Shining with Stars' best in hockey heaven helps Pitlick get better

On the way to hockey heaven Tuesday, Tyler Pitlick took a sidetrack through purgatory.
The scrappy winger was moved to the top line by request from two of the top scorers in the NHL over the past five seasons -- Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn -- and ended up potting the first power-play goal of his 146-game NHL career. Pretty heady stuff.
But en route to that patch of paradise, the 26-year-old also had some moments of nervousness that he hasn't experienced in quite some time as a role player in the NHL.
"I think I was maybe gripping the stick a little bit tight," Pitlick said. "You saw me fumble the puck like 10 times in that one shift. But I got the goal and it felt like the puck was on a string. I was making plays in the offensive zone and hanging onto it, so I think this is just going to get better."
And then again, maybe not.

While Stars coach Jim Montgomery said he liked what Pitlick could do on the top line, he also said he's more than ready to get Alexander Radulov (
who has missed two straight games with a lower-body injury
) back with Seguin and Benn.
Such is the life as a role player in the NHL.
Radulov still is sore, so he is expected to miss Thursday's home game against the Anaheim Ducks (7:30 p.m. CT; FS-SW; KTCK 1310-AM, 96.7-FM). That means Pitlick "might" stay on the top line. The coach also "might" shuffle things up.
Whatever happens, Pitlick said he can adjust.
"You've got to be ready to play with whoever, and I think that in the long run, it's going to benefit us," Pitlick said of line shuffling that dominated Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Kings. "If things aren't going right, (the coach) can switch us up and have a little bit of familiarity with some other players."

But it's a bit of a mental challenge to be ready.
Pitlick has speed, but even in the AHL, he isn't what you would call a top-line scorer. Instead, he's a hard worker who helps players like Radek Faksa and Mattias Janmark check an opponent's top line. So lining up with Seguin and Benn, who are close to averaging a point a game over the past five seasons, is a bit different.
"Those guys are top-end skill players that like to make plays all of the time, and I'm usually playing with Faksa and whoever. We like to chip it in, and then meat and potatoes in the zone, and forecheck, and low to high, get to the net, and bang away," Pitlick said.
"It's a little bit different (with Benn and Seguin), and it's a feel out process a little bit."
One of the things that has helped is Montgomery asked Benn and Seguin who theywanted on their line with Radulov out, and they requested Pitlick. Add that bit of confidence boost to some calming words on Tuesday, and Pitlick seems in a much better place heading into Thursday's game.

"Sometimes you get the puck and you're like, 'Where are they?' You feel like you've got to give it them," Pitlick said. "But they told me, 'Calm down, you don't have to give it to us all of the time. You can make plays, too.' "
Which is such a big part of this depth scoring puzzle the Stars are trying to solve.
There is talent that has scored at other levels. Devin Shore had 26 points in 23 AHL games before his call-up to the NHL in 2015. Valeri Nichushkin had 14 goals among 34 points as an NHL rookie in 2013-14. Jason Dickinson had 28 points in 42 AHL games last season.
But, the AHL is different, and so players often play different when they hit the big league.
"It's hard to get into a rhythm when you're up and down because you play a different role," Dickinson said. "In the AHL, I was a top-six guy and I was playing 15 to 20 minutes a night, and I was out there in all three situations. Finding that rhythm while playing a fourth line role is a little bit easier when you get to do it on a consistent night-to-night basis in the NHL because you get a defined role."

But that also means a move to the Seguin line can be shocking.
Rookie Roope Hintz received his audition when the Stars played Minnesota last Friday, and he didn't impress. The next day,
he was heading back to the AHL
to work on his game.
That's a pretty short leash.
But Montgomery is honest with expectations and his assessment. He also understands that there is a poise factor that a player must exude to be able to handle the job.
"Not good enough," Montgomery said when asked about Hintz. "You get an opportunity like that, and you've got to be pressuring pucks and creating more turnovers. It's not easy to play with a couple of superstars, but I think everybody else would have liked that opportunity."

That, of course, is the balancing act required. Embrace the opportunity, but don't hold it too tightly. Seize the situation with both zeal and Zen, because there is a line of players waiting behind you.
For all of the challenges the job entails, Pitlick seems qualified. He has enough experience, enough natural talent, and enough intelligence to find the inner peace that can at least get him to a happy place if not hockey heaven.
"It's a good feeling that they want me there and that they trust me to play," Pitlick said. "I thought I got better as it went on. I was little nervous playing with those guys, they are good players, top players. But I thought it was a good first one.
"And if I get another chance to play with them, I'll get better."
Because "better" is pretty much always expected with this gig.
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,and listen to his podcast.