Two unsung players — one a veteran journeyman and the other a youngster who has worked his way onto the team and into the lineup — are playing important supporting roles in the Dallas Stars’ point streak.
Dallas is coming off back-to-back defeats that both went beyond regulation but has earned points in six straight games (3-0-3) entering a Tuesday contest against the visiting Edmonton Oilers.
Adam Erne scored Dallas’ only goal on Thursday in a 2-1 overtime road loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning — the team that drafted him in 2013. Justin Hryckowian got his first NHL goal, a power-play tip-in, in the Stars’ 4-3 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday in Sunrise, Fla.
Erne, 30, is with his fifth organization. He did not play in the NHL last season after undergoing hip surgery, and he signed a professional tryout contract to come to camp with Dallas in September.
The Connecticut native is averaging 10:20 of ice time per contest and has one assist through nine games for the Stars. The goal on Thursday was his first since Dec. 21, 2023, when he was with the Oilers.
“I thought he was our best forward the other night,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said of Erne’s effort against the Lightning.
Hryckowian, 24, was an undrafted free agent. He did not even enter college at Northeastern University until he was 20.
Hryckowian made the Stars out of camp, and with injuries to Jamie Benn (collapsed lung during the preseason), Roope Hintz (undisclosed) and Matt Duchene (upper body), is averaging 9:43 of ice time in 11 games.
His power-play goal on Saturday tied the game 2-2 late in the second period.
“You need that,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “You need players to step up and grab an opportunity. It can really make a difference for your team.”
Duchene and Hintz are day-to-day, but defenseman Nils Lundkvist (lower body) was placed on long-term injured reserve on Sunday.
The banged-up Stars next face an Edmonton team that will be playing the second of back-to-back games.
The good news for the Oilers on Monday was Connor McDavid recording two assists to reach and surpass 1,100 points.
He is the fourth fastest (726 games) in NHL history to achieve that milestone. Only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy got there sooner.
The bad news is that Edmonton blew a 2-0 lead and dropped a 3-2 decision to the host St. Louis Blues, who scored the winning goal with 1:23 left.
“There are things that we like in our game, but there are things that we need to work on,” Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. “It’s early in the year, so I don’t think any team is perfect at this time of the year, but I think we can obviously do a better job in these close games.”
The Oilers have lost four of their past six games (2-2-2).
Jack Roslovic and Andrew Mangiapane scored for Edmonton against the Blues, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins joined McDavid in registering two assists. Calvin Pickard made 19 saves.
“You can’t even think twice about this game. It’s behind us now,” Ekholm said. “We’ve got to focus on (Tuesday). It’s a big test for us. Obviously, we know what team they are and the challenge that they bring, so just move on.”
McDavid has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past four games.
