The Dallas Stars aim to continue their winning ways at home on Wednesday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Stars skated to a 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals on Monday to improve to 3-1-0 on their six-game homestand and 13-3-0 at American Airlines Center this season.
While Roope Hintz (two goals) and Jason Robertson (two assists) recorded multi-point performances against the Capitals, rookie Lian Bichsel provided another unexpected shot in the arm by scoring a goal for the second time in three games. Bichsel, in fact, became the second defenseman in franchise history to score twice in his first three NHL games, joining then-Minnesota North Stars blueliner Derian Hatcher in 1991-92.
“It’s not an easy job out there. I’m just getting into the league, but I think I’m doing a good job keeping it simple and helping the team,” the 20-year-old Bichsel said. “I’m fighting for a job here and doing all I can here to make their decision hard. Every day is a new opportunity for me, and every day I have to show them that I’m worth playing here.”
Bichsel has been summoned from AHL affiliate Texas with Dallas dealing with the absences of defensemen Matt Dumba (upper body) and Nils Lundkvist (illness).
The 6-foot-7, 231-pound Bichsel hasn’t been shy about using his physicality to make a statement, as he has registered 12 hits in three games — including one that sent Blues captain Brayden Schenn into the Stars’ bench.
“When you’re a young guy and come in that situation like this, you don’t have to score every night,” Dallas head coach Peter DeBoer said. “You have to make an impression and get the coaches’ trust.”
Jake Oettinger turned aside 25 shots while making his sixth straight start while backup Casey DeSmith battles the flu. Oettinger is 12-2-0 with a 1.92 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage at home, as opposed to 4-5-0, 3.02 and .889 on the road.
Dallas shut down all four of Washington’s power-play opportunities to improve to 10-for-10 on the penalty kill during its homestand.
Toronto recorded its third win in four games by scoring four unanswered goals in a 5-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
Veteran John Tavares punctuated the triumph with a natural hat trick for the Maple Leafs.
“I’m just playing,” the 34-year-old Tavares said. “I think I’ve got a lot of belief in my game and what I can do, whether that is scoring or just making an impact all over the ice. So just continue to help this team as best I can. My whole life I’ve been able to produce offensively, score goals, and just want to continue to do that when those chances present themselves.”
Nicholas Robertson collected a goal and an assist against the Sabres to double his season point total. He had two points (both goals) in his previous 23 games.
The Robertson brothers (Nicholas, 23; Jason, 25) are expected to take the ice against each other on Wednesday.
Toronto continues to deal with the absence of No. 1 goalie Anthony Stolarz. The team ruled him out for 4-6 weeks on Monday after he undergoes a knee procedure.
–Field Level Media
