Dallas Stars Cannot Keep Up, Fall 3-1 To Calgary Flames

The Dallas Stars started out slow and finished strong, but ultimately could not come up with a win. They lost 3-1 to the Calgary Flames at home on Thursday night.

The Dallas Stars went into Thursday night’s game looking for a fast start. They got their wish, but it was the end of the first period that buried them. As a result, the Stars fell to the Calgary Flames 3-1 at home on Thursday night. Postgame wrap-up is below.

Game recap

First period

The Dallas Stars started the way they preached they would in morning skate. While the Flames sat back, the Stars unloaded their offensive scheme. After a mere 2:30 into the first period, the Stars led the shot count 4-0. Some penalties were committed, starting with one on Valeri Nichushkin. That was killed off and the Stars immediately started the power play on a penalty to Matt Stajan. That was killed off as well.

Moments after the Stars power play ended, the Flames went back on the job. Only this time, the Stars had plans to score. While the Flames continued to struggle even registering a shot on the PP, Vernon Fiddler took the puck down the ice and put a shot on net. Ramo made the save, but Johnny Oduya was quick to scoop up the rebound for his fourth of the year. The Stars took the 1-0 lead with 7:16 left in the first.

So fast start, right? Not necessarily. The Flames came back with a vengeance after the Oduya goal. On a bad defensive breakdown, Sean Monahan scored on a semi-breakaway to make it 1-1. Assists were given to Johnny Gaudreau and Kris Russell. With 28 seconds left in the frame, Dougie Hamilton capitalized on a slap shot to take the 2-1 lead for Calgary, with assists going to Joe Colborne and Matt Stajan. At the end of the first, it was 2-1 Calgary with shot totals 11-8 in favor of the Stars.

Second period

The second period was slow and uneventful towards the beginning. With 2:38 gone in the second, Deryk Engelland was boxed for tripping. But once again, the Stars did not capitalize on the power play. Matters Janmark went to the box for holding the stick with 13:30 to go in the second period, and Calgary took control. The Flames took eight shots on that power play and basically doubled their shot totals from the beginning of the PP. But the Stars once again killed it off.

The period raged on with both teams getting some quality but off-the-mark chances. With 6:14 to go in the second, Patrick Sharp dropped the mitts after a freeze behind the Calgary net with Dennis Wideman. No real punches were thrown, but Sharp ended up on top. Both were sent off for five minutes for fighting.

Mason Raymond would tally the period’s only goal with 2:30 to go. Mikael Backlund was awarded the sole assist. At the end of the second period, the Flames held the 21-19 shot advantage.

Third period

The third period was a slow and ultimately disappointing one for the Dallas Stars. The Stars finally turned on the jets and began to force it all at the Flames. But a few show-stopping saves from Karri Ramo, including a windmill glove save on Alex Goligoski, held the Stars at bay. One penalty was committed by Deryk Engelland on a tripping call with 10:15 to go, but Dallas could not generate a goal.

After a few more shots and stellar saves, the final buzzer rang and the Stars dropped their seventh loss of the season in a 3-1 final against the Calgary Flames. Final shot totals were 36-27 in favor of the Stars.

Thoughts and Observations

The Calgary Flames have officially completed their resurrection this season. Back in mid-November they boasted a record of 5-11-1. After tonight’s win, the Flames are back to above .500 with a record of 15-14-2. They’ve won seven in a row now, including two against the Stars.

The Stars did what they aimed to do tonight: start fast. They were up 4-0 in the shot totals 2:30 into the game, but their final five minutes of the period ultimately put them behind the eight ball for good. The Flames scored two goals in a span of 4:03 towards the end of the first that put them in the lead for good.

The Stars have now lost four of their last eight games and sit with a record of 4-2-2 so far in December. Not exactly a bad record, but certainly not the level the Stars had been performing at. We’ll see if they change that on Saturday against Montreal.

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Karri Ramo was nothing short of spectacular, especially in the third period. He made at least five or six quality saves in the final frame to keep his team on top.

The Stars penalty kill went a perfect 3/3, but their power play was once again on the ugly side. The Stars went 0/3 on the man advantage tonight and could not generate many quality scoring chances. Stars head coach Lindy Ruff mentioned that he may be changing the power play unit again in an attempt to create a spark.

Ales Hemsky had an excellent game. He was one of very few players that gave it his all and ended up with a few good scoring chances.

Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin have only been shut out of the goal department in the same game six times this season. Two times have been from their two meetings with Ramo and the Flames. So obviously Calgary is doing something right when they face off with Dallas.

The Flames bested the Stars in the face-off circle 32-29. Very few times this season have the Stars been beaten on the draw totals.

Calgary beat Dallas in multiple areas tonight that ultimately sealed the victory for them. The Stars gave away the puck nine times compared to Calgary’s six. The Flames took away eleven opportunities from Dallas, while the Stars only took away four. Finally, the Flames blocked 29 shots from Dallas while the Stars only stood in front of 11.

The Stars just overall looked unenthusiastic and lethargic in tonight’s game. They picked it up in the third period, outshooting the Flames 17-6, but it was ultimately not enough.

Next: Stars Morning Skate Quotable: Oduya, Ruff, Spezza

The Stars face off with the third best team in the NHL, the Montreal Canadiens, on Saturday evening. Though the Canadiens are stuck in a rut, the Stars will need to be back on their feet if they want to keep playing their A-game. Washington is creeping up and now only rests two points behind Dallas for first place in the NHL.