Well, I think the USA Hockey team doesn’t have to look for their goaltending tandem for the 2026 Winter Olympics after tonight. Thatcher Demko basically shut down the Dallas Stars as they would lose to the Vancouver Canucks 4-1. With the loss, the Canucks move within two points of the Dallas Stars as both teams fight for a playoff spot. Here’s what happened on Saturday night at the American Airlines Center.
Dallas Stars vs Vancouver Canucks: 1st period recap
Dallas Stars started off the game trying to get set up in Vancouver’s zone. Canucks would get the first registered shot on goal of the game. Thomas Harley almost got his first goal of his career but it would go off the post. The refs would blow the play dead due to the goal horn going off prematurely.
Thatcher Demko feeling the pressure by the Stars as they have been in his zone for a majority of this period. This is a good thing for the Stars since they have had a hard time getting goal opportunities in the 1st period.
Midway through the 1st, the Stars lead in shots on goal 10-4 which was a complete opposite of what happened in the previous game in Raleigh. The other thing I’ve noticed is the Stars zone defense between zones has forced the Canucks to dump the puck in and try to get something going.
Vasily Podkolzin would get a shot on Jake Oettinger late in the period, but he would cover the puck up. Jamie Benn would get a couple of shots on Demko and would miss both by not that much. Alexander Radulov almost redirected a shot past Demko.
The Stars and the Canucks would remain scoreless after the 1st period. Stars would lead the Canucks in shot attempts 14-9. Even though the Stars didn’t score in the opening frame, they did generate some good offense that almost led to a couple of goals.
Dallas Stars vs Vancouver Canucks: 2nd period recap
Oettinger would get an early save within the first minute of the period. Tyler Seguin and Jason Robertson would have a 2 on 1 opportunity, and the Canucks would get back on defense and stop that attempt.
Jacob Peterson would open up the scoring for the game as the Stars would take a 1-0 lead. Canucks would immediately get into the Dallas zone and Oettinger would stop their attempt to tie the game.
Petey puts the @DallasStars on the board first!!! #TexasHockey | 📺: @BallySportsSW pic.twitter.com/ArsLOowjod
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) March 27, 2022
Vancouver would continue to turn up their aggressiveness in the Stars zone midway through the 2nd period. Luke Glendening would get a breakaway opportunity and Demko would save it with his glove.
The Stars would commit the first penalty of the game and the Canucks would go on the power play. Elias Pettersson would convert on the power play and tie the game up at 1. Stars would get their shot on the power play. Stars would fail to convert and go 0-1 on the power play.
The Stars and Canucks would be tied after the 2nd frame. Vancouver would edge the Stars in shots on goal 22-21. The Canucks finally got some momentum from that goal and the Stars need to bring everything they have in the 3rd period
Dallas Stars vs Vancouver Canucks: 3rd period recap
Pettersson would score his 200th NHL Point to kick off the 3rd period to give the Canucks the lead. The Stars would go on their second power play of the game shortly after that. Stars would fail to convert on the power play and go 0-2 tonight.
Radulov would get caught holding someone’s stick and the Canucks would go back on the power play. Stars would kill off the penalty and get a short-handed opportunity that was saved by Demko. Stars would go back on the power play after Brock Boeser was called for hooking.
Stars would get so many attempts on Demko without his stick and the Stars couldn’t convert on any of them. Demko has been absolutely stellar for the Canucks tonight and is the reason why the Stars are trailing late in the 3rd. Horvat would score the empty netter to make it 3-1 Canucks. J.T Miller would add another goal shortly after to make it 4-1.