Stars’ Overtime Troubles Continue, Fall to Ducks 2-1

The Dallas Stars dropped yet another overtime game on Friday night, losing this time 2-1 to the Anaheim Ducks at American Airlines Center. In ten games this year, the Stars have made it to the extra frame in five, and won only one. While there is certainly a silver lining in picking up single points and hanging with teams, not finishing games has become a frustrating early theme of the season. The Ducks ousted the Stars from the playoffs last year, and this game was touted as a yardstick of progress. The results are in: the Stars can keep up, but they still can’t outplay.

Recap

This one started off the way everyone assumed it would, with an emphasis on the physical game. Erik Cole was the best player in green for the first period, setting the tone with a big hit on Patrick Maroon and creating opportunity with a solid backdoor try. The puck possession was dominated by Anaheim however, as they kept the Stars hemmed in their own zone throughout. Anaheim took two penalties in the frame, and both led to decent shorthanded chances by Jakob Silfverberg. The Stars failed at two attempts on the power play, one which overlapped Tyler Seguin’s high-sticking minor and one which ran into the second period.

Alex Goligoski left for the locker room near the end of the first after colliding with the boards while finishing a hit. He would return at the start of the second.

The prerequisite post-whistle shoving and badmouthing began early in the second period and continued throughout much of the frame. Corey Perry squealed like an infant flopped to the ice after Antoine Roussel stole his lollipop made contact with his stick above the waist. They would both be flagged, for embellishment and high-sticking, respectively.

Colton Sceviour had some quality chances towards the end of the second, but Frederik Andersen made quick work of them. The Ducks would finally break the stalemate as Perry sniped one past Kari Lehtonen from the wing on a 1-on-1 rush. The Stars collected one shot on goal during the second period, despite having three power play chances.

Dallas finally managed to muster up some offensive threat midway through the third, and Andersen denied all rebounds and scrambles. With seven and a half left in regulation, after a too many men call against Anaheim, the Stars peppered Andersen with a few good looks and finally solved him just after the penalty expired. Roussell collected a tremendous cross-ice pass from Trevor Daley and slipped it past Andersen to tie the game at one.

Overtime proved to be a déjà vu moment, as halfway through Lehtonen was victimized by Nate Thompson’s tip-in after a shot from the point by Perry. It was Lehtonen’s third OT goal allowed this season.

Thoughts and Observations

The Stars’ power play wasn’t up to snuff tonight, and neither was their top line. Too many chances squandered by simple mistakes with the extra man, and not enough aggression from the top forwards.

Ales Hemsky is going to score a goal soon. He had a solid chance on a backdoor pass, but Cole couldn’t bury it.

Dallas Stars fans do not particularly care for Corey Perry, and deservedly so. I don’t imagine his reception is much warmer in other enemy territories, but unfortunately he seems to feed off of that negativity.

Antoine Roussel is perhaps my favorite player so far this year. He plays physical, but has a soft touch with the puck. He plays like Jamie Benn, which is nice, especially when Jamie Benn doesn’t want to play like Jamie Benn.

The Stars head to Minnesota on Saturday Night to take on the Wild at Xcel Energy Center. This is a chance for them to shake the trend of poor performances on the tail end of a back-to-back. What do you think of their odds? Check back for complete pre-game and post-game coverage!