BREAKTHROUGH: Dallas Stars Depth and Mikko Rantanen Overcome Canucks 4-2 to Kick off Road Trip!
Mo the moose rantinin does it again. He seals the victory with a highlight reel tally as the stars breakthrough in Vancouver. Jake got in and the PK comes up huge as the Stars kick off this crucial road trip with a victory over the Canucks. 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 available wherever you get your podcast and on YouTube. And as always, thank you so much for making us part of your day and making us your first listen. Welcome to a Friday edition of Locked On Stars, part of the Locked On podcast network. Now, the number one sports podcast network, the Dallas Stars, breakthrough in Vancouver last night by a final score of four to two, and they needed a little bit of everything in this one. Their big boys, Mo Rantin and Jason Robertson, convert. Their depth pieces, Colin Blackwell and Maverick Bourke score big-time goals. The PK comes up huge. Jakeer with a massive bounceback game. Everybody had a hand in this 4-2 victory to kick off a massive, massive road trip. We’re going to dive into all of it on today’s episode of Locked On Stars. Plus, we’re going to play Galaxy Graves to kick you into the weekend. So, sit back, relax, grab a beverage, and let’s break down this really, really tasty 4-2 victory for the Dallas Stars last night on the road. Just a really gritty road win for Dallas. It was not easy. We We’ll start with Mo Rantin because the backhand spinama top chatter was just as delicious as it could have been. And the most impressive thing about the goal for the Moose was the lack of celebration. He just curled behind the net, shrugged it off. I do this. Jamie Ben looked like he scored the goal with how excited he was when he bear hugged the moose to seal off the 4-2 victory. The Canucks didn’t even have a chance to pull the goalie before then since uh Mo went down deposits it into the back of the net and the Stars had a comfortable twogoal lead which they really earned in this one. they were swimming for large chunks of that second period. And that’s where my biggest takeaway probably from the night comes was just the depth for Dallas on the back end and up front. The Stars get a massive goal early. Massive is going to be an adjective used quite a bit in this one. They score in the opening minute. Justin Ritzcoian with hard work. He sets up Maverick Bourc who had a wideopen net and that line was really effective once again once again last night. Beck, Bourke, and Ritz Scovian. They kick off the the game with an early early tally. Stars got out in in front. Vancouver eventually equalized, but that line just gave Dallas energy and they also had to do the majority of the defending in that second period. They had to do the majority of the work on the PK. Miro Hkin played a ton, but it’s guys like Beck, it’s guys like Blackwell, it’s guys like Radic Foxa who had to put this game on their shoulders and just get Dallas to the third period. The Conucks had a five on three for a minute 20. The Stars were able to survive it and then they were able to get to work in the third period, but Jake Goter was massive as well. That was a brilliant game for him. The Conucks ended up outshooting the Stars 36-24. The Conucks ended up with a total of 10 shots on goal on the power play, but I think they only had three during that five on three stretch. I thought Dallas did an excellent job of keeping Vancouver to the perimeter and not allowing those easy cross crease passes for back door tapins. And Jake got made some massive saves. Stars got some key clearances as well. They were unable to kill off the first opportunity Vancouver got which they were able to equalize the game on but after that the PK held firm in that second period was so big for Dallas. They ended up being outshot 15 to6 and they just could never get a rhythm in in the game. The first period was pacey. The Stars actually kept up with with the Conucks. I I thought they were competitive. They were energetic. They were keeping pace with a pretty quick, heavy team and it made for fun hockey. But then the second period, the Stars just got in that penalty trouble and they put a large large load last night on their depth and they did an excellent job. Uh, Otter is is the number one reason the Stars won last night, but I mean just a smidge behind that is guys like Bor Rscovian, Beck, Foxa who were admirable on the the PK last night just to keep Dallas in it. And it wasn’t pretty at times. The the Stars just struggled to get out of their own zone in that second period. Vancouver was just coming in ways. By the time Dallas could get out of their own zone, all they could do was get it deep and get a change. Even that was a chore last night. That is just a gritty road victory for Dallas. No other way to describe it. A a gritty road win. That’s a massive two points against a a team that I think is really good. The Stars have nightmares in that building as well for whatever reason, but they just did enough. And we talked about it in yesterday’s episode in the preview. The Stars were going to have to capitalize on their chances. When they got their looks, they needed to convert. And for the most part, they did. You look at the five on five numbers, you would think they would be skewed more in favor of Vancouver, but it’s it’s really not the case. Vancouver was outshot 22 to 17 at five on five. They did outchance the Stars 23 to 21, but the Stars had a higher expected goals for average 1.87. And um I thought Dallas at five on five looked um looked dangerous at points. But that second period, they just got thrown out of whack. So by the time they even got out of penalty trouble, they were able to kill off a couple of penalties. everything was just thrown out of balance and it was just let’s just get to the third period and and we’ll reset and that’s what they did and then they came out and were able to get on the attack a bit more and and and just reset and u and then Blackwell I mean what can you say about the the the gamewinner last night I I I know I’m slobbering over Mo but let’s let’s let’s share some love to Colin Blackwell that was a goal scorers goal from Blackwell last night I mean back bar what A pretty shot past Lankin in and again it’s great transition work and great defending by some depth guys. First one back Lean Bishell on your third pairing. He takes out his man. Beck was tracking back. He gets the loose puck. Chips it ahead. Fox with a beautiful pass from center ice. He hits Blackwell in stride. And then Blackwell with a a beautiful goal. Like those are the unsung heroes for the Stars. Those are the unsung players that win you playoff games. Those are the unsung heroes that win you Stanley Cups. Of course, you need your big boys to be your big boys. And Robo picks up another goal. My goodness, he can’t be stopped. He has nine goals in his last five games. I was saying it yesterday, a week and a half ago, he was stuck on two goals and now he’s up to the team lead and he’s the hottest goal scorer on the planet right now. But you need players like Blackwell um in Ritzy. He was great last night. Man, I I really enjoy watching him that that line just buzzes around. They’re relentless. The the Stars had no forche in the second period outside of that line alone. It felt like when when Dallas was on their heels, the one line that was able to spend some time in the attacking zone was was Ritzy’s line. and uh they continue to be really really darn good for for Dallas. Um and they come up huge with a big-time goal. Um and the depth did as as well. That was a a really thrilling 4-2 victory. I just had a feeling watching it last night in the third period Dallas was was going to get one and steal the game. Uh whether they deserved it or or not is another question, but I think they did. Uh to survive a minute 20, a five on three time your PK comes up big. Uh Otter did not have the best start. I was thinking to myself, this is going to be a long night if if if Otter is is going to play like he was in the first period. Um he wasn’t awful, but uh I wasn’t uh uh thoroughly impressed with the the the first 20 minutes from him. Um but but he stood tall the rest of the way. I mean, he stopped 34 to 36. He ended up with the the first star of the night. Um and certainly deserved it. And um you you play you you play and you pay players like Rantin to to score big-time goals like he did last night. Um and that was as delicious as as can be. Stars come out of it 4-2. And again, you look at the five on five numbers, it felt like Dallas was being just hemmed in for large chunks of that second period and and they were, but uh a large part of it I just think was the momentum off the power plays for Vancouver. Um although they weren’t able to score. I mean the PK goes four for five last night. That was massive. We’ll talk about Otter some more. Big game from him and uh the penalty kill which uh held firm in just a moment. Today’s episode of Lockdown Stars is brought to you by Monarch Money. Let’s be honest, most of us can’t even name all of our financial accounts, let alone what they’re worth. between 401ks, savings, and investments. It’s easy to lose track, and that can mean leaving money on the table. That’s why you need Monarch Money. It’s an all-in-one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together in one clean, easy to use interface on your laptop or your phone. It helps you organize your accounts. 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Uh although uh Miro did end up with an assist last night on the ranting in goal, uh Hughes was actually kept off the the score sheet. So the Stars uh did a a great job there, but the the Conucks had 40 scoring chances in the game. They out out chanced us 40 to 25. Of course, a large chunk of that was on the power play, but that is the type of chaos uh Jay Gottinger had to to deal with. And I haven’t loved his last couple of starts, although he’s won a few of them. He just looks a bit out of sorts at points, especially the first period last night. I thought he he looks a tad out of sorts, but something flipped. Something flipped in the second period, and he was just dialed in. And for whatever reason, this is sort of a theme probably with a lot of goalenders, not just Jake, but Jake in particular, when he faces a large amount of shots, he’s like incredible. I I have to find the the numbers for it. But I believe there’s a stat out there if he faces like 30 or more shots. His his numbers are are just sensational. For whatever reason, when he faces a high uh amount of volume and and I get it, you feel like you’re in the game. You just you get in a zone when you’re facing that amount of shots. But he he was he was spectacular. And boy did the Stars need him because it felt like Vancouver after that first period made it five on the night. And Dallas was really going to have to to empty the the the tank to try to keep them off the the board anymore. But he he held it down. He held it down. And it’s not like the Stars were blocking a ton of shots. The Stars did have 20 on the night. Uh but when you factor in Vancouver still had 36 shots on net. Uh that’s not a not a ton of ton of blocks. Their expected goals four on the night in all situations 4.19. So Jake Jake had a big night. Uh that was that was great to see the PK held firm. He was a big part of it. Of course, uh the Stars actually struggled to to get the puck down the ice on most of of their penalty kills. They were just holding on. The the the Conucks had a lot of zone time and uh part of it was Vancouver’s puck movement was good. Dallas just had to kind of stay in structure and do their best to get sticks and passing lanes. Uh but when there was some chances to to pounce, they did really well. that that last PK they had in particular was strong and Dallas is is starting to find a rhythm. I think coming into the game last night, they killed off 13 consecutive penalties, which was the longest stretch of the season. Unfortunately, Vancouver was able to cash in on their first opportunity, but the Stars were perfect from there. And that’s a tough tough thing to do against a a Vancouver unit that deploys a lot of talent. Besser’s dangerous. He had a couple of great looks and Otter had to fight off a couple of saves. That one save he made in the second period when Connor Garland came rushing in and Garland threw it through the the crease and then Brock Besser, I know it wasn’t Besser, I think it was one of the Persons, uh came off the bench and and tried to fire it home and Otter was without his stick and came over and pot it down. Was u an incredible save. Um that was probably his best save of the night and certainly the most highlight reel worthy. So that was a big big night for him and and just the combination of him and the PK. I’m going to use the phrase again, but I said it last night or I said it in yesterday’s episode. If Dallas gets above average goalending, they’re going to win the majority of their games. I just I I think they’re too good offensively right now with the way Robo and Ranton are are going. They’re starting to find a five on five game. They’re just trending in the right direction. Their defense of structure is starting to to find a groove as well. Uh I I I think they’ve they’ve started to feel comfortable in their own skin is sort of how I would describe it. they look just more comfortable in what they’re trying to do, what they’re trying to execute. And and if if Otter is on his game and dialed that, that combination of everything is is huge. Like that combination is is almost unstoppable. And you’re not going to get above average goalending every night. That’s a big ask. But you get it the majority of the time between him and to Smith, the Stars are are are going to cruise into the postseason. they’re going to cruise in the playoffs if if if Otter and Dismouth play the way they are capable of. Um, and there’s going to be nights, of course, you need the offense to come up big and pull you to victories, going to be some nights. Rear defense has to step up. Uh, but but last night, I just I liked the fact that it was a little bit of everything for Dallas. I think that’s my just main takeaway from the whole thing. You got great goalending. PK was big. Power play, unfortunately, did not cash in. That was maybe the lone uh the lone negative uh or the lone black hole if we’re sort of teasing towards Galaxy grades for for Dallas last night. But then you got your Robos, your Rantinins who are just on fire. Um and it wasn’t easy for them last night either. I I like they they struggled to to get some looks at points. Um there was times where they had to defend for for long stretches. The uh the Ritskcoian line ended up with seven scoring chances and just one against. I got to heart back on them on the depth. Seven scoring chances to one against forks and Bor Quebec at five on five. They were the best trio last night. They were excellent. Uh Jamie Ben who was with Wyatt and Miko for a chance. They had five scoring chances four but seven against. row baseline, four scoring chances, four, three against. I I I think that’s a really solid sign for Dallas that you have uh a trio like Ritz Scovian’s line that can just give you a spark, give you energy when you need it because you know your guys like Robo Ranton are going to be there and if they get their looks they can cash in. But you get the help from the Bourcs of the world. Good for him, man. He he needs the offense to come. I I I want Bori to start just piling on points because he affects the game in so many ways that don’t show up on the stat sheet. I I I would love for him to start getting some more credit. Um and just being talked about a bit more um if if the points start to to come along as well. I try to I try to give him some love here on Loft on Stars because uh what he can do uh defensively and his work along the walls, he’s just he’s he’s so much stronger on the puck this year. Uh that that’s one thing I I notice. He he’s so much stronger protecting uh away from bigger defenders, stronger defenders. He’s able to stay on his feet um and and make plays that way. Whereas last year, I felt like he was maybe easily moved off some of those pucks. Um and and just struggled to to maybe be confident. Part of it is probably he’s just more confident, right? Um he he he was he was around the block last year, so he got a taste. Um and it was up and down for him. Um but and now he’s he’s trying to really take control of of his spot. Um just take control of his game. Um and and he had a a big night uh for for uh for the Stars. Uh let’s give a lot of love to some defenseman that played a lot of minutes on the PK. Mural played five and a half minutes. God, he was out there for forever. Essa Lindell, he he was big. You know, even Bishop and Petrovic, uh they were out there for a large chunk of it. Uh you know, I I thought the Stars blue line again looked okay. You know, Capo Bienko, he struggled last night. I thought him and Kolio Chonach were not as good as they were against uh the Islanders uh the other night. I thought they just held on to some pucks uh too long um in the game at points. But with them, you you have to take everything with a grain of salt. They’re they’re being asked to just play some pretty high leverage minutes at this point. Like the Stars don’t have a choice. They’re kind of getting thrown into the fire. So, they’re they’re going to make mistakes and I I I’m I’m kind of okay with that, right? I’m okay to live with some of those. Uh it’s it’s the Lindell’s and Mera that have a bit more pressure on them uh to to almost uh you know, be perfect because like teams are are going to get some looks off of them. Um although they weren’t bad last night. Let’s uh let’s let’s not uh let’s I I guess try try not to make an issue out of something that wasn’t. Uh but you know, they’re they’re they’re going to have some some issues here and there. Um and Dallas is going to have to weather the storm. Um and that was the second period for the most part uh with the the penalty trouble uh that Dallas got into. But uh I think that was a big confidence booster for the Dallas PK, especially after giving up a goal. You’re like, you know, we’ve been doing well. You give up that one. It could have really spired last night. Um, and to come out of a five on three unscathed for over a minute, uh, you could not have have asked for more for Dallas. They never trailed in the game. That was one of the more spectacular things. Never trailed in the game. Um, I think that says a lot about, uh, where Dallas is right now. Okay, let’s do some galaxy grades. They’re always fun. Give me your black hole, your shooting star, and supernova from last night. I’ll share mine in just a moment. Today’s episode of Locked On Stars is brought to you by Rue Gia. Let’s be real, making excuses doesn’t solve anything. We’ve all heard them before. It’s just stress. I’m tired or it happens to everyone sometimes. But when it comes to performance, sometimes your body just needs a little extra support. And that’s where Reiet comes in. Regia.com offers fast acting doctor prescribed treatments for ED designed to help you stop making excuses and making moves. Regia makes it easy to get started. You just connect with a board certified doctor 100% online. So no awkward waiting rooms, no in-person appointments, and if you get it prescribed. It ships discreetly to your door. It’s fast, simple, and it’s private. It’s all handled by real doctors as well. It’s about confidence so you can start making moves and being in the moments that matter. Visit rigiet.com/lockon.nhl to get 15% off your first order. That’s rugg.com/lockton.nhl. Don’t forget to use our code locked on NHL so they know we sent you. Regette, stop making excuses and start making moves. Today’s episode of Locked On Stars is also brought to you by our friends at FanDuel. 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Time for Galaxy Grades on this Friday edition of Locked On Stars, kicking you off into your weekend. And as always, thank you so much for the love and support and making the Lockdown Podcast Network the number one sports podcast network. I’m currently in New Mexico, a three-game series for the Corpus Christi Ice Race. So, it’s going to be a busy busy weekend for me. Hopefully, I have an episode out on a Monday to break down what occurred over the weekend, but there’s going to be some travel issues potentially with me trying to get back home for Thanksgiving and all that stuff. So, I’ll be sure to keep everybody informed on that. But, let’s get into some galaxy grades, which is always fun. For those of you that are new, it’s sort of like a three stars thing. Uh, you give out a black hole, which is negative, though. A shooting star and a supernova. Supernova is your first star. Shooting star your second. And I guess the the black hole is like a negative star. Um, I if if you will, something bad that happened. And it could be anything. It doesn’t even have to be maybe even related to the game. if um if there’s something uh that that um occurred. Um we’ll start with the the black hole and we we have to get it we have to give it to the power play last night. It’s been so good this year and I was disgusted by most probably 92% of the power play time the stars had yesterday. They they struggled to get set up. Part of it was they just could not win a faceoff. The first two period, first two and a half periods, they could not win a faceoff to save their lives. Van Vancouver just dominated Dallas on the dots. They won 35 of the 57 faceoffs in the game. For whatever reason, the Stars just could not win a draw. And that was a large chunk of their issues on on the power play. But they they struggled on their entries as well. Just just not a fan. It was a giant black hole. If you look at the faceoffs um on the power play, the Stars were one for three. Um so yeah, just just not pretty from the Stars in that perspective. So it it’s a black hole. Uh the power play for the Dallas Stars. Now your your shooting star. I’m going to give it to to Ritz Scovian. Ritzie was buzzing last night. He gets an assist in the game. He um he ends up playing 10 and a half minutes. Look at the numbers for him when he’s on the ice. Seven shots to one, goals four, one- nothing, chances seven to two. Like that is making the most out of your opportunity. Ritzy um and Bourke, they’re kind of like a combined shooting star here. I I I love Ritz Sco with a passion. Uh th this guy cannot be sent down. He he needs to be in the lineup. I I think he he’s forced his way to stay even when everybody comes back healthy with Duchine. Um, and Ernie, he he’s earned himself a spot on this roster. So, Ritzie is is going to get my shooting star, maybe a half one with with Bori as well. They were really effective. Um, our supernova, it’s going to go to Colin Blackwell. He gets the GWG. He was instrumental on the Stars PK uh as well. He was very, very effective. He played over three minutes. Did an excellent job there. and he scores a goal scorers goal. Every once in a while it feels like Blackwell just gets his epiphany like he’s he’s Mo. We saw this last year, right? Every once in a while he has an epiphany. He’s like, you know, you know, I’m going to tow drag around you and and and score just a a beautiful and that’s and that’s what we got last night. So, we’re going to blackball the the supernova. Share some love to our depth pieces last night. um that uh that get a big victory on on the road. That was a that was a satisfying win for Dallas. That was a satisfying win last night and um I’m fired up about it. That gives you a lot of confidence moving forward. You got an awful Calgary team upcoming so let’s not crap the bed there. Um and then Edmonton Seattle maybe a tossup but going to be uh going to be good good games. So, just a a good good way to start off the road trip and uh it’s a good bounceback win for Dallas a as well. All good things happening here. Stars are trending and I’ll say it again before we leave. I think the Stars are starting to become comfortable in their skin. Starting to feel comfortable. The changes that Goldson has made. It’s it’s starting to to sink in. It’s a it’s a bad bad start for the the anti-Golts crowd. It’s a bad bad start. The Stars are second in the Central. It’s a bad start for you guys. You got to put your hand up and be accountable. Um I know we’re only 21 games in, but 29 points. They’re behind a team that has lost one game in regulation. So, that’s pretty darn good. And they’re second in in the league. It’s a bad start for the anti-golson crowd. All righty, Stars fans. Have a great weekend. We’ll catch you on a Monday. And we’ll see you then. So long.
Dallas Stars grind out a gritty 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks as Mikko Rantanen dazzles with a highlight-reel goal and Jake Oettinger bounces back with a stellar performance in net. Can this depth-driven win jumpstart a dominant road trip and solidify the Stars as true playoff contenders? Joey Erickson breaks down the Stars’ balanced attack, featuring key moments from Jason Robertson, Colin Blackwell, and rising support from Maverick Bourque and Justin Ricciovian. Hot topics include the penalty kill’s resilience under pressure, challenges on the power play, and the team’s evolving comfort with Pete DeBoer’s system. With Dallas rising to second in the Central Division, questions swirl around potential playoff momentum and the squad’s ability to maintain this energy against upcoming opponents like the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. Don’t miss this sharp analysis of the Stars’ dynamic victory and their path ahead.
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0:00 – Stars vs. Canucks Recap
Joey Erickson breaks down the Dallas Stars’ gritty 4-2 victory over Vancouver, highlighting clutch performances by Mikko Rantanen, Jason Robertson, and the team’s depth players.
11:20 – Ottinger Bounce Back & PK Analysis
Discussion of Jake Ottinger’s crucial performance in net, including how the Stars’ penalty kill handled Vancouver’s relentless power play and the impact of defensive depth.
24:08 – Galaxy Grades & Takeaways
Joey Erickson hands out Galaxy Grades for the night’s key players, evaluates team trends, and previews upcoming games and overall team confidence.
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1 comment
Mikko is beastly.