Dallas Stars unveil their super scary power play
Last season, the Dallas Stars had a dynamic duo in Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn, combining for 163 points.
Meanwhile, the Ottawa Senators briefly had one of their own in Jason Spezza and Ales Hemsky. Spezza finished the season with 66 points; Hemsky scored 17 in his 20 games in Ottawa.
The latter two players signed with the Stars in the summer. On Monday night, coach Lindy Ruff decided to empty his toy chest, putting all four of them on the same power play unit along with an incredibly lucky Trevor Daley. It was a group that hadn’t seen a minute of practice together in the preseason.
The result? Dallas scored two late power-play goals by Seguin, who had a hat trick, in rallying to beat the Florida Panthers.
It was one game, but you could see the puddles of drool collecting on the ice from agape mouths watching this unit find chemistry.
“It’s those five guys reading off each other,” Ruff told the Dallas Morning News. “It’s not so much laying it on a map and saying, ‘You’re going to be here and you’re going to be there.’ It’s reading what’s open and giving them different looks. I know that (coach) Curt (Fraser) gave them a different look on the second one with the down-low play and it worked. They were concerned about Benn in the slot, which opened up a seam for Tyler on the back door. As long as the work ethic stays strong, the way they move the puck around…that’s going to be a tough unit to deal with.”
Seguin was used on the point, rather than his usual spot on the half wall, but the Stars also gave him free reign on the power play to move around.
“I thought the first few times we rolled out there it wasn't too good and then we felt each other through a little bit. We were more patient over the last few power plays and didn't rush anything,” said Spezza to the Stars website. “Obviously Seguin has a big shot back there and they have to respect that. It opens up the plays down low. I thought it was a step in the right direction with lots of time left to get used to each other.”
While this Super Power-Play may not eventually stick together, plans are for Spezza to play with Seguin and Benn on the top unit this season. Spezza set up Seguin game-winner last night.
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Dallas converted at just 15.9 percent on the power play last season, despite being fourth in the NHL in power-play chances with 290. Seguin was fourth in scoring in the NHL thanks in part to 25 points on that power play. How high can he climb if this unit clicks?
