Interim Stars coach Rick Bowness was asked repeatedly again on Thursday afternoon about the performance of his top line of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov. Through three games, the three have combined for zero goals and three assists, all by Radulov.
During the Western Conference final against Vegas, they totaled four goals and five assists in the five-game series win.
“Do we need more from the top guys?” Bowness said. “Every team does. We’re hoping that’s coming, but until it does, if it does, then we’re going to keep battling. We’re going to stay in games and give ourselves a good chance to win based on team play and everyone contributing at different times. That’s why we’re here. We made it here by committee, by team play, and we’re going to keep the focus on that.”
Benn has been noticeable physically and in generating chances around the net. Seguin has one point in his last 12 games, a span in which he’s failed to score a goal. Radulov was whistled for two hooking penalties in Game 2.
“When we try to go out and create, we’ve given them goals at times, with just little breakdowns that are uncharacteristic of this group through most of these playoffs,” Joe Pavelski said. “Our details need to get a little sharper. Our execution needs to get a little bit better. We need to find that energy to stay with it longer.”
