This game saw Stars goalie Anton Khudobin get the start in what would be his fourth home start of the season. Joe Pavelski was also out of the lineup with an upper-body injury, replaced by Joel Kiviranta. Roman Polak was also out on Tuesday night for the Dallas Stars. As well, we caught a glimpse of the Stars’ warmup sweaters for Military Appreciation Night at American Airlines Center:
Denis Gurianov is the fourth leading goalscorer among rookies and is rarely seeing 10 minutes a night, so it’s nice to see him finally getting those top line chances.
Not too far into the game, these lines were clicking, producing quite a few high danger chances right in front of Carolina’s netminder Petr Mrazek, forcing him to make some really good saves.
The first goal was awarded to Jamie Benn for his second goal in two games with the cross-ice pass from Stephen Johns who has been wonderful since his return to the ice.
The first penalty of the game came to the Stars with a Radek Faksa boarding penalty against Justin Williams who was slow to get up. The Canes scored a goal on the power play with an interesting shot from Sebastian Aho to not only tie the game up at one, but set a new personal record with six consecutive games with a goal.
The Stars then gave up a really dangerous shot that led to a sprawling save by Anton Khudobin. At the start of the second, the Stars immediately resumed the onslaught of high danger chances against Mrazek with 2-3 shots from right in front.
Martin Necas then took a holding penalty to give the Stars their first power play of the game, but nothing comes of it except a small amount of momentum with a series of shots from the top of the crease following a shot from Gurianov.
Andrej Sekera took a slap-shot off the draw and caught Brock McGinn in the knee who quickly went down in a heap, but still lined up for the next face-off.
the next penalty of the game was awarded to Jordan Staal, the call on the ice made for hooking Alexander Radulov. This time, the power play was effective with a Denis Gurianov wicked slapper that exploded the water bottle to give the Stars the 2-1 lead.
Less than two minutes later, Brock McGinn hooked forward Roope Hintz to send the Stars back to the power play where Jamie Benn launched his wrist at the puck for his second goal of the game.
Not long after, Corey Perry missed a WIDE open net as Mrazek was out at the face-off dot, then Stephen Johns left the third period early after being hit by a puck from the opposing Hurricanes.
The third period started with a face-off win and zone entry by the Stars, but most importantly, it featured Stephen Johns back on the bench for the Dallas Stars.
Three 1/2 minutes into the game, Khudobin made a save which put him wildly out of position. Carolina launched a flurry of shots, none of which go in, but Jake Gardiner trips Dickinson, giving the Stars their fourth power play of the game. Dallas launched a ton of shots towards the net, though only three reach Mrazek and none go in. Carolina survives.
After that failed power play, the Stars adopted a control the puck, control the clock style of play which led to the Hurricanes tallying nine more shots. The Canes pulled their goalie with 2:10 left in the game and Jamie Benn grabbed the puck, raced down the ice, but gets tripped and is awarded the hat trick goal since there was no goalie for his sixth Career hat trick.
Stars win 4-1.
My Three Stars Of The Game:
First Star – Jamie Benn – Hat Trick
Second Star – Miro Heiskanen – Two Assists
Third Star – Anton Khudobin – Win, %.960, 24/25