Time to shine: Big plays still important in Stars' exhibition loss

TULSA, Okla. --The great thing about games -- even preseason games -- is they put players in competitive situations.
So while practice time can be illuminating for the coaches, and feedback is garnered in meetings and drills and even team-building activities, there might be no better information than watching a player do something in real time against a real opponent.
Gemel Smith, Devin Shore and Denis Gurianov helped themselves Saturday night. In a 4-3 preseason overtime loss to the Florida Panthers at the BOK Center, Smith, Shore and Gurianov scored goals -- but not just goals: pretty goals, hard-working goals, memorable goals.

Shore, who has averaged almost two minutes a game in power-play time in his first two NHL seasons, snapped a top-shelf shot from the slot with the man advantage. Gurianov battled to get to the front of the net and popped in a nice pass from Justin Dowling. And Smith tipped a puck out of the defensive zone and then used his speed to out-race the Panthers' defense on a breakaway, finishing with a terrific backhand shot over goalie James Reimer.
"Getting scoring from different people," Stars coach Jim Montgomery said when he was asked what was good about the game. "Every time people score, they get a little bit of confidence. It just makes us more dynamic as a team."

While Shore looks like a lineup regular, both Smith and Gurianov are fighting for playing time. And all three are fighting to gain more confidence.
"It feels really good, especially early on," Shore said. "As a team, we're looking to keep building

The Stars move to 2-0-1 in preseason play in Montgomery's first season, and the challenges continue to make the team better.
"It was really scrambly in the neutral zone," Montgomery said. "We're starting to see more and more stuff that we like. We're starting to see ourselves be a lot more creative with the pucks.
"That's really good."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

1. Young goalies get tested

Landon Bow started the game and Colton Point finished it. Each allowed two goals and each had some great saves. It was a good test, Montgomery said.
"It was good for them," Montgomery said. "For both goalies, it was really good experience."
Bow allowed two high goals, one tipped in by a teammate. Point allowed a goal on a defensive breakdown in regulation and then another on a wild side to side play in 3-on-3 overtime.
The two are expected to battle for playing time with the Texas Stars this season, so Saturday's game was an interesting look at what they might be able to do together. It's also important, because either could be a call-up to the NHL if Ben Bishop or Anton Khudobin are hurt.
"It's really important," Montgomery said. "It's really important that if they want the opportunity for NHL games that they seize it down there. One of them's got to emerge and can't wait to see who emerges."

2. BOK Center becomes AAC North

The Stars and the City of Tulsa combined to host Saturday's game, and they combined to turn the BOK Center into a Stars celebration festival. Public address announcer Jeff K, arena DJ Michael Gruber and in-game host Celena Rae provided the in-house entertainment, and the crowd showed its support.
"It did feel like a home game," Montgomery said. "The crowd was great, it's a great building. All in all, it was a great event for the Dallas Stars."
Added Shore: "We even brought our announcer, Jeff. I didn't expect that. ... It felt a lot like a home game."
Photo credit: TeeJay Crawford
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.