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The Dallas Stars ended their season with a five-game losing streak after a 3-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in the final game of the regular season.
Dallas had already been ruled out of the playoff hunt, but the Starswere playing for pride and a chance to end Detroit's consecutive playoff streak at 21 seasons. The Stars' season is officially over, and they head home before the playoffs for the fifth straight season.
Richard Bachman made 34 saves on 37 shots, but he received little help at the other end of the rink. Dallas was 4-for-4 on the penalty kill but 0-for-3 on the power play.
Detroit captain Henrik Zetterberg scored the game's first goal with 1:43 remaining in the first period. He attempted a move on net in the slot, but Brenden Dillon fought him off and kept him to the outside. They battled behind the red line, but Zetterberg still managed a centering feed intended for Justin Abdelkader. The puck instead bounced off Alex Goligoski's left skate and slid between Bachman's legs.
The game remained 1-0 until Zetterberg scored a short-handed goal on a breakaway 1:57 into the third period. A shot by Ray Whitney sailed wide and Datsyuk was the first to the puck along the right wing boards. He passed the puck between two Dallas players to spring Zetterberg on a breakaway. Zetterberg made a move to his right and tucked in a soft backhand shot between Bachman's legs.
Zetterberg and Datsyuk put Detroit on the board a third and final time 6:30 into the third period. Zetterberg battled Jamie Benn and Aaron Rome along the boards and kicked the puck ahead to Datsyuk. Datsyuk made a move to the middle of the zone and drew the attention of several Dallas players before he passed to a wide open Jonathan Ericsson between the top of the circles. Ericsson rifled in a wrist shot with Abdelkader providing a screen on Bachman. Bachman was looking to his right as the puck went in to his left.
Dallas ends the season 22-22-4 for 48 points, placing them 11th in the Western Conference and 21st in the league. The Stars now begin the off-season and prepare for the upcoming NHL Draft in Newark, New Jersey on June 30.
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