A Royally Good Win. Dallas Stars Game 23: 5-2 Win at the Los Angeles Kings

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The Dallas Stars maintain their position as kings of the road recently.

The Stars defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings 5-2 in their first meeting of the season. They are now 6-1-1 in their last eight road games.

Kari Lehtonen’s 31 saves led the Stars to victory along with a power play that was 2-for-3 on the night. They were outshot 33-22, outhit 41-24 and won only 19 out of 60 faceoffs, but they took advantage of their chances and played a sound road game for the win.

Jaromir Jagr opened the scoring when he netted a power play goal on Jamie Benn’s pass through the slot 5:28 into the first period. The Kings responded with a goal 12:10 into the period when Trevor Lewis collected the puck behind the Stars net and took a wide wrap around wrist shot that went into the upper right corner of the goal.

Both teams didn’t score again until the last five minutes of the second period. Mike Richards and Dustin Penner outworked the Stars deep along the boards and behind the net. Jeff Carter received a pass from Penner, and he threw the puck on net as Richards was heading there. The puck bounced off of Jordie Benn’s left skate and behind Lehtonen to give the Kings a 2-1 lead. The Stars took over from there.

On the power play with 1:14 left in the second period, Cody Eakin flew into the offensive zone and stuck with the puck as it bounced off his skate, stick and opposing defenders. He finally settled the puck when he was behind the defense and backhanded it over Jonathan Quick’s glove.

Reilly Smith’s hard work in the offensive zone drew two Kings players as Cody Eakin swooped in unchecked and zipped a pass across the ice to Brenden Morrow. He was left alone at the opposite side of the net and tapped the puck into the gaping net. Morrow’s goal came with little over five minutes into third period and it proved to be the game-winner.

Nearly halfway through the third period, Jagr skated to the net unchecked and buried a Jamie Benn rebound for his second goal of the game. Antoine Roussel scored an empty net goal with 1:41 left in regulation to seal the deal.

Next, the Stars fly to Arizona and face the Phoenix Coyotes Saturday night.