Stargazing: A Dallas Stars Puckcast | Defending Big D

The Dallas Stars have staged a pretty amazing Round 1 comeback – and they have not one, but two opportunities to finish the job in the next few days. It hasn't always been pretty, and pretty hasn't always meant victory...but is this team for real? Really, really real? Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman are Stars fans, so they're always looking over their shoulders. But even they see the green shoots here. In this cast, they discuss: When was the last time you heard that Jason Robertson is playoff-soft? We can't remember, either. Join us for Stargazing...After Dark. It's brought to you by BetOnline. What's on your mind, Stars-wise? Let’s talk about at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. Casters are waiting for your call. And please throw us a rate, review or share. It's actually pretty sad how much we live for it. (By the way, we do experience the occasional time-shifting anomaly. Let it be known that we recorded before this news broke. Listen to Stargazing, learn the future!)

The Dallas Stars don't need to do something extra, they just need to be who they are. That's how Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman see the state of play after the Victory Green Gang – against all odds, as it were –evened up Round 1 in Vegas on Tuesday night. In this episode, DBD's cast-masters bring the discussion on everything that matters – including Jake Oettinger's return to the best version of himself, the forward lines that just keep coming, the momentum that runs shift to shift but not game to game, and Craig Smith as secret sauce. What is this series doing in Round 1? It's a mystery. And this is Stargazing – brought to you by BetOnline. Does Logan Stankoven need to stop deferring? Let's talk about it at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. We’re here for you. And let us know if you're stuck in traffic on the way to Game 5! It may be a good time to rate, review and share. (Not if you're driving, though. That would be wrong.)

The Dallas Stars are in the series against the Golden Knights now, in large part because Wyatt Johnston can put the team on his back now that he's (almost) old enough to partake of adult beverages. But what will they need to quiet the house in Vegas again? Well, for starters, Wes and Mark would like a sixth defenseman who can get more than eight minutes a game. But they have a wish list, and they'll gladly share it with you – at the low, low price of about 36 minutes of your time. You can't sacrifice Round 1 while you're planning for Round 2. Play the game in front of you. Let's go Stargazing – brought to you, as always, by BetOnline. Who will you look to for a big game tonight? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the short app. We’re there. And hey, let us know if you actually use this as pregame listening! Also, your rate, review and/or share helps keep us alive. (No pressure.)

The Vegas Golden Knights have the opportunity to close out Round 1 on their own ice. The only thing that can stop them is the best team in the Western Conference. And yes, that's still the Dallas Stars. But the Victory Green Gang still needs to find a way to bring its best against a team that has committed to doing what it does best. Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman puzzle out what that might mean – whether taking more high-danger shots or reshuffling the forward lines. As a matter of fact, we did record this in the wash room during our lunch break. That's our story. And this...is Stargazing. Who's due to break through? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on that one app that used to be the other app. We're here for you. And please, if you're inclined, honor our stupid commitment to this bit with a rate, review or share. Let's get through this together.

Whether you think the Dallas Stars have already lost this series, or already won it...you're right. Last night's narrow Game 1 defeat can support almost any preconceived narrative of your choice. So why even bother to watch the rest of them? ...Well, let's not go that far. Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman have had a few hours to assimilate everything, and they have thoughts. And takes. Takes, especially – on everything from officiating to special teams and from board battles to point shots (or lack thereof). Does Jake Oettinger need to do a miracle, or just the expected? It's time for Stargazing After Dark, and it's brought to you by BetOnline. Need to vent? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on that one app that used to be the other app. Impress your friends and get a shout in our next cast! And please don’t forget to rate, review and share. You make us feel brand-new.

The Dallas Stars' Stanley Cup quest begins tonight. And Stars fans everywhere are both ecstatic and apprehensive that their team's first meeting is against last year's nemesis, the Vegas Golden Knights. How should one feel about that? ...No, really? For this assignment, Stargazing wanted to go straight to the source – so we sought out 4Fans' resident opposition expert. Tom Urtz Jr. is having a busy postseason, as both interim site manager of Knights On Ice and deputy managing editor of the New York Rangers site Blueshirt Banter. He sat down with Wes and Mark to talk rosters, storylines, and possible surprises for the first round. So who you got? Let's talk about it. It's Stargazing time! What are your hopes and fears for the first round? Share them in the comments, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the Default Font From The ’90s app. (We’re still there, but only for you.) And please don’t forget to rate, review and share. Hey, it's the playoffs. And we love you all more than ever.

The 2023-24 Dallas Stars really are that good. Is it OK to just enjoy it for a few days, for cryin' out loud? Here at Stargazing, we say...prrrrrrobably? Wes and Mark sat down on Eclipse Day 2024 to bask in the totality of the past week, good and bad. And as always, they have plenty to say about our Stars and what they have revealed to us. In this episode: So is it better to take on the Vegas Golden Knights earlier or later in the Stanley Cup playoffs? You know you've asked yourself the same question. Let's go Stargazing...for answers! We all have postseason thoughts. Share yours in the comments, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the Default Font From The ’90s app. (We’re still there! Well, for you we will be.) And please don’t forget to rate, review and share. We love you all, and we’ll love you even better during the playoffs.

The 2023-24 Dallas Stars are sitting on top of the world – or at least the Western Conference. Although you might be forgiven for not knowing it, because it seems hardly anybody wants to talk about a team with three (or four) scoring lines. That leaves a select few, including Wes and Mark, to find the discussion points in this particularly well-balanced version of the Victory Green Gang. And this week, they get a timely assist from Taylor Baird, NHL.com contributor and our own longtime editor-in-chief. In this episode: The President's Trophy: a gift or a curse? (Bearing in mind that the last time the Stars won it, they also won the Cup.) Tell us in the comments, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts over on the Default Font From The ’90s app. (We’re still there, usually.) And please don’t forget to rate, review and share. We love you all, and we’ll love you even better during the playoffs.

The Dallas Stars are out for the last long road trip of the season. It's time to start talking about the Stanley Cup playoffs battles that are, at this point, certain to come. Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman are back from spring break, and they have plenty to discuss, mainly about the Stars' state of readiness for the fight ahead. What's going right? Where are the exploitable weaknesses? And how did GM Jim Nill do in preparing his squad for this moment? And finally, what's the secret sauce in the Seguin-Duchene-Marchment line, and why does it go away when any one of them does? We just might have figured it out. Don't tell us you don't want to know. Join us for some Stargazing. What do you want to see as the Stars take on one more West Coast swing? Tell us at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on that one app that used to be the other app. (Sure we're still there!) And please don’t forget to rate, review and share. We love you all, and we'll love you even better during the playoffs.

The Dallas Stars have pulled the trigger on a major trade-deadline move, and soon (no, really, soon) top-four blueliner Chris Tanev will wear Victory Green. So...anything else happen since last week? Oh, mercy. Wes and Mark have watched all of it, and they have...thoughts. And a few scorching-hot takes. Join us for a little Stargazing as they discuss the games just played, the schedule ahead, the incoming Logan Stankoven supremacy, and so very much more. Want to get in your final stretch-run predictions while they haven't been overtaken by events? Tell us here – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on that one app that used to be the other app. Trust us, we've thought up worse. And please don’t forget to rate, review and share. You keep us alive.

The Dallas Stars have gotten used to scoring their way out of their troubles. So what do they do when the goals get fewer? Wes and Mark took a look at a long, long road week and found a few spots that the line blender might solve – and a few that the NHL trade deadline might help. Join us for a little pre-game Stargazing, won't you? Which forward lines would you like to roll? Tell us at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the birdy app. And don’t forget to rate, review and share. Thanks for the support.

The 2023-24 Dallas Stars are a team with expectations. But as a Dallas Stars fan, you still have to be this sad to ride – and the prospect of entering the Stanley Cup playoffs with holes in the defense may be the big comedown you've been waiting for. The NHL trade deadline is days away, and clearly, this is the point at which you need more players on the ice. So Wes and Mark took their own advice and called D Magazine contributor and Friend o' DBD Robert Tiffin, whose latest piece for StrongSide is the jumping-off point for their musings. In this episode: Hey, every time the Stars have gotten Jamie Oleksiak back, he's been a better player. We're just saying. And that's why we're Stargazing. Who's on your wish list for the Stars' next big swing? Tell us at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the birdy app. And don’t forget to rate, review and share. Thanks for the support.

The entire month of February is shaping up to be a Valentine to Dallas Stars fans. Just look at the past week, and the two weeks coming up. What can you say? Well, as it turns out, Wes and Mark have plenty to say. And in this episode of Stargazing, they cut loose on questions like this: reallyany Who's your dark-horse candidate for the Dallas Stars Hall of Fame? Let's talk about all of them at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the birdy app. And don't forget to rate, review and share. We love you best.

The Dallas Stars have had an interesting February so far, and they haven't even hit the most interesting part of their schedule. We're probably not the first people to point out how much of a test this month will be – but we can belabor the point with the best of them. That's one reason why Wes and Tyler settled in to talk about how it started, how it's going, and what to expect. Can the Victory Green Gang gain momentum, or will they settle for holding serve? We'll talk about this, and so much more. Can we podcast any more this week? (Well, technically, probably not, because it's already Saturday.) Tell us where to get off at Defending Big D, or contact us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the birdy app. And do the Stars fan in your life a favor – share this podcast with them. Give us a rate or review while you're at it. Your love keeps us going.

It's All-Star Week – or is it more of an All-Star Long Weekend? – in the AHL. And the Texas Stars sent a four-member contingent to join the festivities, including their head coach, the league's two biggest scorers, and the presumptive Rookie of the Year, who's also a likely league MVP. It's a lot to take in, especially for a team that started the season with a bang but has started the new year on the struggle bus. It's time to catch up – so Mark sat down with Stephen Meserve, the mind behind 100 Degree Hockey and one half of the writing team behind the definitive Texas Stars history-in-essays, We Win Here. In this edition, they talked about: Ever wondered why the back half of the Texas Stars season is always so loaded? Find out here...on Stargazing. (And while you're at it, follow Stephen and 100 Degree Hockey on the birdy app for the latest on the T-Stars.) Let's think about the future. Talk to us about your favorite up-and-comers at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts on the birdy app. And share the love by sharing this episode. Give us a rate or review, too. Of all our favorite listeners, you’re our most favorite-est.

you do with your January? Wes and Mark decided to do some cookin'...and now they're ready to talk recipes. Stargazing is back with a vengeance, and in this episode, we discuss: Is there really nothing left to talk about until March? And how are we going to pad out this little puppet show until then? Let us know at Defending Big D – or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. (Hey, it's February in Dallas. You're gonna want to warm up over these hot takes later.) And share the love by sharing this episode. Give us a rate or review, too. Of all our favorite listeners, you're our most favorite-est.

Barely beat a bad team. Blow the doors off a bad team. Barely lose to a bad team. Then blow a lead and lose to a really good team in overtime. The Dallas Stars have had a pretty remarkable New Year's week. Wes and Mark are ready to start 2024 with a bang, so they're unloading some of their best analysis and barely-digestible hot takes in this week's Stargazing. In this edition, they discuss: Roope Hintz may be the Stars' best player, but is Jake Oettinger their most better? Let Wes and Mark explain this, then let us know what you think at Defending Big D. Or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. Hot takes for cold weather! And show your friends you love them by sharing this episode around. Give us a rate or review, too. It's the preferred New Year's resolution.

Happy New Year...'s Eve weekend! Our Dallas Stars will end 2023 with a home-and-home against the Chicago Blackhawks, and the holiday mood is pervasive. (All that red and green! Festive, right?) Wes and Mark feel like celebrating, but they always have an eye out for anything that could spoil the party. In this episode, they discuss: How much can a team can get done in 13 seconds? We're liable to find out. Welcome to Stargazing! What’s your Stars-related resolution for 2024? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We need more hot takes to get us through a cold January. And show your friends you love them, man – share this episode around. Give us a rate or review, if the holiday mood hits you. See you next year!

The Dallas Stars pulled off a Festivus miracle last night, so of course Stargazing needs to complain about something. Of course. Kidding, sort of – but Wes and Mark always have an eye on where the puck will be next, and they've already moved on to the next worry. In this episode, they discuss: they What's your least popular Stars-related opinion? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We love you and your hot takes. And please, show your friends you care by sharing this episode. Give us a rate or review while you’re at it. Scamper ’round the aluminum pole with us!

The Dallas Stars have a few December problems. Do they need to figure them out before March? For a team with the Victory Green Gang's ambitions – and limitations – it's a pretty important question. Wes Lawrence and Mark Zimmerman got together this morning to talk about everything from the state of the Central Division to the fun going on out West, and from the not-so-fun stats dogging Jake Oettinger to a possible plan for the NHL trade deadline. Now you can enjoy their conversation while you're pregaming tonight's bout with the Ottawa Senators. This is Stargazing, and yes, we love you that much. What do you want to see more of from this year’s Stars? Let us know at Defending Big D, or DM us @WesALawrence or @KETibbetts. We read all your comments, and we’ll even name-check you in a future cast, if your hot takes are spicy enough. And don’t forget to share with your friends. Give us a rate or review while you’re at it. It's the holiday thing to do.