MIRO HEISKANEN EXPECTED TO RETURN in Game 4: Can the Stars deliver an early blow to the Jets??

MIRO HEISKANEN EXPECTED TO RETURN in Game 4: Can the Stars deliver an early blow to the Jets??

It’s the news we’ve all been waiting for. Mero Hastenan is expected to play tonight and the Dallas Stars could roll out 11 and seven. We’ll discuss that and plenty more on a Stars versus Jets game four preview. Your Locked On Stars, your daily podcast on the Dallas Stars, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. Howdy Stars fans. I’m Joey Ericson, former producer 105 through the fan. Please be sure to subscribe. We are free and available wherever you get your podcast and on YouTube. And as always, thank you so much for making us a part of your day and making us your first listen. Miro Hkin is expected to return tonight in game four. It’s music to every stars fan’s ears. We’ll talk about that and the possible lineup changes associated with Meiro coming back into the lineup including 11 and seven which is on the table. We’ll also touch on the 5v5 numbers so far in this series. The stars are starting to show an edge in those numbers and I want to relay some of those to you on today’s episode of Locked on Stars. Welcome to a Tuesday edition. Game four tonight. Stars with an opportunity to take a 3-1 series advantage before going back to Winnipeg for game five. But my goodness, we have to talk about Miro Hayeskin. Head coach Pete Dbor said this morning he anticipates Meiro will play in game for tonight. And Dbor did say he expected Miro to return at some point during this second round series. and his word is being kept. So far, for all we know, it was dependent on how morning skate went. It seems morning skate went all right. Everything is to be expected and he is a possibility for tonight. As long as everything goes well in warm-ups, it it looks like he will return. And it’s probably the best spot for him to return at this point. Stars up two to one after taking game three. Stars really dominated Winnipeg in that third period. Winnipeg’s going to come out and and give you their their best stuff tonight. That wasn’t their best in game three. They’re going to play like their season’s on the line tonight. So, it’s probably a perfect spot for for Me to return or to play devil’s advocate. You could certainly think it it’s not a good spot because Winnipeg is going to be coming out hard, heavy, fast, and physical. But Mero has been in this position before, and the Stars can protect him a bit with the the home ice and the last change. They can get him some favorable matchups. But I suspect if Meiro is good enough to go, he is as healthy as possible that the Dallas Stars are willing to throw him into the fire, so to speak. He obviously got cleared by the medical staff, and I’m I’m going to trust the Dallas Stars medical staff that they’re not rushing him back just for the sake of rushing him back. And it is possible that the Stars roll out 11 Fords and seven defensemen. So you can ease mero back in if need be. And Pete Dbor was asked uh about this potential and he said it’s no big deal. It gives Mo Rantin more ice time. So that’s a bit of a uh a funny line to throw out there, but I also think it’s it’s spoton. And for the most part, Pete Dbor isn’t just rolling out four lines like we’ve seen in the past. and he’s always got the knock on just rolling four lines and playing his six defenseman and that’s it. Of course, last season was a bit different because they didn’t trust Neil Lungquist and they didn’t trust some others to play more than six minutes in the postseason. But when it comes to up front four lines, he would usually just roll them and hopefully the lines were clicking. And if not, you didn’t see a a whole lot of changes or line shuffling except in this postseason, we’re we’re seeing him change things throughout the game. We’re seeing him move wingers like Rantin’s played with Steel into Donov quite a bit, which has actually been a very productive line, especially Sam Steel creating some of the goals in this series and in game seven for for Mico Ranton. just by driving and making space for the Stars elite playmaker and goal scorer who’s taking the NHL playoffs by storm leads all scorers with 18 points. So, we’ve seen Ranson and play with a bit of everybody. Also, Jamie Ben isn’t playing that much outside of the fourth line. Jamie Ben’s playing the least of any forward. 14 minutes is his average time on ice this postseason. And I may have been a bit harsh on on Jamie Ben and we’re going to get to that in some of the the 5v5 numbers because some of his expected numbers actually are very very good. Although I still am going to hold him accountable for some of the just silly and unnecessary penalties. It it hurts your team. I don’t care what your expected goal numbers are. At the end of the day, he he still has three points and he’s taken 10 penalty minutes over the last four games. It’s it’s still not good enough. Although, I know he can impact the game in other ways. So, I’m not going to pile on Jamie tonight just to to be fair and show both sides, but 11 and seven is possible. And as I mentioned, Mo’s been sort of hopping on other lines. They’ve been double shifting him, which I think is smart. And I think I called for that in in game two even or even after game three. Why not have Mo play with Robo and and Johnston a bit. See if you can get him going. See if you can get Robo going a bit. And I think Robo is is playing hurt. I I know he hasn’t looked like himself and I know there are some Stars fans out there that want him to be more productive and I’m I’m right there with you. I just I believe he’s playing hurt to some degree and he’s played in what, three games now. He He’s still getting his feet wet and I I would like to see the old Jason Robertson. I I I don’t know if we’re we’re going to get that because I I just believe he he’s he’s hurt to some degree. He’s he’s playing hurt and he’s going to need others to to help him a bit and I think Mo can do that and Ben can hop in on that fourth line every once in a while. If you want to throw him with Duchain and Marchment, throw them with Duchain and Sean like we saw in games one and two, why not? But I think you can make the the trios a bit more fluid and not as set in stone, which is a bit contrary to my belief in round one against Colorado, where I was okay with the consistency of just trotting out some of the same lines out there because I think it was healthy for for Mo um to to get some of that consistency, play with the other two fins, and he could start to find his game. and eventually it it came to light and now they’re looking for some more depth. Then they got that in game three. So, we’ll see what transpires tonight. But Mero coming back is fascinating. It is exciting. It’s a bit of anxiety just to see him play for the first time in a while. And it could be the Stars opportunity to to bury Winnipeg because we all believe the Stars are a much better team with mero Hkinan in the lineup. So it is fascinating if the Stars do dress 11 and seven. It would be the same six defenseman up front uh as we’ve seen already in the series. Harley, Labouchkin, Lindell, Cece, Bishell, Petravic, and then you got Mero. I don’t know how you take Petravic or Bishell out of the lineup. And that’s why Dallas may want to go with 11 and seven. By the way, this is pretty rare for for Pete D’vor. He doesn’t do it very much. I think he may have done it once during the regular season, maybe twice. Not a lot of coaches like to do it. Edmonton does it a lot because they do like to play dry side on McDavid as much. It really depends on your personnel, but with Mero just coming back from a pretty major surgery, they can protect him a bit more if they dress seven defenseman. Let’s say Mero doesn’t feel that great or they’re not loving what they’re seeing. Then you can give some extra minutes to another forward, a forward here and there like Johnston. I think we’re gonna see him get more minutes if they dress 11 and seven. Plus, I I don’t know how you want to break up Bishel or Petravic. That that is also a benefit to maybe dressing 11 and seven because I don’t know if you want to take any defenseman out of the lineup. Like, they’ve been pretty good. They’ve been really good. Um, and if you dress 11 and seven, then you could just move a guy down and maybe that’s Labushkin a bit more. Um or maybe you’re platooning Petravic and Labouchkin as your six defenseman so to speak along with Bishial. It’s it’s a really intriguing possibility and I’m I’m curious to see what Ela Nazerine and the coaching staff comes up with because I think there’s a whole list of of possibilities Dallas could roll out on defense and maybe it gives extra ice time to some of the fords that that could really use it and deserve it. Like Mo, I think Johnston is a candidate that could play even more. Ro has been playing a lot already. That’s why I think you get Wyatt some some more ice time too and maybe that that benefits everybody and it’s nice to have Mirro Hayesan which we know is incredible can dictate control can really control the game. He’s a one-man breakout makes sharp take passes. He does all those things and hopefully it’s a return that ends in victory. That’s what we’re all hoping for. But I’m going to have my expectations sort of leveled. It is a major knee surgery he’s coming after. I’m just going to be grateful he’s playing in game four. If he is officially, I think we just be happy about it and and take it in for what it is. And hopefully he looks like Mero Hayes and we have no worries. I’m going to have worries until well I’m going to have worries until after the first hit or maybe after the first couple hits when they’re going after him since he’s going to be a target as as all number one defenseman are. So it’ll be u it’ll be uh a bit anxietiness. That’s not the right word. It’ll be a bit anxious I I should say. until he takes the first couple hits, feels the the action. But as I said, I trust Stars medical staff. I believe they cleared him and and he should be good to go. And I’m just thrilled that we may see number four tonight in the lineup. So, a lot of cool um cool adjustments the stars can make tonight depending on how they want to go about their business. Uh let’s let’s dive into some of the 5v5 numbers. Dallas is doing a standup job at even strength against Winnipeg and why I believe if they stay out of the box they can really flip this series on its head. We’ll touch on that in just a moment. Today’s episode of Locked On Stars is brought to you by Wonderful Pistachios. Looking for a snack that’s both delicious and nutritious? Crack into a good source of protein with Wonderful Pistachios. Wonderful Pistachios is one of the highest protein nuts. Each 1oz serving has six grams of protein, giving you over 10% of your daily value. Plus, they’re packed with fiber and better for you unsaturated fats to help keep you feeling fuller longer. The fact that Wonderful Pistachios is a complete protein providing all nine essential amino acids is why you need this snack. It’s healthy when you’re on the go, you’re running between meetings, maybe you’re dropping off the kids, you’re very busy. Wonderful pistachios are the snack that works for you and is hard as you do. Plus, they have the no shells wonderful pistachios for that grab and go ease. Although, I love cracking open up pistachios, ploping in your mouth, get the saltiness of the the shell as well. And that’s why Wonderful Pistachios is the snack for you. Get snacking and get cracking with a snack that packs a protein punch. Visit wonderfulpastions.com to learn more. So, the 5v5 numbers so far in the first three games this series are favoring Dallas in in a lot of of categories. And I I think the Stars have been the the better team at five on five so far in the series. If you look at the goals, four goals against, six a piece. So, in terms of goals there, they’re there’s no different. Jets have six, Stars have six. But then you go to the expected goals for Dallas 7.82, Winnipeg 4.79. Scoring chances 83- 49 in favor of Dallas. High danger 34-24 in favor of the Dallas Stars. So Dallas is creating they’re generating more chances at five on five than Winnipeg and and that’s even with Dallas taking some inopportune penalties in this series and loading up the Jets power play which was one of the best all NHL season long. Well, the their PK has been one of the best all season long in the NHL and their penalty kill has been absolutely lights out. We we we’ve touched on that and it it’s fortunate it has been because this series could be a bit different if Dallas’s penalty kill was a bit off and and Winnipeg was capitalizing on a lot of their chances. And maybe I’m moaning about the penalties too much because they have survived them, but they cannot continue to load up a good power play. You’re just asking to get bit like they did in in game what was it one or or two, whatever it was when when Sean took the the four-minute uh high sticking penalty. I think it was it was um it was game two, pardon me. Um, and look, I know it was inadvertent, but you you you can’t continue to take those type of penalties because teams will will make you pay. And the penalty kill has just been phenomenal. We we we’ve touched on it. Um, I I think that’s uh point has been made and well documented. But again, you look at these five on five numbers, it’s why you should be encouraged that the Stars look, I think, are the better team so far in the series. Doesn’t mean it’s going to be a cake block, but they are showing an edge. And now I want to get to some of the numbers from some individuals because yes, I’ I’ve been a bit harsh on on Jamie Ben uh about how he’s he’s hurt his team in the postseason and I I stand by that for for the most part. Um he he’s taken 10 pen 10 penalty minutes his his last four games and some of that is recency biased. Um but in this series so far against Winnipeg, he he hasn’t been that great or or or that noticeable um in my uh opinion. And taking 10 penalty minutes is not not great. Um and he has one assist in his last five games and I just I don’t think it’s been making um an impact that he can make. And y’all know I’m a I’m a Jaime Ben I’m a Jaime Ben believer. I feel like I I back him more often than not. There there are sometimes I have some issues with him, but in in the postseason especially, I just I expect a level from Jaime Ben that is so high that I really usually have no complaints about Jaime Ben other than maybe production, but when he’s on, it’s not always him picking up goals and points like he he’s hard on the forche and we saw some of that later in game three and I pointed that out. That was much better from Jamie Ben. And if he can continue to do that, stay out of the box a bit more, he’s he’s going to be an effective player. Plus, it it’s the it is the cont it’s it’s the context of some of the penalties that really irritate me the most. Some of them are just just dumb. I I I hate to use that adjective, but some of them are just dumb. And he doesn’t do that. stars are going to be fine and he’s going to be a more effective player because stars are better when he’s in the lineup and he is he’s creating some havoc. He’s he’s he’savy on the forche. He’s making an impact physically and an intimidating factor without some of of the nonsense. And I also agree some of the penalties are soft. I get that. Well, if they’re calling them, you got to stay away from some of that stuff, some of that shenanigans, though. But on a positive note on Jamie Ben, you can look at some of the expected goal stuff, it’s it’s really good. It’s it’s really really good. Um, if you look at at all situations for the Stars in the postseason expected goals, Miko Ranton in 5.5, that leads Dallas. Jamie Ben’s right there in second at 4.7. So he he he’s right up there with Mika Ranton. Expected goals per 60 minutes. Jamie Ben leads the Stars 1.99. So, he is he is getting to some of those good areas and it suggests maybe he’s not finding the the back u of the net as as much as he should because you look at a goals above expected and and Jamie Ben’s last minus 3.7. So, he’s not being maybe rewarded for some of his work, but he stays out of the box and plays the way we know he he can play. He’s he’s going to be effective and he’s he’s going to help his team out more. But 10 penalty minutes in your last four games, it it it it’s not good. I don’t care how you you want to spin it, it’s it’s it’s not helping Dallas. But he’s been very good. Um even at five on five, those those numbers are still very reflective of of of what he’s done um among the stars best so far in the uh in the Stanley Cup playoffs. So that’s a a great sign. And um he like I said, he played much much better the end of game three. He picked up an assist on the Johnston goal. Um, and if he can score some of those big timely goals like he did in game three, I believe it was against Colorado, that power play goal. He does some of that. Um, look out. Like that’s just another weapon Dallas has. So, I I hope to see Jamie have a a good game tonight and I believe he will. Um, I think he has a bit of a fire lit underneath him. Um, there’s been some talk about him not being very good. Um, and I I think I think he’s going to have a a really solid game for tonight, which uh is is good for all involved. But, um, even some others I was like Marchment. Um, he’s a guy that maybe even deserves a bit more criticism. Uh, was somebody I thought could thrive in a series like this uh, coming in and we just haven’t quite seen it. And and some of his issues are are penalties, too. He he he has to be criticized for that. If I’m gonna uh get on Jamie Ben a bit, Marchment isn’t having the impact I thought he would have in a series like this. They need him to to be better because when he’s on that line of Duchain and and Sean and and him are one of the best in the NHL and he’s one of the better F1s in the entire league. He for checks hard. He creates turnovers. Not seeing that enough. and um he’s been in the uh the the box a bit too often. So, I would like to to call out Mason Marchment too. Uh three points in 10 games and um he’s he’s been in the box um a bit too much. Not very much here in this series specifically, but overall it it hasn’t been hasn’t been great. So, I I would like to to see him uh step up and have a big game tonight. I think those are the the two I’m going to put the call in to have some some big games for the Stars in in game four. And um if if everybody gets rolling in the same direction, Dallas could very well be up 3-1. And I I think if you’re if you’re the stars, this is a massive massive game for you tonight. And hopefully it’s not a game four like we saw against Colorado in round one. Going up 3-1 is is going to be massive. in this series because you don’t want to have to play a best of three against Winnipeg with them having home ice. Y’all know I I chose Dallas in six in this series. I don’t feel that comfortable going to Winnipeg and trying to win a game seven. Although you could make the case, like I mentioned here, the Stars 55 numbers are fine. the their game will travel, but I’d like to stay out of Manitoba for game seven if possible. So, winning tonight and then now you just got to win one of the next three is a lot easier of a task, but we’ll see. And we’ve seen Dallas lay an egg already, which I sort of have to spot them laying an egg in one game this postseason. Hopefully tonight they take advantage because a lot of times you see teams after they get that 2-1 series advantage and they kind of flop the next game and the teams the opponents tie the series which look these teams are very close. Two very good teams. It’s competitive. Um I’m not going to be shocked if it’s 22 heading into to game five. I think after four games it’d be like yeah that that kind of makes sense. But man, uh, with Miro back, you want to make his return, um, as special as possible, and a win would certainly do that. So, let’s talk about some of the more lineup changes, some uh, more notes and nuggets we got from morning skate this morning before we wrap up the Stars versus Jets game for preview. We’ll do that in just a moment. All righty. Mero Hastenan expected to return tonight in game four. And we have to to give the Stars a lot of credit for for getting to this point without Miro Hastinan. They have uh found a way to to win a series against Colorado and they found a way through three games to have a series advantage on Winnipeg. And uh now you you get your best overall player back in the lineup. And now it’s time to to aim for the moon. I I was thinking about this last night, too, after Carolina won. I think the the hockey gods must have the Stars and Canes meet in the Stanley Cup final. I don’t want to get ahead of myself a bit, but I’ve said a lot over the last few years, every time Dallas and Carolina meets in the regular season, it’ll be fun to watch these teams in June. and and maybe we get that opportunity. But um let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Dallas has to still uh get rid of of Winnipeg before they even get to the uh Western Conference Final. So, um the expected lineup tonight, it could be Robo, hence Ransin um or or Granland, hence Ransin. I don’t think you’re going to see them probably mix up that top line. Marchman saying do Shane Ben Johnston uh Ben Johnson to Donov or uh yeah Ben Johnson Donov you could steal steel Donov um it’ll be rather intriguing to see if they do dress 11 and seven and then of course Harley and Lindell Cece Bishell Petravic Labouchkin so I guess if a a forward had to come out um from game three it could be Blackwell but man I I’ve I’ve loved Blackwell’s game. I I think they should keep him in there, but man, it’s hard to make the case for anybody else to be healthy scratched. Like, you’re not taking Steel Steel out, excuse me, to Donovan. Like, even that’s a tough call. So like Blackwell would be the odd man out if they do dress 11 forwards, which stinks because I just I love the way Blackwell comes into each game with a spark in energy because we see Dallas sometimes get in these lulls where they just they have nothing, no life like we saw in game two a bit in Winnipeg and Blackwell just is that spark a bit. Um but I guess you can uh maybe bank on the fact that Mirro Hasten can be that spark. he can be that boost uh for your lineup. So maybe I’m overthinking it um a bit. I just I just don’t see a lot of reasons to take anybody out uh of the lineup for Dallas. I I just I I think each each player has has been um effective still. You know, Donov has had a great postseason um and has scored some some big goals for for for Dallas. I mean, it’s just one, but he’s he’s had a, you know, solid solid run, and Pete Debor trust him, so I don’t see him coming out. So, I guess Blackwell is the uh the uh the pretty obvious uh choice here. So, um I’m I’m I’m curious to see if they do roll out 11 and seven. If if they go with the traditional 12 and six, uh, you’re probably going to probably going to see I would I would assume Petravic comes out of the lineup and you would get Harley Labushkin, you get Lindell, you get Lindell, uh, Lindell Miro, and then you would get Bishel CC would be my guess if they dress 12 and six. So, just entertain me here if if we have this conversation. CC’s heavy penalty killer. Um, playing some more minutes in Petravic, but I don’t think they want to take Petravic out of the lineup, and they probably don’t want to mess up the pairing of Petravic and Bishial. That’s been one of your best pairings this postseason. So, I I don’t see them I I really don’t see them distressing six defenseman because they don’t want to mess up that that trio. Honestly, to make a case, if you had to take anybody in the lineup, maybe it’s Lushkin. Um I I don’t know if they’d even take out CC. Um again, it’s a hard conversation and I I don’t know how Ela N A N A N A N A N A N A N A N A N A N Aine sees it. Um I I know how many Stars fans sees it. Maybe you would even take out CC for that matter, but he’s been pretty integral part of the penalty kill. That’s been amazing. Like, how how how could you take that? How could you mess that up after what they’ve done here? So, there’s a lot of a lot of intriguing scenarios um that could uh that could occur tonight. And uh just be sure to stay tuned on Stars Twitter um for some updates. So, I’ll be retweeting all the uh lineup uh changes and and what could possibly happen at warm-ups tonight ahead of game four. But uh that’ll wrap up a Stars versus Jets game for preview. Mero Hasten expected to return tonight. Yes, he is. 7:00 prop normal game time probably be about 7:15 as it usually is. It is on ESPN tonight. Buckle up. Game four, the possible return of Meera Hastinan. Can Dallas take a 3-1 series lead or does Winnipeg even the series heading back to Winnipeg for game five? Stay tuned tonight. We’ll be back um later tonight with a reaction episode and uh we’ll see you then. Hey, hit the subscribe button. By the way, almost to 4,000 subscribers. Y’all have been incredible this postseason. For those of you that are new that have just hopped on for the ride, please hit the subscribe button, hit the like, drop a comment below how you’re feeling. Miro could return and we’ll see you later tonight. So long, Stars fans.

Miro Heiskanen is expected to return to tonight for the Dallas Stars in Game 4 against the Winnipeg Jets in Dallas! The news all Stars fans have been waiting for has arrived and Joey is hear to break it all down on Locked On Stars. The Stars could potentially dress 11 forwards and 7 defenseman so Joey goes through what that could look like and the benefits for Pete DeBoer to do so. Also, we take a deeper look at the Stars vs Jets 5 on 5 numbers and how Dallas is starting to show an advantage at even strength and how staying out of the box could flip the series in their favor massively. In the final segment, we discuss the potential forward to come out of the lineup or defenseman based on what the coaching staff elects to do tonight and how important a win would be for the Stars in Game 4.

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