"The stars at night...
Are big and bright! *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP* *CLAP*
Deep in the heart of Texas!"
If you don't know that song, chances are you're not from Texas. That's an instant classic by Moe Bandy, where it was even banned because factory workers would set down their tools to clap along to the song. That's as Texas as Dallas Cowboys football and oil.
Some people might propose that to be the goal song for the Dallas Stars like Vegas Lights is for the Vegas Golden Knights. However, Pantera is also a solid choice given it provides the Stars with extra toughness and oomph.
But the two teams aren't playing in Dallas like they did on Friday. No, they're at T-Mobile Arena for a Tuesday matinee, where two of the Western Conference's top teams face off. On Friday, the Stars got the best of Vegas by a score of 4-3. Jason Robertson netted two goals along with the game's first star. While Jack Eichel had two of his own, it wasn't enough for the Golden Knights.
However, the main focus for the Golden Knights fanbase isn't on Eichel or Robertson. In fact, it doesn't concern a player at all. The person in question is Pete DeBoer, who coached the Vegas Golden Knights for three seasons and earned a record of 98-50-12. He led the team to two semifinal appearances before being fired in 2021-22 for missing the Stanley Cup playoffs.
What's Pete DeBoer's style?
Golden Knights fans (and Dallas Stars fans) are familiar with DeBoer's shoot-and-pray style. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, the Stars are 10th in total team shots with 6,678. Following closely behind... are the Golden Knight with 6,661. Who knew that Bruce Cassidy loved firing pucks at the net himself?
But here's the kicker (and difference between Cassidy and DeBoer). The Stars head coach doesn't emphasize taking the puck away as much as Cassidy. Fans shouldn't expect Dallas to forecheck as aggressively as Vegas does, given the team's takeaways since October 1, 2022 (1,385, 19th in the NHL). Compare that to the Golden Knights, who live off creating turnovers (1,678, sixth in the NHL).
Instead, DeBoer thrives on clogging the neutral zone and establishing zone dominance in all three ends here. Are you looking to move on the attack? You'd better maneuver past three or more defenders or risk either a turnover or dumping the puck. The Stars make you work for your offensive zone time, which was why the Golden Knights only mustered 21 shots on Friday.
Be the bigger team (literally)
Dallas might be a quicker team than the Golden Knights on the ice. That's how they won on Friday and tilted the ice so easily in the second period. However, Vegas can use its overall size to deter takeaways from the Stars, bullying their way towards the offensive zone for scoring opportunities.
Finally, the Stars head coach is back with his usual power play tricks (or lack of). Dallas ranks 23rd in the NHL in power play percentage entering Monday (19.2%) and fans will thank Steve Spott for another NV Energy power play. That means jumping on the penalty kill and getting on those exits. Can't have Spott's special teams unit getting the best of you, ya know?
It wouldn't be a Vegas Golden Knights season without Pete DeBoer being involved in some capacity. The two go together like peanut butter and jelly or Lamar Jackson and choking in the NFL playoffs. Don't be surprised if there's another chapter added to the Golden Knights history books, specifically concerning DeBoer's presence. Fans could get a redux of the 2023 Western Conference Final between the Golden Knights and Stars. Of course, DeBoer will be at the center of it all again, with the stars at night deep and bright.