Goaltender Jake Oettinger will face the likes of Johnny Gaudreau and Adam Fantilli.
Goaltender Jake Oettinger will face the likes of Johnny Gaudreau and Adam Fantilli.
DALLAS - Head coach Pete DeBoer fully expects a particularly tough matchup against the Blue Jackets at the American Airlines Center tonight. Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. CT.
The Stars are looking to bounce back after suffering their first regulation loss of the season, falling 4-1 to the Maple Leafs last Thursday.
Even though Columbus is winless in three consecutive games, DeBoer knows his group will need to be sharp to come away with two points in the standings on home turf.
"That's a hard-working team with a lot of youthful energy and a new coach. They’re playing well. Anytime you’ve got Johnny Gaudreau in the lineup, that’s a dangerous line," stressed DeBoer, following Monday's morning skate. "Their analytics show, I think, they’re number one in rush opportunities in the League, which when you look at their roster, you wouldn’t expect that, but anytime you’re playing a team that’s ranking there through the first 10 games of the year, it’s a dangerous team."
Aside from Gaudreau, rookie Adam Fantilli is also a player to watch.
He was selected third overall in the NHL Draft this past summer.
"I’ve followed him for a while. He’s one of the few Canadian kids that went up to the USHL and then played college hockey. He would’ve been a first-overall pick in the Junior draft, and most kids choose that path. My son was actually playing in the USHL in Green Bay against him when he was in Chicago, so I got a chance to see him quite a bit there," explained DeBoer. "He’s an impressive guy. He looks like the whole package. He's a big, strong centerman. He's a Roope Hintz type centerman for a long time that has some dynamic abilities, too."
Goaltender Jake Oettinger is back between the pipes after veteran Scott Wedgewood faced Toronto.
He acknowledged the challenge that the Blue Jackets present.
"They're just a really gritty team that plays really hard, and they've got some really skilled guys, so they're going to try to outwork you, but they'll also make you pay," said Oettinger. "I think they're one of the highest shot volume teams in the League and also one of the most odd-man rushes for, so we're going to have to be on our toes and make sure we're not pinching for no reason and not giving them odd-man rushes. That's something they're good at and something they're looking for. It's a young, hungry team that's got some skill."
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