This week, the Dallas Stars returned home to open a four-game homestand to close out the 2023-24 NHL season. The Stars hosted the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday and the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. Here’s my Stars Weekday Recap for your information.
Tuesday, April 9
The Stars welcomed the Sabres to the American Airlines Center on Tuesday night. The Stars defeated the Sabres 3-2 on Jason Robertson Bobblehead Night. With their 50th win of the season, Dallas completed their two-game season sweep of Buffalo. Dallas improved to 50-20-9, while Buffalo fell to 37-37-5.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Chris Tanev, Esa Lindell, Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz, Jason Robertson, and Jake Oettinger. Oettinger made 19 saves for a win. Meanwhile, Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 22 saves in a losing effort.
The Stars got off on the wrong foot to kick off their final homestand of the season. Alex Tuch blasted a snap shot into the Stars’ net for an early 1-0 lead at 4:09 of the first period. Henri Jokiharju and Bowen Byram collected the assists on Tuch’s fourth of the season.
The Stars quickly bounced back to even the score at one apiece. Jason Robertson tipped in a shot into the Sabres’ net to tie the game 1-1 at 6:15 of the first period. Roope Hintz collected the lone assist on Robertson’s 28th of the season.
The Stars briefly took the lead on Mason Marchment‘s go-ahead goal just seconds after Robertson’s goal. However, the officials said that Marchment had a high stick, and the Stars had no goal.
The Sabres took the lead. Rasmus Dahlin scored a go-ahead goal on a wrist shot to give the Sabres a one-goal lead at 9:38 of the first period. Owen Power and Peyton Krebs collected the assists on Dahlin’s 20th of the season.
The Stars trailed the Sabres 2-1 at the end of the first period. Dallas outshot Buffalo 7-5 after 20 minutes.
The Stars opened the second-period scoring. Wyatt Johnston put a backhand shot into the Sabres’ net to tie the game 2-2 at 3:38 of the second period. Thomas Harley collected the lone assist on Johnston’s 32nd of the season. With the 32nd goal, Johnston now has 13 goals in his last 16 games.
The Stars regained the lead. Joe Pavelski tipped in a shot for a go-ahead goal and a 3-2 lead at 6:46 of the second period. Chris Tanev and Thomas Harley collected the assists on Pavelski’s 27th of the season.
The Sabres briefly tied the game late in the third period. After further review, Jack Quinn’s game-tying goal on a wrist shot was reversed due to a high stick.
The Stars led the Sabres 3-2 at the end of two periods. Dallas outshot Buffalo 19-12 through 40 minutes.
Neither the Stars nor the Sabres scored in the third period.
The Stars beat the Sabres 3-2 in regulation. Dallas outshot Buffalo 25-21 after 60 minutes.
Three Stars of the Game for April 9th
1. Joe Pavelski (1 point: 1 goal)
2. Thomas Harley (2 points: 2 assists)
3. Rasmus Dahlin (1 point: 1 goal)
Thursday, April 11
The Stars and Jets faced off at the American Airlines Center on Thursday night. The Stars got shutout by Jets 3-0. Dallas fell to 50-21-9, while Winnipeg improved to 49-24-6. Dallas was shutout for the first time since December 4, 2023.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Chris Tanev, Sam Steel, Radek Faksa, Esa Lindell, Craig Smith, and Jake Oettinger. Oettinger made 21 saves in a losing effort. Meanwhile, Jets goaltender Laurent Brossoit stopped all 25 shots he faced.
The Jets stymied the Stars’ defense to take the first lead of the game. Nikolaj Ehlers scored a goal on a backhand shot for a 1-0 lead at 14:51 of the first period. Ehlers’ unassisted goal was his 24th of the season and 200th NHL goal.
The Stars trailed the Jets 1-0 at the end of the first period. Winnipeg outshot Dallas 9-8 after 20 minutes.
The Jets opened the second-period scoring. David Gustafsson tipped in a shot to make it a 2-0 game at 9:20 of the second period. Dylan Samberg and Mason Appleton collected the assists on Gustafsson’s third of the season.
The Stars continued to trail the Jets 2-0 at the end of two periods. Winnipeg outshot Dallas 22-17 through 40 minutes.
The Stars looked for a comeback of any kind against the Jets so they could clinch the Central Division, but they couldn’t get their offense going in the third period.
The Jets added an empty-net goal to cap off the game’s scoring. Mark Scheifele fired a wrist shot into the Stars’ empty net to extend the Jets’ lead to 3-0 at 17:39 of the third period. Kyle Connor and Mason Appleton collected the assists on Scheifele’s 25th of the season.
The Stars got blown out by the Jets 3-0 in regulation. Dallas outshot Winnipeg 25-24 after 60 minutes.
Three Stars of the Game for April 11th
1. Laurent Brossoit (1.000 SV%)
2. Nikolaj Ehlers (1 point: 1 goal)
3. Dylan DeMelo (0 points)
Up Next
The Stars will host the Seattle Kraken on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. Central.
ITR 36: Coaching Carousel – Inside The Rink
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