The Hockeyarcher: Dallas Stars Game 33: The Good and the Bad

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Dallas Stars lose 5-3 win over the Minnesota Wild

Shots: Dallas 33, Minnesota 33

PP: Dallas 3/6, Minnesota 1/4

The Good:

Power play- 3/6 on the night! Pretty strong showcase against a strong Minnesota penalty killing unit. They were able to dissect and move the puck well. They took time to get good chances, but didn’t overthink and miss out on opportunities. They dominated the 5-on-3 as they should. It lasted only ten seconds. Faceoff wins directly led to two goals on the power play.

Dallas goal #1- Benn wins a faceoff back and Whitney simply blasts it past Hackett.

Dallas goal #4- Jagr gets his 1,000 assist when he passes the puck down low to Whitney, who then sends it across to a wide open Benn for the one-timer.

Dallas goal #5- Goligoski shoots the puck in front center ice. The Stars get three men in deep on the forecheck and Eakin pokes the puck to center ice. Roy backhands it on net, Daley crashes the net for the rebound but can't put it in. Eakin follows up and backhands the puck into the net.

Physicality- This is going to be a really good rivalry starting next season. The teams showed some hate with a very rough and physical third period. In the 3^rd, 14 penalties were called including 3 misconducts, and only two of the penalties were on a fight. On the insanity of the Wild jumping Smith in front of the Minnesota bench, it was good to see Daley and even Jagr jump in. and of course Roussel literally jumped in, leaping on top of the crowd, gloves off, ready to rumble. The Stars weren’t going to be pushed around. They weren’t going to be bullied. They were going to stand up together as a team.

Smith is in the middle, being pushed into the Wild bench.

This was the scene after the skirmish was slightly separated. Three misconducts were issued: Rupp, Konopka and Roussel.

A minute and a half later, Nystrom fought Falk and got the win.

Faceoffs- Benn won 13 of 24, Roy won 10 of 19, Eakin won 9 of 14, Fiddler won 2 of 2.

The Bad:

Leaving men open in front- This factored into all 3 Minnesota goals. On the first, Goligoski’s turnover was in front of the net and then Cullen took the puck behind the net and centered it for Setoguchi in the slot. On the second, Spurgeon had a lot of room out front to put in the rebound off Brodziak’s shot. On the third goal, a pass from behind the net bounces off Dillon’s skate to an open Mitchell in front.

Minnesota goal #1- An errant pass by Goligoski in front of the net ends up on Cullen's stick. He skates it behind the net and centers it for Setoguchi out in front.

A sneaky little play by Brodziak to knock Eakin's stick out of his hand, which got him out of position and eventually led to...

Minnesota goal #2- Spurgeon has room in front to put in a rebound off Brodziak's shot.

A pass from Heatley behind the net bounced off Dillon's skate and went in front of the net. Mitchell was there to backhand it past Lehtonen.

Lines seen tonight:

Nystrom-Benn-Jagr

Whitney-Roy-Eriksson

Smith-Eakin-Vincour

Roussel-Fiddler-Cole

Dillon-Robidas

Goligoski-Daley

Rome-Larsen

PP-Eriksson-Benn-Jagr-Whitney-Robidas

PP-Eakin-Roy-Cole-Goligoski-Daley

PK-Eakin-Cole-Rome- Robidas (Dillon was in the box)

PK-Eakin-Cole-Dillon- Robidas

PK-Roy-Eriksson-Daley-Goligoski

Notable Notes:

Fiddler was injured in the first period when he was crashed into the net on a rush. There was no update yet on his status.

Dallas goal #2- Rome's shot from the point gets deflected by Smith out front. the rebound bounces to Hackett's left and Vincour was there to put it into the net.

Dallas goal #3- The Stars enter the zone on a 4-on-2 rush. Cole shoots the puck from the right wing boards, but it hits off someone out front. Cole follows up his shot to put in the rebound.