Strong start in Dallas courtesy dynamic duo

DALLAS— If things aren’t going the Dallas Stars’ way, if Tyler Seguin is taking a shift or a game off, teammate Jamie Benn gets on him.

“You learn to push each other, learn to get on each others’ nerves,” said Benn. “That’s what we definitely do. I tell him he’s got bad clothes, or he’s having a bad hair day . . . have to make fun of him.” Seguin, of course, reciprocates. “We hold each other accountable,” said Seguin. “We are hard on each other, we push each other. We’re both competitive guys. We want our team to win every night and be successful. We want to lead the way. It’s a pretty good combo.”

There are many reasons the Dallas Stars, who lost 3-2 to the Maple Leafs Tuesday night, are one of the top teams in the NHL. But at the top of that list is the chemistry between playmaker Seguin and the finisher Benn.

Both are among the league leaders in points.

“It’s natural when you play with one guy all the time,” says veteran centre Jason Spezza. “They’re competitive guys. It speaks throughout our room, guys pushing each other and getting on each other. When you start to have success, you can build that trust and comfort level with your teammates.”

The Stars have been terrific in a place where hockey takes a back seat in the sporting world.

“We get to play in front of great fans,” said Benn. “Hockey is definitely growing down here in the state of Texas. You get some good weather as well, so that counts, too.”

The anonymity of the pro hockey player in Dallas has some advantages, said Spezza, but not as many as you might think.

“The crowds are great. The fans are exciting. But when you leave the rink, you get away from the game,” said Spezza, a former captain of the Ottawa Senators.

“It’s totally different. You don’t have to deal with the media every day. That’s good for the team in general. The room is yours more than it is in Canada, when you share it with the media. I’ve enjoyed that aspect of it. There’s been a lot more days when I sit around in my gear and just talk more than I ever did in Ottawa.”

The Stars have been winning, 123-0 in their first 15 games, led by Benn and Seguin. But there’s more to their game these days than offence.

Coach Lindy Ruff trusts the duo in key defensive situations.

“That’s the next step really,” said Ruff. “Not only do they have to be good offensively, they have to be counted on in those key defensive situations. I’m trying to use that top line against key lines and in 5- on-6 situations.

“They have to be up to the challenge and go head-to-head with the other teams’ top lines. So far, they’ve been better at it and have been rewarded by scoring some big goals.”

And the ability to keep each other honest, in terms of effort each shift, is a big reason for their success.

“It’s been the biggest strength of our team, the players holding each other accountable,” said Ruff. “You’re not kidding each other. If you can be honest each shift with your game, if you can accept it and get better, it’s one thing that can be dynamite for your team.”