The Turnaround of the Dallas Stars:

From All-O to All-D

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

5/16/2019

        The Dallas Stars finished the NHL regular season with a 43-32-7 record and 93 points. These totals earned them the first wild card spot in the Western Conference playoffs. They went on to beat the Nashville Predators in in the first round in 6 games. Before then losing the St. Louis Blues in 7 games in round two. These results were a part of a bounce-back season for the Stars who missed the playoffs the previous two years. The biggest reason for their return to postseason play is the philosophical change the Stars made this season. As under rookie head coach Jim Montgomery they shifted from a team reliant on outscoring opponents, to a team more defensively structured and disciplined. With this change in playstyle the Stars seem to be set-up for more sustainable success going forward. This article will look to depict statistics that display how this playstyle shift improved Dallas defensive performance.

            The defensive improvement the Stars made this past season is reflected in three key statistics. These were an improved goals against average, an effective penalty kill, and number of totals goals allowed. These three defensive stats fully reflect the turnaround the Stars made this year to become more defensively proficient.

            The Stars improved goals against average was a big testament to the commitment this team made under coach Jim Montgomery to this defensive style. Their goals against average (GAA) this season sat at 2.23 goals per game which ranked second in the NHL. Only the Islanders allowed fewer goals per game and the margin between these two was only 0.02. Compare this to the 2.67 GAA they posted in the 2017-2018 season, and that comes to a 0.44 improvement. This means the team shaved almost a half a goal off there GAA this past season. The Stars having committed to being sounder in their defensive coverages. Along with being smarter and harder on the puck on their forecheck. Dallas has become a much tougher team to score against than in years past. Making success on the ice more attainable with the ability to defend at a high level to close out close games.

            In terms of their Penalty Kill (PK) the Stars have seen this component of their specialty teams become a strength. The Stars penalty kill this season operated at 82.8% which ranked 5th in the NHL this year. Compare that to the Tampa Bay Lighting and Arizona Coyotes whose penalty kills led the league at 85.0%. Showing only a 2.2% difference between their PK and the two best in the sport. It is also a 2.0% improvement from their 80.8% they posted in 2017-2018 season which wound up middle of the pack ranking wise. It also helped they accumulated the 9th fewest penalty minutes in the league this year. Meaning it helps that your penalty kill is good, but also that you do not spend too many times killing penalties each night. The biggest tactical reason the PK improved was the more aggressive box set-up they utilized this year. Being willing to attack puck handlers along the walls and in the corners of their defensive zone. Taking time and space away from opposing offensive players and disrupting passing sequences for opposing power plays. They carried this PK success into the playoffs against Nashville and St. Louis. Holding these two teams to a combined 2-32 in 13 total games. The PK thus wound up a huge advantage for the Dallas Stars through their postseason run.

            The final defensive stat that reflects the Dallas Stars defensive transformation is the total number of goals they gave up on the year. The Stars allowed 200 goals this season which was again second to the New York Islanders who gave up an only 191 goals. If you put this total up against the 222 goals, they gave up in the 2017-2018 year that is a 22-goal decrease. This improvement in goal prevention helped the Stars win more close games. This allowed for improved numbers from their goaltenders, and created a more effective playstyle for their players to comfortable defending in their own zone.

            Now the positive change this shift to defense has had also benefitted their goaltending numbers. It showed in the increase of their top Goalie Ben Bishop’s number from solid in 2017-2018, too Vezina Caliber in 2018-2019. Bishop’s accumulated a 27-15-2 record, a 1.98 GAA, .934 save percentage, and 7 shutouts. These numbers are up from the previous year when he posted a 26-17-5 record, 2.49 GAA, .and 916 save percentage, with 5 shutouts. Add in that backup Aton Khudobin posted a 2.57 GAA and .923 save percentage, he posted strong numbers as well. Across the board Bishop and Khudobin’s numbers were up this season and you must believe the improvement of the team’s defense had a huge hand in this. This defensive change has allowed both goaltenders to play with more confidence, along with less stress to have to stand on their heads each night.

            Overall these numbers show the Stars under their rookie head coach made a full 180 turn in terms of playstyle. They have gone from a team leaning on their offense to save them, too their defense to leading them. They have grown in confidence in Jim Montgomery’s system and the stats across the board show they have adjusted well. This playstyle can birth more sustainable success for the Stars going forward. It is also playstyle that can provide success in the postseason, as the Stars have shown by their run this year. The Stars now though have an identity that can make them a formidable opponent the rest of their playoff participation and going forward.