Opinion
3 min read

Dallas Stars Set to Clash with Florida Panthers at American Airlines Center

As the Dallas Stars prepare to host the Florida Panthers at the American Airlines Center, fans are eager for what promises to be a thrilling encounter. The Stars, coming off a decisive 4-1 victory against the Winnipeg Jets on March 1st, have shown they can dominate on home ice. With an impressive display of offense and defense, they outshot the Jets by 36 to 26 and won 59 percent of faceoffs.


Dec 6, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save as Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) and defenseman Brandon Montour (62) battle for position during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

The Stars' performance in their last game was nothing short of dominant. They started strong with three goals in the first period and maintained their lead throughout. Their shooting percentage stood at a solid 11 percent while their goaltending was nearly flawless, allowing only one goal against them.


However, it's not just about one game; consistency is key in hockey. Looking back at their previous games reveals some areas for improvement. The loss against Colorado Avalanche on February 28th showed that when faced with a high-pressure offense – as evidenced by Colorado's shooting percentage of 18 percent – Dallas struggled to maintain control.


Dec 6, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) and Florida Panthers defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (91) battle for a loose puck during the first period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Despite this setback, there is reason for optimism among Dallas fans. When comparing both teams' recent performances against common opponents like Winnipeg Jets and New York Islanders, it becomes clear that Dallas has been more efficient offensively and defensively than Florida.


The Panthers will certainly pose a challenge; they are known for their aggressive playstyle and ability to capitalize on powerplay opportunities. However, if Dallas can leverage its even-strength play where they've excelled recently – scoring four even-strength goals against Winnipeg – they could very well dictate the pace of the game.


Dec 6, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) brings the puck up the ice against the Dallas Stars during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Special teams will also be crucial in this matchup. While both teams have had moderate success with powerplays recently (Dallas converting none out of two opportunities while Florida capitalized once), it’s worth noting that Dallas has been more disciplined lately with fewer penalty minutes compared to earlier games.


In conclusion, if Dallas can replicate its strong start from March 1st and maintain discipline to minimize penalties while exploiting even-strength situations effectively as seen in past performances, there's every chance that home advantage could swing this encounter in favor of DAL.


Fans won't want to miss this exciting matchup scheduled for March 13th at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The puck drops after sunset local time (7:00 PM CST), and you can catch all the action live on ESPN+ online or BSSW/BSFL TV networks.

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