Dallas Stars Fight Off Vancouver, 4-3 (OT) – Postgame

Things have occasionally been missing from this Dallas Stars team this season.  One thing they have never been without has been the effort.  Tonight they once again clawed and fought their way to a victory and this time it took overtime.  Full game recap is below.

Recap

Jamie Benn came out like a man possessed in this game and it started early.  He had a quality scoring chance from the slot 30 seconds in, and then struck for a rebound goal shortly after that.  The energy was surprisingly evident early in this game, especially considering the Stars played last night in Edmonton.  Antoine Roussel and Derek Dorsett fought after a scrum in front of Kari Lehtonen.  A little over halfway through the period, Star killer Nick Bonino tied the game after the Stars gave up a 2-on-1 due to a bad line change.  Late in the period the teams exchanged scoring chances and the period ended with Alex Goligoski hitting the post.

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The second period began with equal energy and scoring opportunities.  Bo Horvat appeared to give the Canucks the lead two minutes in, but the goal was immediately waved off as it was deemed that Jannik Hansen interfered with Kari Lehtonen.  Shortly after that, Tyler Seguin had a glorious chance in the slot but was denied by Eddie Lack.  Horvat would get another chance at Lehtonen near the middle of the frame, but Lehtonen denied him on a breakaway chance.  The Stars did take a penalty on the play however and the Canucks would make them pay.  Chris Higgins tipped a point shot past Lehtonen to give the Canucks the 2-1 lead.  They would take that lead into the room after the teams once again exchanged late period chances.

The fight continued well into the third period.  Seguin hit a post attempting to tie the game early on.  Spezza was robbed by Eddie Lack.  And then the game changed on a monumental stop by Lehtonen on Radim Vrbata.  Soon after that save, Patrick Eaves would chunk a rebound past Eddie Lack to tie the game for Dallas.  Late in the game, Seguin was sprung on a breakaway by Trevor Daley and he converted his chance.  Unfortunately, Seguin would take a late period penalty to give the Canucks a powerplay with just over a minute to go.  Vrbata would tie the game on a mad scramble in front of Lehtonen and send this game to overtime.

Overtime was back and forth, quality chances going to either side.  Ultimately the Stars did what they couldn’t do early in the season and win the game.  John Klingberg took a drop pass from Trevor Daley and sailed a wrister past Lack for the game winner.

Thoughts and Observations

There is absolutely no quit in this team.  It is disappointing because you wonder why they didn’t play this way all season.  At the same time, with talks of tanking swirling around the bottom of the standings, you have to admire the effort the Stars have put forth this month.  They may very well win the rest of their games this season.

Kari Lehtonen is playing well late in the season, as per usual.  Does that save against Vrbata save the season entirely?  Maybe.

Patrick Eaves continues to come up big and hopefully this entices Jim Nill to get him another contract.  He has probably been the best free agent signing for the Stars.

The Stars hit the ice again on Monday against the Calgary Flames and it is another must-win!  Stay tuned.