The Dallas Stars' performance in yesterday's game in Calgary was exactly the sort of effort the team will need to continue churning out over the balance of the stretch run. The Stars are now 6-0-1 in their last seven games, and have begun to strengthen their precarious grip on a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Once again, Kari Lehtonen came up huge for the Stars. He stopped 36 of 38 Calgary shots in regulation and overtime and went 2-for-2 in the shootout. Over his last six starts, Lehtonen sports a tidy 1.45 goals against average and a .948 save percentage. Despite his lengthy absence in December due to a groin pull, I think Lehtonen has been the clear-cut Stars' MVP this season. He won't get a sniff of the Vezina Trophy, but he has been one of the best -- and most consistent -- goalies in the NHL this year.
Loui Eriksson, who has quietly played outstanding two-way hockey down the stretch, was Dallas' other top player last night. He had a regulation goal, an assist and a shootout tally as well as making several nice defensive plays.
Special teams were huge for the Stars on this night. After falling behind 1-0, they tied the game with a shorthanded goal by Eriksson, took the lead on a power play goal by Michael Ryder, and the penalty kill was 3-3 in the game.
Heading into last night's game, I thought it was going to be important for the Stars to get off to a good start. They held Calgary to a scoreless stalemate in the first period, and that was good enough for an important road game.
However, it was Calgary that got the game's first goal. At the 7:18 mark of the second period, Curtis Glencross converted a centering pass from David Moss. The momentum swung when the Stars came up with a shorthanded goal at the 14:59 mark.
On the sequence, Eriksson outskated Alex Tanguay, went around him and deposited a backhand shot past Flames goalie Miikka Kiprusoff and into the net.
Late in the middle stanza, Lehtonen came up huge when he stopped Tim Jackman on a breakaway The Flames then burned themselves by getting caught with too many men on the ice, which gave the Stars their first power play of the game.
Dallas made Calgary pay, taking a 2-1 lead. Gaining the offensive zone on the line rush, Mike Ribeiro passed to Eriksson. The Swedish winger fed leading goal-scorer Ryder in front of the net. Kiprusoff made the initial stop but Ryder scored on own rebound with 1:34 left in the second.
The lead held until the 8:00 mark of the third period. Calgary captain Jarome Iginla outworked the defense down low to tie the game, 2-2. Late in regulation, the Stars suffered a defensive breakdown, and Olli Lehtonen had a point-blank shot. Lehtonen came to the rescue, stoning his countryman to force overtime.
The Stars had a power play in OT, but could not convert it against Kiprusoff. The game moved to a shootout. Jamie Benn and Eriksson both scored on former Vezina Trophy winner Kiprusoff, while Lehtonen stopped Jokinen and Tanguay to claim the extra point for Dallas.
As a result of winning the shootout last night, the Stars moved into the seventh seed in the Western Conference, two points ahead of San Jose. The Sharks, however, have played two fewer games than Dallas.
The Stars are now tied in points (75) with Pacific Division leading Phoenix, but the Coyotes still hold the division lead in the standings because they have a game in hand. If the Coyotes lose in regulation tonight in Pittsburgh, the Stars would at least temporarily jump up to the third seed.
Right now, though, all that matters is whether the Stars take care of their own business. There are still head-to-head games against their division rivals, so the Stars will control their own destiny so long as they keep finding ways to win.
The Flames find themselves five points behind the Stars and three points behind San Jose. Calgary has played two more games than the Sharks. Meanwhile, the Stars will conclude their western Canada road trip tomorrow night with the toughest game of the three: taking on a Vancouver Canucks team that will eager to avenge themselves for Dallas' come-from-behind win in their last meeting.
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