Dallas Stars Game 48: The Good and the Bad

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Dallas Stars 3-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings

Shots: Dallas 17, Detroit 37

PP: Dallas 0/3, Detroit 0/4

The Good:

Penalty kill- The Stars PK was perfect. They ended the night 4-for-4 and not just that, but they really did keep the Stars in the game. They killed the high-sticking double-minor to Garbutt in one of the better kills I’ve seen all season. Throughout the night, they didn’t give the Wings much room or time to set up, they took away passing and shooting lanes effectively and were monsters at clearing the puck. It also helps to have Bachman play great as well.

Richard Bachman- Bachman stopped 34 of 37 shots and did well to keep the Stars in the game. He helped keep it a one-goal game through 40 minutes and was strong on the PK. He isn’t fully to blame for Detroit’s three goals. The first bounced off Goligoski’s skate right in front of him. The second was a backup goalie versus world-class Zetterberg. And on the third, he was screened by Abdelkader and Robidas as they battled at the top of the crease. Overall, I think he did well and has really turned his game around from the first half of the season. 

The Bad:

Handling Datsyuk and Zetterberg- All three goals were scored with Detriot’s top line on the ice (on the short-handed goal, Datsyuk and Zetterberg were on the PK together). Dillon did well fighting off Zetterberg on the first goal. It was just a bad break to hit off Goligoski’s skate and go between Bachman’s legs. On the second goal, Datysuk brilliantly got to a missed shot first, made a between two Stars to spring Zetterberg on a breakaway.  On the third goal, Zetterberg won a battle on the boards and got the puck to Datsyuk. Datsyuk drew defenders and passed to a wide open Ericsson for the goal. The Stars just couldn’t do anything against this high-powered duo.

Detroit goal #1- Zetterberg attempts a move in on the goal, but Dillon pushes him away and forces him to the  side. They battle behind the red line, but Zetterberg still managed to send a centering feed to Abdelkader in the slot. The puck instead bounces off Goligoski's left skate and goes between Bachman's legs. 

A closer shot of Goligoski's skate right after the puck slid between Bachman's legs. 

Detroit goal #3- Zetterberg wins a puck battle with Rome and Benn along the boards and kicks the puck forward to Datsyuk.... (next picture) 

Datsyuk makes a move inside, draws attention and dishes the puck to a wide open Ericsson between the top of the circles.... (next picture)

Ericsson rifles a wrist shot on net with Abdelkader screening Bachman. Bachman looks to his right, but the puck goes in to his left. 

Power play- The Stars ended 0-for-3 and again fell victim to the same problems they have been having. They moved the puck decently, got some good looks, but just couldn’t put it in the net. Actually, the Stars suffered from too many shots on the power play that didn’t even hit the net. And they gave up the short-handed goal where the Stars were simply too slow to handle the play.

Detroit goal #2- As mentioned above, Datsyuk was first to jump on a loose puck, and he made a pass between Whitney and Jordie Benn to spring Zetterberg on a breakaway. 

Zetterberg made a move to his right and tucked in a backhander between Bachman's legs. 

Dumb penalties- Too many men penalty in final two minutes of the game? Cole interference penalty 26 seconds into a crucial power play midway through the second period? Garbutt’s slash in the third? Come on. These were mindless penalties in a “play for pride and show you got heart” type of game. The Stars were fortunate the PK was outstanding and bailed them out, but again, same as it’s been all year: you cannot constantly take dumb penalties at critical points or crucial games and hope the PK bails you out.

Turnovers in own zone- Not going to add anything new here, it’s been the same problem all season. Nothing new. 

Severely outshot- It’s pretty self-explanatory. If you get outshot 37-17, you’re not going to have much of a chance to win. Let alone a game against Detroit. Let alone against a desperate Detroit team fighting to make the playoffs. Just not going to win that way. 

Lines seen tonight:

Whitney-Benn-Eriksson

Nystrom-Fiddler-Cole

Roussel-Eakin-Garbutt

MacDermid-Wandell-Smith

Dillon-Goligoski

Rome-Robidas

Jo. Benn-Larsen

PP- Eriksson-Benn-Whitney-Cole-Goligoski

PP- Nystrom-Eakin-Cole-Whitney-Jo. Benn

PK- Fiddler-Nystrom-Dillon-Goligoski

PK-Eakin-Cole-Rome-Robidas

PK-Benn-Eriksson-Jo. Benn- Larsen

PK- Roussel-Wandell-Rome-Robidas

Notable Notes:

• Faceoffs- Benn won 9 of 11, Fiddler won 9 of 15, Eakin won 6 of 13, Wandell won 2 of 11. 

One of the best hits of the game. Fiddler lays out Quincey as the buzzer sounds to end the second period. 

Roussel had a tremendous short-handed breakaway chance....

...but the puck was rolling on edge and he wasn't able to lift the puck past a stretched out Howard. 

Maybe it's just me, but there were way too many Detroit fans in the stands. Seemed almost like a home game for the Red Wings.