STARS TOP PANTHERS IN PRESEASON SHOOTOUT
The Dallas Stars have gone to a shootout in each of their first two preseason games. Dallas was bested by the St. Louis Blues in the skills competition in the exhibition opener at the American Airlines Center, but prevailed last night against the Florida Panthers. The final score was 3-2.
Jamie Benn and Cody Eakin scored in regulation for Dallas, while Drew Shore and Scottie Upshall countered late in the third period to force overtime. After a scoreless four-on-four OT session, Alex Chiasson and Jamie Benn scored in the shootout. Brad Boyes and Aleksander Barkov were unable to convert their shootout chances on the Florida side.
Kari Lehtonen started in goal for the Stars, playing the first period-and-a-half until giving way to Cristopher Nilstorp at the 11:15 mark of the middle stanza. Lehtonen stopped all 10 shots he faced. Winning goaltender Nilstorp stopped 12 of 14 in regulation and overtime before stopping both shot attempts he faced in the shootout.
The Stars and Panthers each scored a pair of closely bunched goals in regulation. After a scoreless first period and 17 minutes with no scoring in the middle stanza, the Stars struck for two power play goals spaced just 30 seconds apart.
On the first goal, crisp puck movement from Sergei Gonchar at the right point to Ray Whitney inside the left half boards to Cody Eakin in the slot produced a glorious scoring chance, which Eakin quickly finished off against Florida netminder Jacob Markström.
A half-minute later, Jamie Benn fired off a wicked snap shot that found its way home to forge a 2-0 lead for the Stars. Tyler Seguin and Chiasson earned the assists.
The Stars took a shutout bid into the latter stages of the third period before Florida scored its own pair of rapid-fire goals to knot the score. Nailing down wins in regulation was sometimes a costly problem for the Stars last season. While it is only preseason and the Stars overall defensive effort was much better last night than on Sunday, the fact that Dallas failed to hold a series of leads against St. Louis and then was unable to protect a late two-goal lead last night is something that will need to be cleaned up by Lindy Ruff and company once the season starts.
With 3:58 left in the third period, Shore cut Dallas' lead to 2-1. Brian Campbell and Scott Gomez got the assists. Just 14 seconds after the ensuing center ice faceoff, Florida broke into the Stars zone and Upshall scored off the line rush to tie the game at 2-2. Jesse Winchester and Erik Gudbranson provided the helpers.
Dallas regained its equilibrium late in regulation and during the overtime session. Jamie Benn had the two best scoring chances but was denied by Markström on the first attempt and hit the post on the second. However, the soon-to-be-officially-named new Stars captain was right on the money in his subsequent shootout attempt.
The Stars suffered one known injury during last night's game, as forward prospect Scott Glennie sustained a lower body injury late in regulation. He did not return to the game and is slated to evaluated by team doctor's today.
The Stars and Panthers will rematch on Friday. The scene will shift to San Antonio for the return match.
STARS LINEUP
These were last night's primary line combinations for Lindy Ruff's team. The top six forwards and much of the defense corps was similar to the projected opening night lineup, along with Lehtonen starting in goal.
Jamie Benn - Tyler Seguin - Erik Cole
Ray Whitney - Cody Eakin - Valeri Nichushkin
Ryan Garbutt - Scott Glennie - Alex Chiasson
Luke Gazdic - Vernon Fiddler - Colton Sceviour
Brenden Dillon - Stephane Robidas
Trevor Daley- Sergei Gonchar
Jordie Benn - Jamie Oleksiak
Kari Lehtonen/ Cristopher Nilstorp
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BENN TO BE NAMED CAPTAIN
Throughout the offseason, it has been widely speculated that top line forward Jamie Benn would be named as the Stars' new permanent captain, replacing long-tenured captain Brenden Morrow, who was traded near the deadline last season.
The 24-year-old Benn has been the Stars' best player since the second-half of the 2010-11 season and his ascension to the team's captaincy has been considered inevitable for several years. That time has arrived. Benn will be officially named captain at a press conference later today.
Although a team's best player is not necessarily its best leader, Benn has long been considered to be a player with leadership qualities both in the example he sets on the ice and in his willingness to work with others -- such as veteran Stephane Robidas and Ray Whitney -- to form an effective group that keeps the locker room on the same page with one another and the coach staff.
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