Dallas Stars Come In Clutch With Challenge, Beat Sabres 3-1

The Dallas Stars rode a two game winning streak into Buffalo, New York on Tuesday night and rode out with three straight under their belt. After building an early lead and sitting back, the Stars used a coach’s challenge that negated the game-tying goal that Buffalo scored. The Stars would keep the lead they had built and ended up winning 3-1.

Game recap

First period

The Dallas Stars could not have asked for a better start to this game. Just 51 seconds after the opening puck drop, the Stars found themselves rushing the front of the net. Valeri Nichushkin found a rebound on the doorstep and backhanded it home to take the early lead. Antoine Roussel and Cody Eakin were awarded the assists.

Only two penalties were called in the first period, with the first one being called on Sam Reinhart for slashing with 9:23 left. The second one was called on John Klingberg with 1:12 left. Neither power play produced and the first period ended with a 1-0 lead for the Stars. The shot totals were 9-6 through the first period in favor of the Stars.

Second period

The second period was a rather uneventful one for both teams. No penalties were committed and no goals were scored in the second. There is not much to say, so the lead was still 1-0 in favor of Dallas at the end of the second. Shots were 21-17 in favor of the Stars.

Third period

The third period is where things got interesting in more ways than one. The offenses continued trading punches until the Stars finally struck a chord and scored a goal. Though it was initially called Alex Goligoski‘s goal, Jason Spezza is now credited with scoring the Stars second goal of the game. The assists were awarded to Goligoski and Mattias Janmark.

But with 7:23 to go in the game, Jamie Benn committed a penalty out of rage and put Buffalo on their second power play. Just a mere 26 seconds later, Ryan O’Reilly scored to cut the Stars lead in half. The even strength would not last long as Alex Goligoski would send the puck over the glass and be called for delay of game with 6:44 left. With 6:07, the Sabres’ Sam Reinhart would score the potentially game-tying goal on the power play.

But with Kelly Forbes on watch as the Stars video director, the Stars challenged the play and caught a key offsides play that had started the rush. The goal was called off and the Stars retained their 2-1 lead. The game continued to go back and forth without any decisive goals being scored and the Sabres would pull Linus Ullmark from the net as the game grew closer to an end.

Tyler Seguin would use this chance to capitalize with an empty net goal with 1:27 left. Assists were awarded to Jamie Benn and Goligoski. This is how the game would end and the Stars walked away with the 3-1 victory. Shot totals for the night were 29-25 in favor of Dallas.

Thoughts and Observations

The Dallas Stars did not play the prettiest game tonight, but somehow they were able to come out with a win.

The Stars were 0-1 on the power play and 2-3 on the penalty kill. So the special teams were not as effective as usual.

The Sabres outplayed the Stars physically, outhitting them 25-11. But the Stars held a significant advantage in the face-off dot 46-29.

Antti Niemi played a terrific game against tonight for the first time in over two weeks. His last two games have both been losses to the Toronto Maple Leafs and as a result Kari Lehtonen has been granted the majority of the starts. Niemi ended the night 24-25 with a .960 save percentage. It was his seventh victory as a Star.

This is the second time the Dallas Stars have used a challenge in order to negate a goal, and both times it has come in clutch. Tonight, the Stars won solely because the Sabres’ goal was called back and resulted in a loss of momentum for Buffalo.

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The three stars of the night were:

3. Valeri Nichushkin

2. Ryan O’Reilly

1. Antti Niemi

The Stars will face one of their biggest tests in a while when they take on the Washington Capitals on Thursday night. The Caps are 11-4-1 this year and could turn into a potential threat capable of dethroning Dallas.

Next: Which Stars Goalie Has Played Better This Season? VOTE

Make sure to check back to Blackout Dallas for all updates regarding the game Thursday!