The Dallas Stars played so much better yesterday in Game 2 against the Golden Knights. They were attacking Adin Hill better in the Knights side of the ice and defending well. That was until Ryan Suter made a terrible pass which ended up forcing OT with two minutes left in the game.
Unfortunately, the Stars would go on to lose 3-2 in OT and fall into a 2-0 series deficit. The Stars now return home as they look to defend home ice on Tuesday and Thursday. The Stars need to win the next four out of five in order to make the Stanley Cup Final. In order for the Stars to do that they will have to play some flawless hockey to pull off the series upset. Let’s take a look at some of the takeaways from yesterday’s heart wrenching loss to the Golden Knights.
Dallas Stars vs Vegas Golden Knights Recap: 3. Line changes
That line change in OT was the final dagger in the coffin for the Stars. They took their sweet time getting fresh legs on the ice which is not ideal in hockey. You have to be quicker than that espically when you are in a sudden death OT. The Stars can’t afford to have any slow line changes like that in game 3 or else it will be a long night.
Dallas Stars vs Vegas Golden Knights Recap: 2. Got to score more than 1-2 goals a game
The Stars have also got to start scoring more than two goals a game moving forward. I remember in the regular season when we were averaging four goals a game in different periods of the regular season. They have to realize that the Golden Knights are finally healthy and will not stand down after the Stars drop two goals. Moving forward the Stars have to have that mindset that two goals will not cut it compared to the previous rounds.
Dallas Stars vs Vegas Golden Knights Recap: 1. Ryan Suter
I hope the Stars are forced to buy out Ryan Suter’s contract after training camp next season. I know reporters are saying he’s played the best hockey since being in Dallas this postseason but truth of the matter is, the game is evolving. Teams across the league are trying to find players that can get up and down the ice and defend. Unfortunately, Ryan Suter is being exploited by other teams including Vegas and that is how the Golden Knights won yesterday.
Let’s also take a look at his very unprofessional response when a reporter asked him about that second goal by Vegas. He basically in a snarky way shut down the reporter and was trying to deflect attention elsewhere. I personally felt like he should have owned up to it and answered the question another way. With Game 2 now behind us, the Stars return to the AAC tomorrow night to try and get back in this series starting with Game 3.