Key to Stars' success lately is simple: 'Give the puck to Robo'

DALLAS -- Jason Dickinson was asked what the key to his success was Tuesday when he was shifted from a line with Jamie Benn and Denis Gurianov onto a line with Joe Pavelski and Jason Robertson, and ended up collecting two assists.
"Yeah," he said. "The trick is to give the puck to Robo."
Asked what the key is to Robertson's success in his rookie season, Dickinson deadpanned: "He's putting it in the net."
He's not wrong there.

Robertson is making a run at the Calder Trophy for the NHL's rookie of the year because he is playing a simple, smart game, and he's cashing in when he gets the chances. On a line with the red-hot Roope Hintz recently, the 21-year-old Robertson could have had an off night when his center had to sit out because of a nagging lower-body injury. Instead, Dickinson moved into Hintz's spot, made two great passes to Robertson, and both ended up in goals.
The first came just five minutes into the game, as Dickinson slipped behind the Detroit net and slid a pass out to Robertson, who was charging down the slot. It was a bang-bang play in which the skilled lefty had a great shot that was behind Red Wings goalie Jonathan Bernier before he knew it and was nestling in under the bar for Robertson's 14th goal of the season.
The next goal was a similar play that had one extra step. Dickinson again went behind the net and again found Robertson open in the slot. This time, though, Robertson made a calm, smooth pass to Joe Pavelski at the doorstep, and Pavelski redirected in his 19th goal of the season.

It was a spectacular example of just how good Robertson has been.
He was wide open on the goal, but how many times have we seen this season when a Stars player would miss the net, hit the post, or bury a shot into the chest of the goalie when presented with a similar opportunity? Robertson has found a way to put those pucks in the net. The second goal was a veteran move where a player understood where his teammates were, where the defenders were, and how much time and space he had.
"He's a smart player," Dickinson said. "He knows how to find the open ice and where to go and find the puck. He likes to have the puck and he is yelling. It's easy when he is talking and I can just hear where he is and know he is going to be there, so he has been really great."

See, it really is that simple.
Robertson currently has 35 points (14 goals, 21 assists) in 40 games. He was a healthy scratch for a few games at the beginning of the season. Minnesota's Kirill Kaprizov has 37 points (18 goals, 19 assists) in 44 games and leads all rookies in scoring.
It should be an interesting race down the stretch, but Robertson said he is focused more on team goals than individual ones.
"I think the biggest thing for us right now is catching that fourth place. That's what I want to do and that's what everyone in the locker room wants to do," he said. "When I first came here my goal was to be an impact player on this team … and that's something that I've worked hard to do these last couple of months and want to continue doing along this stretch."

Kero gets goal in 100th career game

Tanner Kero has fashioned a nice professional career for himself, so getting to 100 NHL games was a great feat on Tuesday. The 28-year-old forward from Hancock in Michigan's Upper Peninsula made it even better by playing against the Detroit Red Wings and scoring the 11th goal of his NHL career.
"It's pretty special," he said. "I've been working on and off the last few years trying to get in the lineup and get in games as much as I can and help contribute to the team. It's pretty special tonight."
Kero played four seasons at Michigan Tech and then signed on with the Blackhawks organization in 2015. After a couple of years in the minors, Kero played 47 games with Chicago in 2016-17 and logged 72 games over three seasons. He was traded to Vancouver in 2018 and signed with the Stars in 2019. He played 49 games with the Texas Stars last season and has 246 career AHL games.

Kero has been in the mix with the NHL team all of this season and has three goals and three assists in 28 games with Dallas.
"He fits in very well," Stars coach Rick Bowness said. "Tanner has a lot of hockey sense and knows how to play the game the right way. He is usually in the position and is usually right where you want him to be. He is one of those guys that is an easy guy to play with because he has that ability and has that hockey sense and has a good feel for the game. He has been there before, and with Roope's situation he is going to be there again at some point."
Kero said he will be ready. He jumped onto a line with Jamie Benn on Tuesday and converted a great pass from the captain for his goal.
"You just want to make sure you're doing your part and try to help contribute to that line as much as you can," he said. "I just wanted to keep it simple, play my game, and support them throughout the ice. I tried not to overthink it too much."

Heiskanen sits out with lower-body injury

Miro Heiskanen missed Tuesday's game with a lower body injury. It is just the second game he has missed in his NHL career. Bowness said Heiskanen suffered the injury in a recent game.
"As I told you months ago, injuries are going to come with this schedule. There is no rest time and no breaks. The injuries are going to come," Bowness said. "We are not caught by surprise by this. It's disappointing Miro couldn't play, but when you play this many games and you do not have two-day break and it is nine weeks straight of four games in six nights. I have told you this before. There are going to be some injuries coming, so it is the next man up."
Joel Hanley jumped into the lineup and played 17:29, had an assist and was plus-3.

Up next

at Red Wings; Thursday 6:30 p.m. CT
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
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This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mike Heikais a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika, and listen to his podcast.