Stars Morning After: Time to Mullet Over

The Dallas Stars and Arizona Coyotes played a game last night in a venue known as Mullett Arena. Arizona State University students refer to the arena simply as “The Mullett”. That’s right—a tribute to one of the worst hairstyles known to mankind. The Stars followed the Mullet mantra “business in the front, party in the back” to perfection in an easy 7-2 win. Business in the front meant four first period goals, party in the back meant protecting a multi-goal lead against an Arizona team that is atrocious at playing 5 on 5 hockey. 

In honor of the mullet, let’s look at famous wearers of the do and how it applies to certain Stars.

Billy Ray Cyrus: The man doesn’t have much in common with Denis Gurianov, but his biggest hit does. Gurianov is playing his best hockey of the season right now. Denis scored his first point of the season against Los Angeles on Tuesday and followed it up with his first goal of the season last night in Tempe. Gurianov is playing with speed and strength. He also is reliable in the defensive zone. Stars fans have seen this level of play before, only to watch it slip away, hoping this time will be different. In other words: “Don’t break my heart, my achy breaky heart”.

Andre Agassi: The one-time tennis phenom broke into the national sports spotlight as a teenager. Wyatt Johnston, the Stars resident teenager, is proving he belongs on the biggest stage in sports as well. The 19-year-old potted his fourth goal of the season and looks to be gaining confidence with every outing. Johnston is too humble to abide by the “Image is everything” mantra but his talent is world class.

Joe Exotic: Well…he really doesn’t have anything in common with this group. But the Stars juxtaposed Joe Pavelski with Joe Exotic on T-Shirts worn in the bubble during the run to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. Those shirts were glorious and need to make a comeback.

Jaromir Jagr: The greatest Mullet in NHL history was an amazing goal scorer. Only Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe and Alexander Ovechkin lit the lamp more than Jagr. Jason Robertson is already the Stars top goal scoring threat and has not reached his full potential yet. With two goals last night, Robo has a four-game goal scoring streak and leads the team with seven for the young season. 

Last year Robertson became only the fourth player in Dallas Stars history to score 40 or more goals in one season. This year he may challenge the great Mike Modano as the only Dallas skater to score 50 in a single campaign. Jagr hit 50 three times in his Hall of Fame career. Robertson is young enough and talented enough to make a run at that half-century mark.

It wasn’t a “Drubbing in the Desert” as the campus is well-developed and within walking distance of several noteworthy local establishments, (Or so I am told by students who attend ASU). Despite being played in “The Mullett”, the game was hardly a hair-raising experience. The Stars came to town, dominated an inferior team, and deposited two points in the bank. It was a business in the front type of performance and exactly what was needed.