Dallas Stars Catch Fire On Power Play, Clobber Capitals 4-2
2. 19. 4. 119. Final
The Dallas Stars ventured into the Verizon Center Friday night with a critical back-to-back game on their hands and they did not look back from the first puck drop. With a dominant performance in all aspects of the game, the Stars plowed through the Washington Capitals 4-2. They now sit five points out of a playoff spot and continue their seemingly impossible trek back to the postseason.
Game recap
The Dallas Stars came out for the first period with guns ablaze. After pressing the attack for the first 2:24, the Capitals were caught with too many men on the ice. They sent Marcus Johannson to serve the minor. He was not in the box long, though. Just 1:01 after the penalty was called, Shawn Horcoff whipped a slow floater towards the goal that deflected off of a Capital and into the net, giving Dallas the early 1-0 lead. The goal was Horcoff’s tenth of the season and the assists were credited to Ales Hemsky and Jason Demers. Jason Demers served up some Texas-sized justice on Alex Ovechkin a few times throughout the first period, leaving Ovechkin angry and frustrated. Curtis McKenzie was called for hooking with 12:09 left in the first, but the Stars managed to hold off the second best power play in the league. With 8:36 remaining in the first, Curtis Glencross entered the zone with the puck and sent a shot in that Kari Lehtonen was able to fend off. But a rebound would prove fatal as Glencross cashed in for his twelfth goal of the season to tie the game at one. Evgeny Kuznetsov and Troy Brouwer were credited with the assists. With 3:05 left on the clock, Colton Sceviour brought the puck in the zone and took it around behind the Capitals net. He came out the opposite way and delivered a lethal snap shot past Holtby’s glove to regain the lead for the Stars. Vernon Fiddler was given the primary assist Patrik Nemeth received the secondary assist, marking his first point this season. Jamie Benn was called for interference with 1:49 left in the first, but the Stars killed the penalty early in the second. At the end of the first, the Dallas Stars led the shot total 12-9 and the game 2-1.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-4
App Trigger
The second period was an even bigger step up for the Dallas Stars. After giving the Capitals a few good chances early, the Stars buckled down and pressed the offensive attack once again. After a multitude of chances, Joel Ward was called for hi-sticking on Patrik Nemeth as he tried to keep the puck in the Caps zone. Nemeth’s lip produced blood, giving the Stars a double-minor 4:00 power play with 13:31 remaining in the second. Just 52 seconds later, Tyler Seguin found an open lane in the zone and spanked a slap shot, very similar to the one he scored with in Tampa Bay, home to give the Stars a 3-1 lead. Jamie Benn and Alex Goligoski were credited with the assists. After the second half of the power play expired, the Stars remained adamant about controlling the momentum. With 7:39 remaining in the middle frame, Tom Wilson skated into the Stars zone and collided with Lehtonen. He went to the box and the Stars enjoyed their fourth power play of the night. During the power play, Eric Fehr located a bit of a chance and took the puck into the Stars zone on a 2-on-1. He missed the net wide, giving the Stars a great chance at the opposite end of the ice. Ales Hemsky skated in with Vernon Fiddler on a 2-on-1 and pulled a crafty spin move in front of the net before dishing a soft pass to Fiddler who tapped it into the open net giving the Stars the 4-1 lead. The Capitals substituted Justin Peters in for Braden Holtby after he surrendered the fourth goal. At the end of the second, the Stars led 4-1 and led in shots 25-15.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-13
Stars and Sticks
The third period turned out to be a bit of a laid back brawl, if that makes sense. After a few minutes of tossing the puck back and forth and the Stars not giving an inch, the Capitals began to embody their last resort: physicality. While being embarrassed at home, they decided to try and break some bones. After a few physical checks were laid down, Patrik Nemeth found the puck near the benches with 14:23 left. As he moved towards the blue line, Tom Wilson, who collided with Lehtonen earlier, launched himself from the ice and made direct contact with Nemeth. You may be able to guess what happens next, but if you can’t, the Stars did not fold after this. Cody Eakin happily stepped in and snagged Wilson in a headlock and quickly took him to the ground. Wilson and Eakin both went to the box, but Wilson took two minor penalties and sent the Stars to the power play. The Stars were not able to capitalize on the man advantage and play went on. With 9:27 remaining in the third, Evgeny Kuznetsov had to hook Brett Ritchie to prevent an open chance. Nothing came of that power play and at 6:48 left in the third, Patrik Nemeth tossed Kuznetsov like a rag doll into the boards and was called for boarding. Nothing from that and the Caps remained empty on the power play. Around 2:00 left, Washington pulled Peters and Kuznetsov found a hole in Lehtonen on the 6-on-5 with 1:26 left. Assists went to Andre Burakovsky and Alex Ovechkin. That was the last chance they had and the Stars finished off the Capitals, 4-2.
Thoughts and Observations
The Dallas Stars were on absolute fire on the power play Friday night, going 3 for 6 through the night. Washington had the 12th best penalty kill entering the game, but that statistic will obviously not stand after this game is calculated in.
On the other hand, the Stars penalty kill was on fire. Going up against the second best power play in the league, the Stars blanked the Caps tonight and they finished 0 for 3.
The Stars outshot the Capitals 31-20. This marks the eighth of the last nine games that the Stars have held their opponent to under 30 shots. Oddly enough, the Stars are 5-3-1 in this stretch.
Jason Demers deserves major recognition for tonight’s performance. He completely shut down and enraged Alexander Ovechkin, the NHL’s current leader in goals. Demers took away a couple of opportunities each period, and Ovechkin tried to take it out on him with physicality in the third. But Demers was having none of it.
The Stars are 5-1-0 in their last six games and took the longest road trip of their season by the horns. During the trip, the Stars went 4-1-0, including a win on the back-to-back.
The Dallas Stars are now five points out of a playoff spot, though they have a game out of hand. They have obviously not given up and are making tracks even with a depleted defensive staff.
One note: for all who asked the Stars to tank just two weeks ago, do you still feel this way? These Stars may not know how to hold a lead, but they prove that they are not thinking about tanking anytime soon.
More from Blackout Dallas
- Dallas Stars Traverse City Tournament: Who had great performances?
- Grushnikov and Stankoven lead Dallas Stars to 6-3 win over Columbus
- Dallas Stars prospects look to wrap up tournament with a win
- Burn the tapes: Dallas Stars prospects lose 5-1 to Toronto Maple Leafs
- Dallas Stars look to continue success today against the Maple Leafs