Stars: Offensive Weapons Helping Early On

By Cole Mentzel | Oct 22, 2015

The Dallas Stars are off to a hot start thanks to their deep offense and abundance of skilled players.

The Dallas Stars, currently on a 4-game winning streak, have started the season with a bang. They are currently 5-1-0 and sit atop the Western Conference. If it wasn’t for a collapse against the Colorado Avalanche in the second game of the season, they would be undefeated.

Many things have led to this quick start for a team with a few uncertainties entering the season. The defense has looked a lot better than expected and defenseman Johnny Oduya has been everything and more paired up with defenseman Jason Demers. The goaltending gamble that Stars general manager Jim Nill took this summer has paid off as both Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi have looked incredible.

However, the one thing that has the Stars rolling right now is their offense. They have scored at least 2 goals in every game this season and they are getting extra help from unexpected places such as centre Mattias Janmark.

Though the Stars only added one new player to their offense in the summer, they seem to have a lot more chemistry than they did last season and that is thanks to the stars on the team.

Left wing Jamie Benn, coming off of a year where he won the Art Ross trophy, is proving that it was not just a fluke. Through six games, he has 6 goals (1st in the NHL) and 4 assists. His play and leadership as the captain has strengthened and he looks even better than before with his crafty goals and huge hits. It’s no surprise that he is helping this team in a big way.

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Center Tyler Seguin has 4 goals and 6 assists so far. His speed is again the key to his success as he can accelerate into the zone and slice through defenders at an amazing speed. His fast release also helps him slide pucks in past unsuspecting goaltenders. If Benn doesn’t win the Art Ross again this season, look for Seguin to keep it in Dallas.

Center Jason Spezza looks a lot more comfortable this year. It took him a while to get acclimated to new surroundings last year and that, in return, hurt his production for part of the season. He already has a hat trick this season and scored a huge goal to help the Stars hold off the Tampa Bay Lightning late in the game.

The same traits apply to Spezza this season as they did last. He is so good at bringing the puck into the zone and his passing skills are unmatched. He is able to set up anyone for a good shot on the ice and is key during the power play.

Left wing Patrick Sharp, though he hasn’t scored a goal yet, has been very important for the Stars in terms of production. Crashing the boards has been a big part of his game as well as taking away the goalie’s sight of the puck. It always takes a little time to get used to a new situation, especially after being on a team as structured as the Chicago Blackhawks, but there’s nothing to worry about for him.

Both Benn and Seguin have 10 points this season, which has them tied for second-most in the league. Their rise as one of the top duos in the NHL is fun to watch and they still haven’t hit their prime yet. Being paired on a top line with Sharp gives them numerous options and it is giving the Stars plenty of things to work with.

The last aspect of the Stars offense that is thriving is the power play. Last season, the Stars had real trouble getting things going, but this season they look greatly improved with a group of Benn, Seguin, Spezza, Sharp and defenseman John Klingberg. Currently, their power play is 4th in the league with 6 goals and it is playing a key part in helping them capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes.

Overall, the Stars have a team that looks good enough to contend as long as they continue to play the way they have. The offense is a key part in their success and it looks like they are ready to make the Central Division even tougher this year.

Next: The Dallas Stars Are Only Getting Better

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