(Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire)

After riding high on a five-game win streak, the Dallas Stars crashed back to earth Saturday with a 6-2 embarrassment of a game on home ice against the Florida Panthers. The Panthers, who have looked dangerous this year, picked up on the home team’s discombobulation, pouncing on every turnover.

One of the main reasons the Stars looked so out of sorts? With the two-game suspension of Jason Demers for elbowing Nick Bonino, the Stars were forced to rearrange their defense for the first time since the beginning of the season. In an eyebrow-raising move this summer, Jim Nill opted to keep all eight NHL-ready defenders the Stars had available rather than trade one. His reasoning? “We’ll have injuries.” With no injuries to the D-core just yet, the suspension is the first hurdle the defense has faced.

It was time for Jamie Oleksiak and Patrik Nemeth to make a case to be on the roster permanently.

Having been practicing as a pair, Lindy Ruff chose to keep the two big defenders together for the game. Oleskiak, who is 6’7”, wasn’t impressive last season at the NHL level, but after being sent down to the AHL, he racked up 16 points in 35 games. Nemeth missed most of last year with an injury, but when he returned, he proved he could use his 230lbs to be a big, physical presence and capable “stay at home” defender.

In the first period, Oleksiak and Nemeth faded into the background–which is not necessarily a bad thing when you’re talking about a third pairing. People tend to only notice players who are doing really well or really poorly. Efficient, effective passing and good zone coverage aren’t the ‘sexy’ things that stick out when watching a hockey game, but that’s exactly what No. 15 & No. 5 provided.

Down 2-1, the Stars tried to get their defense in on the goal-scoring action. This usually means getting the puck to Klingberg, but one of the best chances of the night came from Nichushkin on a breakaway. Faster than his lanky frame implies, Oleksiak was able to catch up with the speeding Russian winger to provide the passing option on the 2-on-1. Nichushkin slid the puck across and Oleksiak got off a nice shot, but Montoya got a piece of it, denying the Big Rig his first goal this season.

The pair’s biggest error of the night came in the third. Nemeth had a Panther pinned against the boards behind the net, and Oleksiak came over to help finish the check – leaving no defenders in front of Antti Niemi. The puck was kicked out to Brandon Pirri, and with no one to challenge him, he deftly flicked it past the goalie for Florida’s fifth tally of the night.

Asking either Oleksiak or Nemeth to put up the same kind of possession numbers as Corsi darling Jason Demers was a tall order, but the two young defenders did well. Here’s how all the D Pairs did against Florida:

The Stars have one more game without Demers, and with the rough loss to Florida, Ruff will have some personnel decisions to make. By far, the pair that had the worst night was Klingberg and Goligoski, but it’s unlikely he’ll break those two up given their track record. But with Jyrki Jokipakka–another capable defender–sitting on the bench, Ruff could bring him back in and sit either Nemeth or Oleksiak.

Whether the two big dmen stick with the club or end up being trade pieces remains to be seen. In the meantime, Stars fans are sure to see more of these two as they battle for a spot on a crowded roster.