The Dallas Stars were in the Pacific Northwest for two games, one against the Vancouver Canucks and the other against the Seattle Kraken, on Thursday and Saturday. Here’s my Stars’ Pacific Northwest recap.
Thursday, March 28
The Dallas Stars stopped by Vancouver, B.C., to take on the Vancouver Canucks. The Stars defeated the Canucks 3-1 at Rogers Arena on Thursday night and clinched a spot in the NHL playoffs. Dallas improved to 46-19-9, while Vancouver fell to 45-20-8.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Chris Tanev, Esa Lindell, Logan Stankoven, Wyatt Johnston, Jamie Benn, and Jake Oettinger. Oettinger made 27 saves for a win.
Canucks backup goalie Casey DeSmith started against the Stars in a reported attempt to rebound after stopping just 16 of 19 shots in the Canucks’ 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. DeSmith made a whopping 30 saves in a losing effort.
The Stars got on the board to end the first period. The Canucks got two penalties — Quinn Hughes’ high-sticking penalty against Jamie Benn and Vancouver’s delaying of the game with an unsuccessful challenge — at 17:21 and 18:48. Roope Hintz scored a power-play goal on a poke shot for a 1-0 lead at 18:48, snapping an eight-game goal drought. Jason Robertson and Jamie Benn collected the assists on Hintz’s 27th of the season. With his 36th assist of the season, Benn recorded his 900th NHL point.
The Stars led 1-0 at the end of the first period. Dallas edged Vancouver in shots 9-8 after 20 minutes.
The Canucks opened the second-period scoring, tying the game at one apiece. J.T. Miller blasted a snap shot into the Stars’ net to tie the game 1-1 at 7:39. Conor Garland and Teddy Blueger collected the assists on Miller’s 35th of the season.
Both teams were tied 1-1 at the end of two periods. Dallas outshot Vancouver 23-19 through 40 minutes.
The Stars took care of business in the third period. Dallas took a one-goal lead just seconds after Teddy Blueger was called for high-sticking against Wyatt Johnston at 16:32. Stars captain Jamie Benn scored a power-play goal on a snap shot to give the Stars a 2-1 lead at 16:52. Joe Pavelski and Roope Hintz collected the assists on Benn’s 18th of the season.
The Canucks pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with two minutes left in regulation. The Stars grabbed a two-goal lead to seal the scoring. Jason Robertson fired a wrist shot into the Canucks’ empty net to make it a 3-1 game at 17:57.
The Stars defeated the Canucks 3-1 in regulation. Dallas outshot Vancouver 33-28 after a full 60 minutes.
Saturday, March 30
The Dallas Stars wrapped up the four-game road trip with a stop in the Emerald City. Jake Oettinger and the Stars shutout the Seattle Kraken 3-0 at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday night.
The Stars’ starting lineup remained the same with Chris Tanev, Esa Lindell, Logan Stankoven, Wyatt Johnston, Jamie Benn, and Jake Oettinger. Oettinger stopped all 18 shots he faced for a shutout win. Meanwhile, Kraken goalie Joey Daccord made 27 saves in a losing effort.
The Stars couldn’t get things going in the first period, due to Kraken goalie Joey Daccord and the Kraken defense. Stars captain Jamie Benn almost made it a 1-0 game, but Daccord deflected Benn’s shot.
Both teams were scoreless at the end of the first period. Dallas outshot Seattle 12-3 after 20 minutes.
The game remained a polite one until midway through the second period. Craig Smith was called for tripping against Jamie Oleksiak, a former Dallas Stars defenseman, at 13:25. The Kraken went on the power play, but couldn’t capitalize on the man advantage.
The Stars got on the board in the second period Wyatt Johnston tipped in a shot to give the Stars a 1-0 lead at 18:12. Nils Lundkvist and Logan Stankoven collected the assists on Johnston’s 29th of the season.
The Stars led 1-0 at the end of two periods. Dallas outshot Seattle 20-11 through 40 minutes.
The third period began on a physical note. Adam Larsson was called for elbowing and game misconduct against Chris Tanev just 19 seconds in. The Stars went on the power play and capitalized on the man advantage. Joe Pavelski scored a power-play goal on a shot to make it a 2-0 game just 26 seconds in. Roope Hintz and Miro Heiskanen collected the assists on Pavelski’s 26th of the season.
Thomas Harley was called for tripping against Andre Burakovsky at 13:41, but the Stars couldn’t capitalize on the man advantage.
The Stars concluded the game’s scoring. Roope Hintz put a backhand shot into the Kraken’s empty net to extend the Stars’ lead to 3-0 at 18:43. Wyatt Johnston and Esa Lindell collected the assists on Hintz’s 28th of the season.
The Stars shutout the Kraken 3-0 in regulation. Dallas outshot Seattle 30-18 after a full 60 minutes.
Up Next
The Dallas Stars will return to the American Airlines Center to host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at 8:00 p.m. Central.
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