"For me, if Mason's chances dry up and he's not even getting looks, my concern will go to another level," DeBoer said. "He hit a post, he's hit crossbars, he's missed tap-ins, and goalies have made great saves. He was on a breakaway, made a great move and the goalie made an incredible save. He's getting one good look a night at least to score a goal and history tells you that if you just stick with it, you'll come out on the other side of that."
Marchment and linemate Tyler Seguin had a solid night on Friday in Minnesota, as they combined for 10 shot attempts and four scoring chances. That's encouraging, but it can also cause frustration.
"It's a bit of both," Seguin said. "I don't know…we need to chip in. Talking about getting chances is frustrating."
Marchment said he tries to keep a positive attitude, and that has helped him this season.
"It doesn't really get in my head," he said. "I'm just trying to do the best I can to produce, and sometimes they just don't go in. I'm getting my chances now and that's all I can really ask for."
Marchment has been a late bloomer in terms of getting to the NHL. He was undrafted out of junior hockey, but then played five seasons in the Toronto system, including four games in the NHL with the Maple Leafs. He then signed with Florida in 2020 and had a breakout season in 2021-22 with 47 points in 54 games. It caused the Stars to take a big leap of faith last summer, signing him to a four-year contract that averages $4.5 million per season.
Marchment made $800,000 the year before, so this is a huge step up in expectations. But when asked if that causes more pressure on him, he simply said, "No."
"I just love to play the game of hockey, and that's what's most important to me," he said.
DeBoer said Marchment has handled the pressure well.
"It's not easy, and the guys wear it. They want to score, they want to be a difference maker," DeBoer said when asked about other players in slumps. "But I think Mason has got a great attitude about it. I think he's handled it really well. His personality is an upbeat, energetic guy who is fun to be around, so he hasn't worn it around the dressing room, and that's the important part to me."
Marchment said he's just going to keep pushing forward.
"I think we're playing great," he said. "We're getting chances and you've just got to keep playing the right way, and it will eventually come."
Key Numbers
9.7 percent
Since Jan. 1, Dallas has hit on 9.7 percent of its power play chances (five for 51) and ranks 30th in the league in that span. The Stars power play was clicking at 28.8 percent (second in the league) before Jan. 1.
14
14 is the record for most single season overtime/shootout losses in Stars franchise history. They currently lead the league at 12, including five in the past eight games.
2.52
Dallas ranks second in the NHL in goals against per game at 2.52. Columbus ranks 30th in scoring at 2.53.
He said it
"I'm not going to talk about it every night. I told you guys my story on this that it's been good all year, we're going through a slump, like the Boston Bruins went through a slump, like everybody else. We'll work ourselves out of it, but that's not going to be the narrative every night here for me."
- Stars coach Pete DeBoer, when asked about his team's power play slump.
Expected lineup
Robertson-Hintz-Pavelski
Benn-Johnston-Dellandrea
Marchment-Faksa-Seguin
Karlstrom-Glendening-Gurianov
Heiskanen-Miller
Lindell-Hakanpää
Suter-Lundkvist
Wedgewood
Oettinger
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.
