Dallas Stars’ Top Three Playoff Games Of 2016
By Josh Clark
The Dallas Stars had an exciting Stanley Cup Playoffs run this past year, though it ended a little early for their liking. Here are the top three playoff games that really possessed all you would ever want in a playoff game.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are a ride like no other major league postseason can offer. While the NFL only plays one game each round, and the MLB has different game requirements, the NHL and NBA have a seven-game series set in each round.
But the difference between the NHL and NBA postseason is that in the NHL, there is no logically predicting who will make it to the end. With the NBA, it seems as though the number one or two seed from each conference find their way to the championship year after year. But in the NHL, it’s all about who wants it most.
Take this year for example. The Sharks entered the playoffs as the sixth best team in the West, while the Penguins were second in the East behind the surging Washington Capitals. Now these two teams are duking it out for the Cup.
The Dallas Stars qualified for the postseason for just the second time in the past eight years this past season, and they definitely left their stamp on it. After slipping past the Minnesota Wild in the first round, they eventually fell in a seven-game effort to the St. Louis Blues in the Western Conference semifinals.
But that does not mean that it wasn’t a good time, right? The Stars had plenty of enjoyable moments, and some games that will live in our minds forever, whether good or bad.
Some games, of course, were better than others. Here are the top three games of the Dallas Stars’ 2016 playoff run. Enjoy the little walk down memory lane.
3. Game Six: Dallas Stars @ Minnesota Wild
The Dallas Stars entered St. Paul with a 3-2 series lead, looking to close out their first playoff series in eight years. After a disappointing overtime loss in front of their home crowd two days prior, the Stars filed in for an afternoon game six affair.
For the first 40 minutes, it was all Dallas Stars. With goals from John Klingberg, Jason Spezza, Patrick Sharp, and Jamie Benn, the Stars had sent the Minnesota crowd into a tailspin of silence.
But the Wild were not ready to lay down and float into the offseason. As the third period kicked off, Minnesota scored two quick goals in a span of 16 seconds to cut the lead in half. Then, with 11:21 remaining, they cut the Stars’ lead to one.
Alex Goligoski responded with what would eventually be the game winning goal about two minutes later. The Wild scored with 4:47 to go, making it a crazy ride to the finish, including a controversial no-goal call that left the Wild a few mere centimeters from tying it.
But the Stars powered through and held off the fierce rally to finish the series in six games and advance to the second round.
2. Game Four: Dallas Stars @ St. Louis Blues
The Dallas Stars took the worst beating of their 2016 playoff run in game three against the St. Louis Blues when they lost 6-1. From there, they took a 2-1 series lead and just about everyone had counted the Stars out for the rest of the series.
Going into game four, Dallas was facing a do-or-die situation. Going down 3-1 in the series would surely mean elimination.
Vladimir Tarasenko opened up the scoring about halfway through the first period, and by the end of the first the Stars were already in a hole. But once the second period rolled around, the Stars began pouring it on. Radek Faksa and Patrick Sharp scored goals just 1:09 away from each other to take the 2-1 lead. They began to play conservative over the next few minutes, and Paul Stastny tallied a power play goal to tie it at the end of two.
After a scoreless third period, the breathing stopped as overtime began. But eventually, the Dallas Stars resuscitated their fanbase as Cody Eakin scored after a flurry of chances on the other end by St. Louis. The Stars scooped up a win and returned home for game five with a 2-2 series tie.
1. Game Six: Dallas Stars @ St. Louis Blues
Elimination brings out the desperateness in every team. That’s exactly what the Dallas Stars had to work off of in game six of the second round.
Down 3-2 after dropping a disappointing loss at home, the Stars entered enemy territory with one task: win or go home.
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As the Stars loved to do, they burst out of the gate with an incredibly fast-paced early start. Goals from Mattias Janmark, Vernon Fiddler, and Jason Spezza had the Stars shining early with a 3-0 lead after the first period. But the Blues did not allow the Stars to go without a fight.
The final 40 minutes were dominated by St. Louis, leaving the Stars and their fans on the edge of their seats, hyperventilating. Being outshot 28-7 over the final two frames, Dallas somehow managed to stay afloat with a 3-2 lead. Kari Lehtonen stood on his head and did everything in his power to fend the Blues off, saving 35 of 37.
It was an intense and exhilarating ride, but the Stars survived it and drove the series back home, where they would sadly fall in a 6-1 routing in game seven.
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But it was a fun run, and these memories will last a long time. Whenever you’re down or missing Dallas Stars hockey through the long offseason, you can think back on games like these and hopefully they’ll put a smile on your face.