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Dallas Stars 5-4 OT win at Columbus Blue Jackets
Shots: Dallas 39, Columbus 20
PP: Dallas 0-1, Columbus 0-1
*DALLAS STARS TRADE MICHAEL RYDER AND A 3rd ROUND PICK TO THE MONTREAL CANADIENS FOR ERIK COLE*
The Good:
Antoine Roussel- He generated lots of energy, finished his checks, pushed hard at both ends of the ice and, best of all, helped out on the scoreboard. Roussel’s strong forecheck (along with Roy) led to a Columbus turnover and he got the puck to the point which led to Roy’s rebound goal. Roussel’s goal came on a re-direction of a shot from the point that was going wide of the net. Not sure if he’ll stay on this line once Erik Cole joins the team, but for this game at least, he really provided a spark and helped this line be the best on the ice for Dallas.
Dallas goal #3- Dillon's (top right) shot from the point gets re-directed by Roussel (bottom right).
2nd line- I mentioned Roussel above, but it was more than just him. The Stars’ second line dominated for the team. They were absolutely ferocious in the offensive zone. Their forecheck was very strong and effective and directly led to goals and chances. They were good on the back check and seemed to always be on the ice. Eriksson was mainly the setup man for the line throughout the game, but he took 5 shots of his own, including the game-winner in overtime. The line managed 3 goals, 2 assists and 14 shots.
Dallas goal #5- OT winner! Dillon was at the left point and he passed the puck to Roy on the right wing boards. He let the puck hit off the wall and he took a slap shot that Bobrovsky stopped. Bobrovsky did, however, give up a rebound right in front. Eriksson fought to get to the front of the net, got the puck and tucked in behind Bobrovsky for the win.
Alex Goligoski- He actually looked like a confident player. He was strong defensively and he did what he was originally brought to Dallas for. He carried the puck out of the zone, pushed up on offensive rushes and took some big shots from the point. A couple of times he went in deep ending up around or behind the Columbus net. He had his pocket picked for a quality chance by Columbus, but Bachman bailed him out. He simply played better than he has recently.
Back-to-back slump over- Stars finally break the slump and get a win in the second of a back-to-back. This was their second win of the sort over the past two seasons. The Stars are now 2-15-2 in the second of back-to-back games over the past two seasons.
The Bad:
Richard Bachman- Not good but not terrible. More like average, but for Bachman this season, average is good. As Turco mentioned on FSSW he wasn’t set when the shots were taken. Sure, some of the goals were by open players in front, but some he should’ve stopped. Dorsett was left open in front to score his goal so Bachman can’t really be blamed for that, but he did kick out the puck for a rebound. On Nikitin’s goal, it’s true that there was no pressure on the Columbus defensemen off the faceoff, but that’s also a shot that Bachman should’ve had. There was no screen, no player setting up shop on the edge of the crease. Bachman was simply beat. On the 3rd goal, Atkinson was left open in perfect position for the puck on a blocked shot to tie the game 3-3. And then Umberger was open in the slot for Columbus’ fourth goal but he got a piece of it. He did make some big saves that gave the Stars a chance at a win, like the big glove save on Johansen during the 4-on-4 early in the 3rd period and save on Foligno after a Goligoski turnover.
Giving up easy goals- The Stars continue to give up easy goals. After a faceoff loss by Benn, there was no pressure on the points and an uncontested blast from the blue line gave the Blue Jackets their first goal. On the second goal, Dorsett was covered on his initial shot, but Benn got turned around and Dorsett was left alone to pop in the rebound a few feet in front of Bachman. The third goal did come on a broken play when Aucoin’s shot from the right wing boards hit a skate in front. Still, Atkinson was left all alone to the right of Bachman in a perfect position to wrist the puck into the net. Jordie Benn’s pass from behind the net was picked by Foligno along the boards and sent to Umberger who was wide open between the hash marks for the goal.
Columbus goal #1- No pressure after faceoff loss leads to a shot byNikitin from the point (top center) going right by Bachman's glove.
Columbus goal #2- Dorsett's first shot hits Benn's stick and Bachman's pad. Benn let him go and Dorsett wristed it over Bachman's right shoulder.
Columbus goal #3- Aucoin's shot from the right wing boards hits a skate in front and goes to a wide open Atkinson, who rifles it in past a scrambling Bachman.
Columbus goal #4- Jordie Benn's pass from behind the net gets intercepted by Foligno along the left wing boards. He centers it for an open Umberger who rips it past Bachman.
Can’t hold a lead- The Stars manage to take leads and have recently been able to follow up with a quick strike, but in back-to-back games now the Stars have allowed a goal within a couple of minutes of their own goal. It only took Columbus 51 seconds to erase Dallas’ 2-1 lead in the second. The Stars never trailed, yet they barely managed to squeak out a victory. Stars seem to lack the ability to own a lead and hold strong or kick the opponent when they’re down and get the win.
First line disappearing- Benn seemed to always have two bodies on him, or at least two sticks hassling him. Jagr had a little more time and room to create but his passes seemed to be a little off today and a couple of times he made one too many moves with the puck. Morrow did score a goal but it wasn’t with the full 1st line out and it came on a pass from Eakin that bounced off his foot and in. The Stars were very fortunate that the 2nd line dominated the game for the Stars and they received some secondary scoring. If Columbus can do this, what will the stronger defensive teams do against the Stars’ top line?
Dallas goal #1- Eakin (far right) throws the puck in the middle and it hits off Morrow's skate and goes in.
A different angle of the Morrow goal. You can see Morrow's skates still facing forward and the puck is already ahead of him headed to the net.
Lines seen tonight:
Morrow-Benn-Jagr
Roussel-Roy-Eriksson
Smith-Eakin-Fraser
Nystrom-Fiddler-Garbutt
Dillon-Robidas
Benn- Daley
Goligoski-Oleksiak
PP-Jagr-Benn-Eriksson-Jagr-Goligoski
PP- Eakin-Smith-Morrow-Benn-Daley
PK- Eriksson-Roy-Dillon-Robidas
PK- Fiddler-Nystrom-Benn-Daley
PK- Eakin-Roussel-Dillon-Robidas
Notable Notes:
- Faceoffs- Benn won 9 of 16, Roy won 5 of 13, Eakin won 4 of 10 and Fiddler won 9 of 14.
- The win tied the Stars’ record of 11 straight games with 3 or more goals scored
- Michael Ryder and 3rd round pick traded to Montreal for Erik Cole (who waived his limited no trade clause)
FSSW's comparison of the players in the trade.
Dallas goal #4- Eakin skated in past the blue line and took a wrist shot that snuck through Bobrovsky.
Dallas goal #2- A Jordie Benn blast from the point hits a body in front and Roy is on the doorstep to put the puck in the net.
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