The first five games for the Dallas Stars under second stint head coach Glen Gulutzan have been a mixed bag. Coming off back-to-back losses, the team will look to correct its course when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday evening (7:00 p.m. CDT, Victory+). Saturday’s 3-1 loss in St. Louis aside, scoring goals has not generally been an issue for Dallas. Rather, it’s been inconsistency in other areas. Meanwhile, Wyatt Johnston’s play has been a consistent positive so far for Dallas.
Johnston started out the campaign with goals in each of the first four games. He extended his point streak to five (4g, 2a) in a row in Saturday’s game against St. Louis. The trio of Johnston centering Jason Robertson and Mavrik Bourque has made for a potent 1-2 punch with the line anchored by Roope Hintz and Mikko Rantanen.
Johnston, 22, has earned instant trust from Gulutzan. He’s absorbed heavy duty ice time, playing 20-plus minutes in every game of the season to date. He’s bagged two power play goals, brought a responsible overall game and generally been one of the best players on the ice on a game-in and game-out basis. Johnston notched 33 goals last season and delivered some clutch moments in the playoffs, too.
The Stars know what they have in Johnston. Opposing teams do, too, because he comes up in pre-scouts as a dangerous opponent. The 2021 first-round pick doesn’t get much notice — yet — outside of Dallas. That’s inevitable, however. Johnston appears very much to be the real deal as a fast-rising young NHL talent to track on a game-by-game basis.
