First shift 🏒
The Stars defensive group has been a bit of a headache this season.
Sure, the top three are all going to the Olympics and are some of the strongest defensemen in the NHL, but the second group is still a mixed bag. That means each pairing is subject to change, as was the case Monday against the Kings.
Heiskanen and Esa Lindell have been the top pair for much of this season. The new coaching staff has focused on connecting the two Finns together, as they have chemistry and can log big minutes. Heiskanen is playing almost a minute more per game this season and leads the team with 26:04 in average ice time. Lindell increased his minutes from last year by 40 seconds, to 23:50, and is second on the team.
Thomas Harley has struggled with injuries this season and is down about a minute per game, while Ilya Lyubushkin, who was often paired with Harley last season, has been moved around the lineup and is also down about a minute per game.
Combine that with losing Cody Ceci to free agency, and the Stars had to look some different places. Nils Lundkvist is taking more minutes after struggling with injuries last season and is at 15:35. He’s plus-7 so far. Meanwhile, veterans Alexander Petrovic and Kyle Capobianco have stepped up after spending most of last season in the AHL.
Petrovic has an average of 15:48. He played in 41 games but was knocked out twice in a row before Monday in Los Angeles. He came back and Lyubushkin was knocked out against the Kings.
Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said he allows assistant coach Alain Nasreddine to make the big decisions, but added the whole group works together. If Heiskanen and Lindell part ways, it’s because it makes sense.
“We separated them and Harls played with Miro,” Gulutzan said. “Nas is doing a good job and what we found out is that Capo came in and played good hockey for us, so he’s going to stay.”
Capobianco scored a goal in a 5-4 overtime loss to San Jose on Saturday. The 28-year-old was one of the Texas Stars’ top scorers last season with 50 points (7 goals, 43 assists) in 64 games. He said he tries to bring that philosophy to the NHL.
“That’s the feedback I get: being aggressive and just playing my game,” Capobianco said. “It’s about progressing in games and pushing the play, but it has to come from the right areas.”
Lian Bichsel is out with a lower body injury and may not return until just before or after the Olympics. Players like Capobianco, Petrovic, Lundkvist and Lyubushkin will therefore have to play for a few minutes in the meantime.
“All of our guys have played good hockey multiple times and now our whole group needs to have some good games,” Gulutzan said.
