The Dallas Stars are set to take on the Detroit Red Wings in an exciting matinee contest at the American Airlines Center on Saturday [10 December], with both squads hoping to add another win to their record on the season.
Following their overtime win versus the Ottawa Senators on Thursday [8 December], the Stars return to the ice full of confidence. Pete DeBoer has made an electric start to his tenure behind the bench in Dallas, with his side second in the Central Division and in prolific scoring form.
The Red Wings, by contrast, arrive in Texas with a point to prove after their heavy loss to the Florida Panthers last time out. They are fourth in the Atlantic Division, just one point behind the final wildcard spot, and have plenty to play for as competition in the Eastern Conference intensifies.
Handily, this must-watch affair is the NHL’s European Game of the Week – and will be broadcast live on ViaPlay Extra from 19:00 on Saturday.
Are the Dallas Stars true Stanley Cup contenders?
The Stars have seamlessly reshaped their roster since their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, with 23-year-old forward Jason Robertson and 22-year-old defenceman Miro Heiskanen leading the charge in Dallas.
Robertson, a former second-round selection, has surpassed all expectations and developed into one of the best offensive players in the sport. He has 41 points (23 goals, 18 assists) in 27 appearances this season and is worth every penny of his four-year, $31 million contract.
Heiskanen is another star of the future (and present) in Dallas. The Finn plays in all situations for the Stars and scored twice in their recent defeat of the Senators.
He shoots, he scores!
¡Dispara, anotación!#SomosStars | #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/z9zXqkJG2e
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) December 9, 2022
“Miro’s adding layers to his game,” DeBoer said of Heiskanen’s performance. “We’re asking an awful lot of him: defend, score, play 28 minutes, do everything. I’m a little worried about wearing him out, overusing him, asking too much of him, because it’s a long season. But he’s a great player and he can do just about anything out there.”
Wyatt Johnston is another player to watch versus the Red Wings. He provided the assist on Tyler Seguin’s overtime winner versus the Senators, improving his record on the season – his first as a professional – to 12 points (seven goals, five assists) in 27 appearances.
“[Johnston] makes the play, right, a second effort to get the puck back,” DeBoer said of his assist, “a great play by a young guy. If he wasn’t our best forward, he was in that conversation, so he deserved to be out there.”
Johnston, still only 19, has five points in his last five appearances and is a leading candidate for the Calder Trophy. If afforded time and space on the puck, he will wreak havoc versus the Red Wings.
Detroit Red Wings on course for first playoff appearance since 2016
The Red Wings have built an impressive core under general manager Steve Yzerman, who added Ville Husso, Andrew Copp, and David Perron to a squad that already included Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider, and Dylan Larkin this summer.
Detroit have fired their way into playoff contention by committee this term. Larkin leads the team with 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists), but has received plenty of support from Dominik Kubalik (25 points), Filip Hronek (24 points), and Perron (20 points).
Derek Lalonde has also made an impressive impact in his rookie year as the Red Wings’ head coach. He arrived in Michigan from the Tampa Bay Lightning – where he worked as an assistant – in the offseason and has already made an impression on his key players.
Derek Lalonde, Detroit Red Wings (Image: NHL)
“He kind of just analyses and doesn’t say much,” Larkin said of Lalonde’s demeanour. “Makes adjustments at the intermission and just his calmness. He never seems like we’re in panic mode or anything like that.”
Lalonde is also optimistic about what the future holds for the Red Wings and is content with their slow build toward championship success.
“I think we’re building foundations within our team game, and when we’ve had success — which, knock on wood, we’ve had a lot of it this year; probably more than I would have expected and I’m sure most people that watch us closely [would] have expected — it’s been a team game,” he recently told The Athletic.
“So I really think, if we’re ever going get [to the Stanley Cup], six months, 18 months, 24 months from now, we need this foundation anyways. So, I like how it’s building.”
The Red Wings’ date with Dallas on Saturday represents a major milestone in their season. If they win, it will supercharge their fight for a playoff place. If they lose, it could see them cede momentum to their rivals in the Eastern Conference.
Don’t miss it.
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Are you excited to watch the Detroit Red Wings take on the Dallas Stars? Join the debate by tweeting @BritIceHockey.
