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Dallas Stars Post Game Quotes After 4-0 Win Over Blackhawks

By Josh Clark

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Final. 4. 119. 0. 94

The Dallas Stars managed to keep their postseason hopes alive by obliterating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-0 at home on Saturday night. The Stars controlled the tide of the game and put on a beautiful and complete show for the Stars and Blackhawks fans in attendance.

Next: Dallas Stars Stay Alive With Big Win Against 'Hawks

With the win, the Dallas Stars are now 7-2-0 in their last nine games, yet sadly still rest eight points out of the final wild card playoff spot in the Western Conference. With the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild not looking like they will be losing anytime soon, the Stars playoff hopes may be extinguished with just ten games remaining in their schedule. But, as we know, they will fight to the end.

Here are post game quotes from Dallas Stars players Jordie Benn, Alex Goligoski, and Kari Lehtonen, as well as Dallas Stars head coach Lindy Ruff:

Jordie Benn:

On what the team is doing different:

“Well, we’re winning, and that’s different! We’re paying really good attention to our defensive game. Obviously we know we have trouble in the third and that we need to tighten up our d-zone and play a good five-pack system that we know we can do.”

On the importance of special teams in the game:

“Special teams will win and lose games. Our power play was on point tonight, obviously. To get those two kills in the first was huge for us and we just rolled off it.”

On the play of Kari Lehtonen:

“Kari was rolling and was playing really good for us. He was unreal tonight. When he’s playing like he knows he can, it gives us six d-men in the back a lot more confidence and obviously it translates up to the forwards.”

On the energy in the building:

“We were definitely aware, that’s why we gave a little salute. There were obviously a few Chicago fans in the stands tonight, but it definitely sounded like a bit more of a playoff game and it’s exciting to be on the ice when it’s like that.”

On making home ice a threatening place to play:

“It’s huge. It’s like that anywhere. Every team obviously wants to set a tone in their own building and as of the last two games here we’ve been pretty good and we want to keep it going.”

On the improvement of the defense:

“Just getting our feet going. I think Lindy [Ruff] and James [Patrick] have done a pretty good job with us. In practice we gotta make quick decisions and we translate that into our game. So far it’s been pretty good.”

Alex Goligoski:

On the energy of the team:

“It was really good. We skated really well to start the game. It was kind of the same as against Pittsburgh. Both teams come hard early, but the crowd was into it and we were able to get to our game. It was another good start.”

On how playing extra minutes affects him:

“It felt good. It’s easy when the team is playing like we are right now. The games feel really easy and everyone is into it. We just roll lines and everyone looks the same out there. It feels good when the team is playing together.”

On being in the playmaker role against Chicago:

“Good. I don’t know if that’s the right role for me to play. But I just try to play the same way every night and it’s nice to contribute a little bit.”

The importance of the early penalty kills:

“Those are big. You don’t want to take two early penalties in a row, especially against a team like that. Those were big kills and it was a great job by the penalty kill. It helped get us going.”

When asked about looking for revenge against the Sabres Monday:

“At this point, we just have to win. Then win the next game and the one after that. We just have to win. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing.”

Kari Lehtonen:

On his level of confidence over the past few games:

“Pretty good. It was a good game against a great team and it was fun out there for me and for everybody.”

On his success over the past few games compared to the season as a whole:

“Luck hasn’t been on my side too much this year. But I think the first shot hit the post and went out, but after that I made a couple of good saves on their power plays and rolled from there. After taking a two goal lead, things started getting faster and that opened up chances for both teams. We both got some good looks. It was exciting and I’m glad we won at home.”

On the Marian Hossa breakaway:

“I anticipated him to get a breakaway. I played with him a while back so I know how fast he is. But I was extra ready. The quick shot is what he likes to do and I was glad that I could make that save. It was a great time in the game.”

On the energy level in the team and crowd:

“It felt almost like Game 3 in the playoffs last year. It was a lot louder than it has been and things got wild here. The guys were excited about that and after the first period we were up 2-0. It’s loud out there and we played well. There’s nothing better.”

Lindy Ruff:

On what he thinks about the Dallas Stars clicking over the past few games:

“We came out with a lot of energy. We took a couple of tough penalties but got two real good kills and after that I thought we played the way we needed to play. A little loose at the end of the second we were a little loose and gave up some rushes and scoring chances, but other than that I think we did a really good job.”

On Kari Lehtonen’s performance:

“We needed a couple of big saves on those early power plays and we got them. I thought we were pretty clean the rest of the first period, but we needed three or four big ones again near the end of the second. Obviously, the penalty shot was huge and he made them for us.”

On what Kari has done to fix his game:

“If I could tell you, I would have fixed it four months ago. I think it’s a combination of both. It’s a combination of the team playing better in front of him, getting himself on a little bit of a roll like you see goaltenders do and everything sort of feeds off each other.”

On production from Patrick Eaves:

“I really liked his game. He had a good play on Spezza’s goal and a good shot. That’s what I was hoping for. Obviously, he asked what it was going to take to stay in and I told him I needed production. It was great to see and I thought he had a real good game for us.”

On the salute to the fans after:

“I think that’s awesome. We’ve got a great group of guys and there’s been some heartbreak in this building. The last couple of games we’ve had a little bit of payback with the building full and the energy in it. There were quite a few Chicago fans, and I don’t know if they were saluting one or the other (giggle, giggle).

On chasing the Jets who will not lose:

“It’s really hard. We put ourselves in a tough spot and it’s hard. It’s going to be agonizing is what it’s going to be. But we need to take care of our own end. We can’t do anything about Winnipeg winning and our responsibility is taking it one game at a time and be ready to win games.”

The Dallas Stars remain eight points out of the final wild card spot with only ten games to go. The playoff dreams are fading further and further away by the day, but the Stars have to keep fighting.

The Buffalo Sabres come to town Monday night to face the Dallas Stars. Check back to Blackout Dallas for updates and previews of the game!

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