I was starting to get worried if the Stars rushed bringing Logan Stankoven up to the NHL after the goal drought he was on coming into the playoffs. Stankoven shut up Stars fans last night as his two goals led the Stars to a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche. It also gives the Stars a 2-1 series lead going into game four on Monday night. It was an impressive display of offense from the Stars tonight. They will need that going into game four if they want to put the Avalanche on the brink of elimination and return to the Western Conference Finals.

Stankoven made the Stars’ draft scouts look like a million dollars last night. It’s puzzling how the Stars drafted Wyatt Johnston in the first round and picked up Logan Stankoven in the second round like it was a supermarket BOGO deal. Teams across the league were concerned about his size, but how he played last night proved every draft scout wrong. Dallas got two gems in the 2021 NHL Draft and is reaping the rewards in the postseason. Here are the three takeaways from the win over the Avalanche last night.

It was about time that Stankoven’s efforts would pay off with his first career postseason goal. His timely goal in the first period would spark the offense after trying to get things going on offense. Tyler Seguin contributed a goal in the second period and would score the first empty-net goal of the game. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, all a team needs to get going is for someone to open up the scoring. The future of the Stars franchise did that tonight, and it’s why the Stars have a 2-1 series lead.

There is a reason why the Stars out-bid the Avalanche for Chris Tanev, and he showed it on the ice last night. He is why the Avalanche didn’t get momentum after the Mikko Rantanen goal in the second period. He also blocked a Nathan MacKinnon goal that would have gone in if it wasn’t for him. His defense single-handedly shut down the Avalanche’s offense from doing any real damage. Jim Nill will look like a hero making that trade if the Stars win the Western Conference this year.

Pete DeBoer does not give enough credit for changing his game plan after game one against the Avalanche. Those tweaks to the game plan have paid off in the last two games. Stankoven was the primary example of why the Stars won game three. That speed the top line has now with Stankoven will cause issues for playoff opponents. Let’s see if those changes can put the Avalanche on the brink of elimination Monday night.

Stejskal, Joseph Dallas 80, of Shakopee MN passed away peacefully on May 5th, 2024. Dallas was preceded in death by his parents Joseph John Stejskal and Genevieve Rose (Smisek) Stejskal. Dallas is survived by his wife Lori Stejskal; siblings Bev Welter, David Stejskal, Becky (Paul) Gregory, Barb (Jim) Hennes; children, Dallas (Patricia) Stejskal, Brenda Luckoff, Brian (Jessica) Stejskal, Brett (Virginia) Stejskal; 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Dallas was born on October 16th, 1943 at King County Hospital in Seattle WA while his father was stationed at Fort Lewis Army Base. The family moved to Shakopee MN in 1945 where he grew up alongside his 4 siblings. Dallas went on to serve in the United States Navy on the USS Oriskany from October 5th, 1962 to September 23rd, 1966. Dallas worked many jobs but was most proud of his time at the Post Office in St. Paul MN. After retirement, Dallas enjoyed vacationing at Balsam Bay Resort in Remer, MN along with reading, fishing, gardening, sitting outside in the sun, and spending time with family and friends. Most of all, Dallas loved to share stories of his life and provide words of wisdom with the ones he loved. Dallas will be interred at Fort Snelling in a private family ceremony.

Published on May 12, 2024