With two days between games, Dallas Stars head coach Glen Gulutzan planned to get his players off their feet for a day before hitting the ice in preparation for their road matchup on Thursday against the Buffalo Sabres.
“We want quality versus just quantity right now,” Gulutzan said of his upcoming practice plans following a 5-0 win against the visiting San Jose Sharks on Monday. “We’re still working on finding our game.”
After losing their first two games of the season, both on the road, the Stars took advantage of the Sharks who were without star center Macklin Celebrini after he was a late scratch because of a lower-body injury.
Jason Robertson and Jamie Benn each had a goal and an assist for Dallas, and Jake Oettinger made 13 saves in his 17th NHL shutout.
After three games in four days to start the season, Gulutzan was looking forward to getting back to the whiteboard.
“For us, we know our style of play, how we want to play,” Gulutzan said. “Every now and then, you have to circle back at where your game’s slipping, and I think that’s the biggest part of a coaching staff in this league, is to keep servicing your game, day in and day out.”
Gulutzan believes he has the NHL’s top two-way defenseman in Miro Heiskanen, citing his ability to defend all types of players and produce points against the best defenders as well.
Gulutzan said Heiskanen looks even more dangerous this season.
“Everyone can tell that he’s pushing more on the offensive side of the puck, and it doesn’t take away anything from Miro’s defensive capabilities,” Gulutzan said. “So, Miro’s trying to grow his game into another level, and that’s going to be important for us.”
The Sabres have won consecutive games with their 3-2 overtime win against the visiting Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
In both victories, they erased 2-0 deficits.
Owen Power scored the game-winner in overtime against the Wild, giving the defenseman his first goal of the season to go with four assists.
“He’s really got himself off to a good start,” Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff said. “Really skating well, moving the puck well. He’s finding people … breaking the puck out really well. I really like where he’s got his game. He’s stronger. He’s faster. He’s really moving out there.”
On the other end of the performance scale has been winger Josh Doan, who does not have a point through the first three games and saw his playing time limited in the third period and overtime against Minnesota.
Doan had 52 points (25 goals, 27 assists) in 82 games last season and signed a seven-year, $48.65-million contract extension in January.
“He’s just struggling right now,” Ruff said. “He had a little bit of a lower-body issue last game. I think it’s affecting his play. Although if you ask him, he’d say no, but he’ll find his game. I got all the faith in the world that he’ll get to his game. It’s the path that a young guy takes sometimes.”