Everyone loves this guy. Mike Heika can tell you why.
A high motor does beat a high roof. Dallas Stars rookie Logan Stankoven – all 5-foot-8 of him – showed it again and again on Wednesday night.
By contrast, as Stars staff writer Mike Heika reports, the average height of the Vegas Golden Knights’ defense is 6-2. But the extra size helped them very little against the forward who “drives the energy bus” for the resurgent squad:
“I thought he might have been our best player tonight,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said after the win. “He was on the puck all night, hounding, moving his feet. He could have had a couple of goals and he created a big goal for us.”…
“He’s strong, he’s fearless and he’s tenacious,” DeBoer said. “When you have that combination, you notice him on the ice. He’s on the puck or attacking the puck at all times, he’s attacking seams, he’s going to the tough areas of the rink. He’s battling with guys that are . . . well everybody on the ice is bigger than him . . . so it’s a mismatch. He’s got to make up for that with his will to win those and he does every time. It’s amazing how many pucks he comes out with against bigger guys.”
And every playoffs team can benefit from having a honey badger:
“He’s so much fun to watch,” [teammate and roommate Wyatt] Johnston said. “He wins so many puck battles.”
Asked how the diminutive forward does that, Johnston said with a smile, “He doesn’t care.”
“He’s not afraid to go in and win a battle,” Johnston said. “He goes in there and he leaves them no choice. It’s impressive how many puck battles he wins, especially when he’s outweighed by 40 or 50 pounds against some of these huge defensemen. That compete level he has, it’s kind of contagious.”
There’s more at Mike’s place. [Dallas Stars]
Stars Stuff
If you listen to one two podcasts today, please make this the other one.
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The Story So Far – Round 1
- And now it’s 1 of 1: The Toronto Maple Leafs rallied to a 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins to take their series to Game 7. [Stanley Cup Of Chowder]
Around The Leagues
Could it be that hockey fans need to…settle down? Say it ain’t so.
The Jack Adams Award finalists have been announced, and they’re…interesting.
It’s official: The Chicago Wolves are reunited with the Carolina Hurricanes after one season as an independent AHL team.
The traveling hockey media send greetings from Love Field.
Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park – And Beautiful Boise
The Texas Stars made a statement in their Game 1 win over the Milwaukee Admirals.
Also, get a load of this.
One more reminder that the Idaho Steelheads start a crucial series this weekend. Here’s a handy guide to get you ready.
Finally
This is the video to lead you on. Let’s go Stars.