The Dallas Stars lost two games in a row for the first time all season during their Finnish field trip. So it was a big relief to see them return to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over a Central Division competitor.
And the fact that their best performance came from a promoted fourth-liner is a commendation, not an indictment, of their organizational depth. It’s time to give Sam Steel his flowers.
The 26-year-old has demonstrated his abilities as a two-way forward who can play up and down the lineup. Those skills made a big impact for the Stars in their homecoming game, writes The Dallas Morning News‘ Lia Assimakopolous:
That versatility was on display Thursday night, as Steel led all scorers with 2 points in the Stars’ 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.