Stars Prospects Open Traverse City Tournament With 7-5 Win Over Rangers

The first day of the Traverse City prospect tournament is in the books as the Stars won a high scoring affair over the Rangers 7-5. Down 5-3 at the beginning of the third period, the young Stars scored four unanswered goals in a myriad of ways. Here are some takeaways from game one:

  • Unsurprisingly, the best player on the ice for either team was Miro Heiskanen, the former third overall pick from the 2017 draft. Turning in a two point game, his best play was on the power play when he went coast to coast and buried a goal, leaving the building in awe. Sadly for
    Texas Stars fans, he likely won't be seeing any time in Cedar Park.
  • Ty Dellandrea, the Stars' first round draft pick from 2018, tallied three assists, as did Jason Robertson. Robertson figures into the plans of the Texas Stars sooner rather than later, and game one was a testament to his scoring prowess. All three assists from each player came on the power play. If Robertson can continue to improve his skating, he will be an absolute  weapon for Texas from multiple areas of the offensive zone.
  • Two other players who stood out were Adam Mascherin and Nick Caamano. Both will be competing for top six minutes on the wing in Cedar Park this season. Mascherin had a power play goal and an empty netter in the third period. Caamano tied the game early in the first period when he was basically 1-on-1 with New York's goalie prospect. Texas will rely on players like them to replace the scoring they lost in free agency. 
  • The power play was a bright spot for the Stars, but the penalty kill will need some attention. They scored four times on the man advantage and allowed three shorthanded. Roope Hintz saw significant minutes on the kill alongside Caamano. It will be something to keep an eye on throughout the duration of the tournament as Texas will lean on Hintz to fill multiple roles in the upcoming season. 
  • Though expectations for goalie prospects in these types of tournaments should be held in check, Colton Point did not have a strong showing. The former collegiate standout was a bit overwhelmed on the penalty kill and was caught swimming a couple of times. In the first period, he mishandled a puck and the Rangers cashed in as a result. It's a long road ahead for Point, and hopefully he can bounce back with stronger play over the next couple of games. 
The Stars prospects will play game 2 on Saturday at 6:00 PM CDT against the Red Wings. 


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