Head coach Pete DeBoer is emphasizing 3-on-3 situations at training camp.
DALLAS - After 30 minutes of 5-on-5 scrimmage work on Thursday at Comerica Center, the Stars transitioned to 3-on-3 play to address overtime strategy.
Head coach Pete DeBoer is adamant about righting the ship in that particular area given the club's poor showing last season.
Dallas compiled a 4-11 record in 15 games decided in the extra frame, which translated into a less-than-stellar .267 success rate.
“We know it was an issue last year. We wanted to get at it early in camp,” said DeBoer. “It’s still a work in progress, but hopefully we’re getting some of the concepts and we’ll continue to work at it.”
DeBoer spent time pondering the club’s overtime strategy during the summer.
And it didn’t take long for him to begin exploring the issue with his players.
“It’s me realizing and them believing in what I’m realizing. That’s always the thing. We know what works in overtime, but it’s getting your group to buy in,” explained DeBoer. “The motivator should be that we left 10, 11 points on the table last year because of it, so we should be all ears for changes and coaching in it.”
Asked if the lack of OT success affected his troops whenever an extra stanza was required, DeBoer responded in the affirmative.
There’s only one way to re-establish that collective sense of belief, however.
“I think it gets in your head, for sure. It’s a confidence thing, like shootouts,” mentioned DeBoer. “At the same time, we didn’t help ourselves. We kept going and making the same stubborn mistakes, so that’s what we’ve got to fix. We’ve got to fix the stubborn mistakes.”