Dallas Stars Game 8: The Good and the Bad

Getty Images

Dallas Stars lose to the Anaheim Ducks 6-3.

Shots: Dallas 36, Anaheim 47

PP: Dallas 1/4, Anaheim 2/5

Hits: Dallas 31, Anaheim 28

Faceoffs: Dallas 42, Anaheim 32

Blocked Shots: Dallas 11, Anaheim 13

The Good:

Campbell- Hear me out on this one, there is good and there is bad with Campbell’s play in this game. Forget the score and consider the situation. A 21-year old goalie getting his first NHL start in the second game of a hard-fought back-to-back for a team with struggling defense. He made 41 saves on 47 shots. 47 shots!? I was impressed with Campbell’s play tonight. He was strong from the start. He held strong on his posts, stopped several re-directions from the slot and bailed out some big defensive errors. He got no help on three of the first four Ducks goals. He should have stopped Getzlaf’s goal early in the third, but an argument can be made that Getzlaf never should have been left so open and with so much time to get that chance. Campbell’s bright future has some tangible, visual evidence now. It’s still early in his career, but I can’t help but be excited at the potential future of the netminder.

A big save on a redirection early in the game.

Another big save, this one on a wide open Fowler. 

Big stop on Perry from the slot. 

Garbutt- He was heavily involved, sticking his nose in all three zones and getting production. A goal, 2 shots, 4 hits, a block, a breakaway, a huge hit on Penner… He was one of the most noticeable Stars on the ice tonight.

Dallas goal #1

New defensive pairs- Just wanted to do a quick shoutout to Ruff for finally changing up the defense and breaking up the Goligoski/Gonchar pairing. They have been the most frustrating Stars to watch this season. I’m not talking about defense only, I mean in general. It makes sense to finally break them up. Also, I like that Ruff kept Dillon and Robidas together. No need to break them up, just change the disastrous pairing and gain some stability in the back end.

Dallas goal #2

Faceoffs- Seguin won 4 of 12, Eakin won 13 of 20, Peverley won 8 of 9, Horcoff won 7 of 15, Fiddler won 7 of 13, Chiason won 1 of 2, Benn won both of his faceoffs and Cole lost his only draw. 

The Bad:

Penalty kill- Two ways to look at this: they took too many unnecessary penalties, and the PK was not very good tonight. The Ducks seemed to have the puck in the Stars’ zone nearly the entire time they had a man advantage. The Stars didn’t have the puck on their sticks much and when they did, they struggled to clear the zone. As mentioned below, the Stars could not eliminate the Ducks’ net presence. Perry and company were left to stand uncontested in front of Campbell. They only managed to clear the puck 8 times during their 5 kills. They gave up 18 shots on goal in those same 5 kills. 

Power play- Dallas did a little better on their entries and keeping the puck in the offensive zone against the Ducks than they did against the Sharks. They started the night strong with a goal on their only shot of the first power play, but the short-handed goal against was ugly enough to negate that. The good news is that they put 12 shots on net in their four power plays. 

Dallas goal #3

Finally the Stars got their high-tip set up on the power play going, and they got a goal out of it. 

Net presence- This is for both offense and defense. The Stars didn’t put many bodies in front of the Anaheim goal. They didn’t have to fight off many screens or deflections, and the Stars didn’t crash the net nearly as hard as the Ducks. Anaheim seemed to always have a player in Campbell’s face whether it was the power play or full-strength. The inability to eliminate Perry and the others in front of Campbell led to a couple of goals and several more chances for the Ducks. 

Perry alone in front on a Ducks goal.

Three Stars in a line watching the puck leaving Etem alone in front.

Selanne left all alone on the Ducks' first goal.

Lines seen tonight:

Benn-Seguin-Peverley

Whitney-Eakin-Chiasson

Roussel-Horcoff-Cole

Macdermid-Fiddler-Garbutt

Gonchar-Goligoski

Dillon-Robidas

Daley-Jordie Benn

Changed lineup:

Benn-Seguin-Cole

Whitney-Eakin-Chiasson

Nichushkin-Peverley-Roussel

Fiddler-Horcoff-Garbutt

Dillon-Robidas

Gonchar-Jordie Benn

Daley-Goligoski

                                          

PP- Cole-Horcoff-Benn-Seguin-Gonchar

PP-Whitney-Eakin-Chiasson-Peverley-Gonchar

PP- Cole-Horcoff-Benn-Seguin-Jordie Benn

PP-Whitney-Eakin-Chiasson-Peverley-Goligoski

PK- Fiddler-Roussel-Dillon-Robidas (Garbutt in the box)

PK- Peverley-Benn-Daley-Jordie Benn (Garbutt in the box)

PK- Eakin-Chiasson-Daley-Goligoski (Roussel in the box)

PK-Horcoff-Garbutt-Dillon-Robidas (Roussel in the box)

PK- Fiddler-Chiasson-Daley-Goligoski (Roussel in the box)

PK- Eakin-Chiasson-Dillon-Robidas (Garbutt in the box)

PK- Fiddler-Roussel-Daley-Jordie Benn (Garbutt in the box)

PK- Horcoff-Peverley-Daley-Jordien Benn (Garbutt in the box)        

PK- Eakin-Chiasson-Dillon-Robidas (Horcoff in the box)

PK- Fiddler-Garbutt-Dillon-Robidas (Horcoff in the box)

PK- Eakin-Chiasson-Goligoski-Daley (Horcoff in the box)

PK-Peverley-Roussel-Goligoski-Daley (Horcoff in the box)

Notable Notes:

The Benn-Beauchemin fight!!!

Anaheim goal #1

Anaheim goal #2

Anaheim goal #3

Anaheim goal #4

Anaheim goal #5

Anaheim goal #6

Some great puck movement from the top line that almost resulted in a goal. 

Garbutt is the blurry figure in the top middle of the screenshot. He plowed into Penner after release of the puck, knocking Penner out of the game. 

Scary scene after the hit on Penner. He did not look good at all as he was taken off the ice.

Hate seeing this happen to anyone. Penner couldn't stand on his own and when he was up, his legs couldn't hold him. Hopefully he isn't hurt too badly and he comes back soon.