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Stars Fall in Nashville, 4-1 |
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STARS FALL IN NASHVILLE, 4-1
The Dallas Stars got the type of strong start they wanted in Thursday night's game at Bridgestone Arena but were unable to build upon it as they fell, 4-1, to the host Nashville Predators. With the loss, the Stars fell to 1-3-0 on the young 2017-18 season.
Once again, the Stars struggled to finish off scoring chances at even strength. Jamie Benn's power play rebound goal in the first period stood as the lone Dallas tally. Samuel Girard, Filip Forsberg (power play), Viktor Arvidsson and P.K. Subban (empty net) scored for the Predators. Ben Bishop stopped 27 of 30 shots in a losing cause, while Pekka Rinne made 30 saves for Nashville.
Benn's first goal of the season, scored at 8:04 of the first period, was one that came about due to sheer determination around the net. Jason Spezza deflected a John Klingberg shot on net. Rinne made the initial save but Benn took two whacks at the puck in the crease and jammed it over the goal line for a 1-0 Dallas lead.
The Stars outshot the Predators in the first period, 13-10, despite having to kill off a five-minute interference major on Martin Hanzal for an open-ice hit on Nashville defenseman Yannick Weber. On the play, a vulnerable Weber was leaning forward to lunge to control the puck in the neutral zone when he was knocked down by a high check from Hanzal. Although it was a shoulder check, the contact was to Weber's lowered head.
In the second period, Nashville came out with a push and the Stars found themselves trailing 2-1 by the time they regained equilibrium and went on to stabilize the play in a 10-10 shot stanza.
First, at 3:27, rookie defenseman Girard scored his first NHL goal. Nashville won a left circle faceoff and passed the puck D-to-D. From the right side, Girard hammered a point shot through traffic in front and past Bishop. Subban and Cody McLeod earned the apples.
Moments after the ensuing faceoff, Stars' defenseman Stephen Johns dropped the gloves and fought the agitating McLeod. At 6:21, with Spezza in the penalty box for tripping, Nashville took a lead it would never relinquish.
The Stars' penalty killers aggressively pursued the puck along the right boards but Ryan Johansen won the battle and fed the puck across the ice to a pinching Girard. From the top of the left circle, Girard blasted a shot on goal. Bishop made the save but left a dangerous rebound out in the right slot. Forsberg pounced quickly and stashed home a power play goal for his fourth tally of the year.
In the third period, despite generating sporadic pressure, the Stars got outworked by a hungrier Nashville team. Finally, at the 15:09 mark, the Predators gained some insurance as they extended their led to 3-1 with a backbreaking even strength goal.
On the sequence, the Stars got away with an initial Bishop turnover as he tried to steer the puck up the left boards. The Stars recovered in good shape. However, on the ensuing breakout on the right side, Dallas turned the puck over again in a very dangerous area on their side of the red line. Arvidsson lifted the stick of puck carrier Alexander Radulov and Forsberg picked the Stars forward's pocket to start a deadly short-ice counterrush. Forsberg carried the puck into the attack zone, made a perfect feed across to countryman Arvidsson, and the shifty little forward buried his second goal of the season.
Now it was desperation time for Dallas. With three men (Benn, Hazal and Brett Ritchie) in deep to forecheck and Bishop pulled for an extra attacker, the Predators won a puck battle behind their own net. From near the right corner alongside the goal/icing line, Subban measured and wristed a long-distance shot the length of the ice and directly into the center of the vacated Dallas cage. It was the type of play that looks great if it works, but foolish if it goes for an icing. Subban did it perfectly, though, for his first goal of the year. Time of the goal was 18:06.
The Stars, who remained without defenseman Dan Hamhuis (groin pull) in Thursday's game, return to action on Saturday. The Colorado Avalance, off to a surprise 3-1-0 start after being by far the weakest team in the NHL last season, pay a visit to the American Airlines Center. Game time is 7 p.m. CT.
Dallas Stars Blogger • 
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