Why Stars’ Pete DeBoer compared ‘invaluable’ Joe Pavelski to Paul Newman

TAMPA, Fla. — The comparisons for Joe Pavelski are so few that Stars coach Pete DeBoer dipped into the fictional realm.

“He’s like Paul Newman in ‘Slap Shot,’” DeBoer said. “He’s a player, but he’s a coach at the same time.”

In the famous hockey film, Newman plays Reggie Dunlop, the player-coach of the minor-league Charleston Chiefs. Pavelski, meanwhile, is the 38-year-old Stars forward that entered Tuesday’s game in Tampa with 17 points in 15 games.

Pavelski helps form one of the best lines in hockey with Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz, and is one of the team’s key voices in the dressing room. DeBoer said Pavelski “looks like he’s 25 out there.”

“He hasn’t lost a step,” DeBoer said. “He’s as professional as they come, he really has helped our coaching group coming into a new team and driving the message home quickly. I think there’s always a runway there with them getting to know you and what you’re preaching. I think that was shortened drastically by having Joe in the room, and us having worked with Joe before. He’s been invaluable.”

Fast start: The Stars entered Tuesday having scored first in a league-leading 13 games. Vegas is second by scoring first in 11 games.

Why?

“I wish I had the answer,” DeBoer said. “This is my 15th year, and I’ve had teams that start slowly, teams that start quickly. I don’t know if there’s a formula. I know we don’t change our message. I think every coach in the league is walking into the room, wants a quick start.”

The Stars lead the league in time per game with a lead (33:21), and have only played two one-goal games this season.

“That comes from in your dressing room, too,” DeBoer said of leading early. “I think your leadership and preparation and a lot of that is hung on those guys.”

Same lineup: The Stars held an optional morning skate Tuesday, but DeBoer said they would use the same lineup as Sunday in Philadelphia.

Luke Glendening (missed Monday’s practice due to maintenance) was on the ice Tuesday. So was Denis Gurianov, who will miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury. DeBoer said Gurianov was “progressing.”

“We went to another level yesterday with some battle stuff, but [Gurianov is] not available yet,” DeBoer said.

Projected Stars lineup at Tampa Bay on Tuesday, 7 p.m.

Jason Robertson – Roope Hintz – Joe Pavelski

Mason Marchment – Tyler Seguin – Matěj Blümel

Jamie Benn – Wyatt Johnston – Ty Dellandrea

Joel Kiviranta – Radek Faksa – Luke Glendening

Miro Heiskanen – Colin Miller

Ryan Suter – Nils Lundkvist

Esa Lindell – Jani Hakanpää

Jake Oettinger

Scott Wedgewood

Scratches: Joel Hanley, Denis Gurianov (upper-body).

Injured/non-roster: Nick Caamano (back surgery).

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