Apr 3, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) scores two goals against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Dallas Stars put on one last show to round out their 2014-2015 regular season tonight. Not only did the Stars pound the Nashville Predators 4-1, but captain Jamie Benn also captured the league’s scoring title with a hatrick and an assist. Jhonas Enroth stood tall in goal all night and won his fourth consecutive start to finish the season. The Stars officially finished with 92 points, seven shy of eighth place Winnipeg.
First Period
Benn made up for lost ground very early in the first period when he scored off a nifty one-timer from the high slot. Cody Eakin had taken the puck in deep and circled back towards the slot. He sent a backhand pass to Benn who wired in his 33rd goal of the season. Benn was now tied with Tavares and Crosby at 84 points. Shortly after Benn had given the Stars an early lead, Predators forward Craig Smith knotted the game at one. Defenceman Ryan Ellis put a wrister on net that Smith tipped past Stars goaltender Jhonas Enroth. It appeared Smith had bumped Enroth in the crease but the referees got together and talked about the play quickly before confirming it would count. Two minutes after the game was tied at one, Benn struck again. Predators forward Viktor Stalberg went to the box for tripping with less than ten minutes left in the first. Benn would win the ensuing faceoff back to John Klingberg who then sent a shot/pass back to Benn who tipped it top shelf. This goal gave Benn a lead atop the Art Ross Trophy race with 85 points. The Stars would head to the intermission up 2-1.
Second Period
The second period maintained the status quo and there was no goal scoring from either team. The most noteworthy piece from the second period was that New York Islanders captain John Tavares had scored a goal and an assist to put himself one point ahead of Benn in the Art Ross race. Only 20 minutes remained and it was Benn’s last chance to capture the franchise’s first Art Ross Trophy. Dallas led 2-1 heading to the third period.
Third Period
The third period remained quiet until three minutes left. The score was 2-1; Benn was behind Tavares by one point and essentially needed two (after tiebreaker) if he was to win the trophy. With two and half minutes left, the Predators pulled their goalie and Benn was able to shovel a 200-foot wrister down the ice and into the yawning cage to pull even with Tavares in points. The building was standing as Benn only needed one more point within the last two minutes to win. Then… with 8 seconds left in the game… Benn kept a clearing attempt in at the line. Trevor Daley scooped up the loose puck and fed Eakin in front of the net. Eakin made no mistake and Benn collected his 87th point of the season. The crowd blew the roof off the building as Benn was crowned with the franchise’s first Art Ross Trophy. Lost in all of this was a spectacular 2-on-0 save by Enroth that kept the game 2-1 earlier in the third period. The game was spectacular from the Stars perspective as they finished in style with a 4-1 win and their captain captured the league scoring title.
Notes and Observations
-Benn gave a small speech after the game thanking the fans for all their love and support this season. A classy move by the Stars captain.
-The Dallas Stars finish the season with 92 points and no playoffs. Last year they finished with 91 points and the eighth seed in the Western conference.
-If they couldn’t make the playoffs, this ending to the regular season was the next best thing.
-Tyler Seguin was a healthy scratch tonight after showing up late to Friday’s practice.
-Jamie Benn registered his second hat-trick of the season tonight. He finished with 3 goals and 1 assist.
-The Predators will now get set to begin their playoff run against the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.
Thanks again for all the readership this season! From all of us here at Blackout Dallas we would like to congratulate captain Jamie Benn and the Dallas Stars on a very entertaining and action packed 2014-2015 season. We all eagerly await opening night 2015.