Nill: Tough lineup decisions aimed at securing Stars postseason berth

WINNIPEG, Manitoba -- As the Stars make a push for the postseason, they are also trying to push every button they can.
That was never more apparent than when the team called up minor-league veteran Justin Dowling, 28, Saturday and inserted him into the lineup.

It was a move made by general manager Jim Nill and the front office to give head coach Jim Montgomery another option in the forward group. It was a move that has resulted in back-to-back scratches for veteran Jason Spezza. It was a move designed with getting that little extra that's needed to win these close games.
"The coach is very comfortable with him, and he's been playing very well in Austin," Nill said of Dowling, who leads the Texas Stars with 53 points (13 goals, 40 assists) in 62 games.
"He's one of the better all-around players in the American Hockey League. He has a veteran presence and adds both an offensive and defensive element to the game. That's a tribute to him, because there was a time when he was known mostly just for offense, but he's improved his all-around game."

Spezza, 35, has 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) in 71 games this season, but also has 915 in his career, so the decision to scratch him is a difficult one. Montgomery said he has been honest and open with Spezza.
"When you're delivering bad news, especially to someone who's had a great career like Jason Spezza, it's 'Hey, this is what's best for the team and this is what we think is going to help us get in the playoffs,'" Montgomery said. "We wanted to inject a little energy into the lineup and we also wanted to add another player that we think can make plays in all three zones."
Spezza said he will do whatever is best for the team.
"I'm the same person I have always been," he said. "I think it's important for me to maintain the integrity of who I am, whether your role changes or not. I have an obligation to the team to make sure that I'm helping guys out, and I wouldn't want it any other way."
Nill said he is in communication with his players and said he has told the players who are being scratched that things change quickly in the NHL.

"It is hard, because he's a veteran and he's well-respected. But the coach communicates, I communicate, and we're honest and up front with everyone. In the end, we all want what's best for the team," Nill said. "The other thing I tell every one of these players is be ready, because it can change in an instant. You can go from healthy scratch to hero really fast in this league."
Still, the move is not an easy one. In addition to Dowling playing just his eighth NHL game this season, Joel L'Esperance is hitting a bit of a wall after his call-up from the AHL. L'Esperance joined Spezza as a healthy scratch Monday against Winnipeg.
"He wasn't playing a 200-foot game with purpose. I didn't think he was winning as many battles," Montgomery said. "He's been really good for us, and he's generating a lot of offense, we just want him to sit and watch a game and get reset. I think mentally we make the game bigger than it needs to be, and he just needs to go out and play."
Which is probably something that can be said for a lot of the players. Dallas is out-chancing opponents, but not converting, with a league-worst shooting percentage of 8.2 percent. Montgomery said that he has been shuffling his lines in order to try to get scoring into the top six forward group.
"When it comes to our top six, it's a part that's been missing," Montgomery said. "That's why we struggle to generate 5-on-5 scoring. That's why you see me juggle lines a lot, because players who are making plays during a game, I slide into top-six roles, and that's the way I've found has given us the most success. That's why I think players are comfortable playing with everybody."

And yet, it hasn't always worked.
The Stars went 1-3-1 on their five-game homestand, and the GM now is trying to add options at a late hour in the season. In addition, both Mats Zuccarello (broken arm) and Tyler Pitlick (wrist injury) are skating and might be able to return within a few games. If either is available, it makes the decisions on players like Spezza, Dowling, Valeri Nichushkin and Brett Ritchie even harder.
But the bottom line is every move is dictated at getting the Stars into the playoffs.
"I like the hockey we're playing. We are getting more scoring chances than the opposition in pretty much every game, and if you continue to do that, the odds will usually even out," Nill said. "We have to get better in some areas. The power play has to get better, we know that.
"You're always trying to get better in every part of your game, that's the bottom line. But I think we're playing our best hockey at the end of the year, and now we need to go get results."
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.