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The Dallas Stars dominated 90 percent of the night and extended their wining streak to a franchise-record nine games in a 6-1 win against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on Monday.
Stars lines
- Robertson – Johnston – Bourque
- Steel – Duchene – Benn
- Erne – Hryckowian – Blackwell
- Bäck – Hyry – Blackwell
- Lindell – Heiskanen
- Harley – Lundkvist
- Bichsel – Lyubushkin
- Oettinger
- DeSmith
Scratches: Alex Petrovic, Kyle Capobianco, Roope Hintz (sick)
Top story
Still shorthanded…
Unfortunately, Dallas has not had much luck on the injury/illness front since the Olympics began.
Radek Faksa got hurt in the final preliminary game against Switzerland. He is still on IR and has not played since the break ended. Faksa has skated a few times, but has missed the past few and did not travel on this two-game trip. Stars coach Glen Gulutzan has repeatedly told us they are not going to rush things with Faksa.
Roope Hintz was hopeful to skate with the team at practice on Thursday. But he was still not feeling well enough after an illness from his time in Milan. Gulutzan described it as a similar illness to Mikko Rantanen, who lost about 10 pounds with his. Hintz did skate on his own Saturday and Sunday and went through morning skate Monday in Vancouver. He is a possibility for tomorrow night in Calgary.
I saw Rantanen for the first time since the Olympics on Saturday night. He was hanging out with some players’ families down by the Stars dressing room after the comeback win vs Nashville. Rantanen was confirmed to miss at least two weeks on Feb. 24, but it has since been reported that he may miss more with a lower-body injury from the Olympic semi final vs Canada.
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The good news? Dallas is playing some of its best hockey of the season without two key centers and their best offensive player. This just makes things even tougher on general manager Jim Nill, who is now tasked with navigating these absences while evaluating trade options ahead of Friday’s deadline.
Live game notebook
Period 1
- Just a little extra resistance in front of the Dallas net. During play and after the whistle. It may not always be obvious, but it’s there.
- Evander Kane stops a puck into the back of the net off a perfect rebound-producing low far pad shot by Jake DeBrusk. Old school hockey puts the Canucks up 1-0.
- Thomas Harley made a really nice patient play on the penalty kill to get the puck out down the wall.
- Harley again with a patient play, taking an extra second after seeing his original neutral zone passing lane was clogged up, and made the easy D-to-D pass instead. That is the patience we were used to but weren’t seeing early in the season.
- First good chance for Dallas in a bit. Mavrik Bourque gets to a rebound as he’s falling away from the net, but can only get a low sliding fadeaway off. It gets stuck under Nikita Tolopilo in the crease.
- This has been a pretty good period. A couple of good chances, few keys saves from each netminder, some rough stuff. Stars just need to find a way to create a bit more from good areas.
- Instead of creating from good areas, what if they just went full Happy Gilmore on the final putt and banked it off the end boards and in? Adam Erne must love that movie. That’s a lucky break, sure. But you make your own luck by shooting the puck.
Stars 1, Canucks 1
Period 2
- A very nifty drop pass between the legs by Wyatt Johnston nearly ended in another Jason Robertson goal. Tolopilo made a good glove save. The Dallas forecheck has been a problem to start the second.
- I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Stars past three games have felt heavier, tougher, and more deliberate. Feels like they are trying to play playoff hockey after the break.
- Johnston nearly gave Dallas the lead, as Tolopilo laid an egg off his shot down the left side. Credit to Nils Lundkvist for getting up in the rush and driving the net on the play.
- What a pretty, pretty passing play from Dallas. Lian Bichsel slid to his left near the wall at the point, then played catch with Sam Steel and Ilya Lyubushkin. The quick pass by Lyubushkin and the beautiful bar down finish by Bichsel were equally impressive.
- Just after the goal, Vancouver is called for delay of game, and Robertson snipes again, this time from the Johnston bumper spot to give Dallas a 3-1 lead in just over one minute.
- Dallas has held Vancouver to nine shots more than midway through the game. This is just the way they have been playing.
- What a diving stick block by Nathan Bastian on a scoring chance for Nils Hoglander. The puck bounced out of the right circle, Bastian spun around, located it, dove with his stick extended, and got just a piece of the shot to send it up off the crossbar and out. If he doesn’t get that with just a touch, it might go in over Jake Oettinger’s shoulder.
- Dallas is harder on absolutely every puck in the second period.
Stars 3, Canucks 1
Period 3
- Steel creates another golden chance off ANOTHER Vancouver breakout turnover. But… What a spin-o-rama pass by Steel to find Matt Duchene wide open on the right side. Something about this building brings out the spin cycle for Dallas Stars.
- Vancouver is just giving pucks away nearly every time it attempts to break out of the defensive zone. This time, Colin Blackwell jumps on it, outwaits Tolopilo, and shelfs it in tight.
- Vancouver fans have begun to head toward the exits. I would too, though. Vancouver is a beautiful city, and there is not much in the way of beauty going on inside Rogers Arena. Tonight or lately.
- Nothing like Nils Lundkvist getting a breakaway from inside his own blue line. He made a nice move, but pulled the puck to the backhand too far in front of him and lost his angle to elevate over the sprawling pad. What a wacky game.
- Vancouver legitimately looks like they have given up playing. Shots are 27-7 Dallas since the end of period one.
- Bichsel can move. Bichsel can shoot. He gets his second top corner goal of the game, his third tally of the season.
- Arttu Hyry took a few whacks at the loose puck in the create looking for his first NHL goal.
Final: Stars 6, Canucks 1
Coming up
Stars at Calgary Flames on Tuesday at 8pm CT.
DLLS Stars pregame show starts at 730pm.
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