton blew a 2-0 lead and dropped a 3-2 resolution to the host St. Louis Blues, who scored the successful aim with 1:23 left.
“There are issues that we like in our sport, however there are issues that we have to work on,” Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm mentioned. “It is early within the 12 months, so I do not suppose any staff is ideal at the moment of the 12 months, however I feel we are able to clearly do a greater job in these shut video games.”
The Oilers have misplaced 4 of their previous six video games (2-2-2).
Jack Roslovic and Andrew Mangiapane scored for Edmonton in opposition to the Blues, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins joined McDavid in registering two assists. Calvin Pickard made 19 saves.
“You’ll be able to’t even suppose twice about this sport. It is behind us now,” Ekholm mentioned. “We have to concentrate on (Tuesday). It is a large take a look at for us. Clearly, we all know what staff they’re and the problem that they carry, so simply transfer on.”
McDavid has seven factors (two objectives, 5 assists) in his previous 4 video games.
–Discipline Stage Media
