The Dallas Stars skated off with one very costly point in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at the American Airlines Center last night. The game itself was faced-paced and exciting, especially a first period played at arguably the fastest tempo of any Dallas game this season, but ultimately ended in a lot of frustration and a major injury to a key Stars player.
Rich Peverley was the lone Stars player to solve Chicago netminder Corey Crawford, who made 28 saves in regulation and overtime before stoning 10 of 11 shooters in a marathon of the tie-breaking skills competition. Kari Lehtonen turned back 25 of 26 in regulation and OT, and then stopped nine of 11 in the shootout.
Peverley put the Stars ahead 1-0 late in the first period, converting a centering feed from Shawn Horcoff. At 2:39 of the second period, Alex Chiasson was awarded a penalty shot after he was hooked down on a penalty shot. Chiasson beat Crawford with his shot attempt but rang the puck off the goal post. That near miss ended up being critical; and a harbinger of the Stars' futility in the shootout later in the night.
In the meantime, Lehtonen carried a shutout bid through the first 47:21 of regulation. The big Finn had little to no chance of stopping the tying goal, as Patrick Sharp on a deflection of a Duncan Keith shot. The goal was Sharp's 10th of the season. In the final minute before the final sounded to end the third period, Lehtonen salvaged at least one point for his team with a dynamic save on Patrick Kane from point blank range.
The Stars and Blackhawks each had just one power play apiece in the game, failing to score. The Stars' successful kill of a Peverley tripping minor midway through the second period came at a very high cost. Robidas careened into the end boards, suffering a broken leg. He was carted off on a stretcher and immediately taken to the hospital.
There is currently no timetable for Robidas' return but the veteran leader's absence will, of course, be lengthy. That is a huge loss for the Dallas lineup, as Robidas remains the team's best steadying influence on the blueline and his pairing with Brenden Dillon has been the club's most reliable defense pairing since last season.
After a scoreless overtime, the game moved to the protracted skills competition finale. Peverley was the lone Star among 11 shooters to beat Crawford. Sharp scored for Chicago and then Lehtonen stoned one Hawk after another until Ben Smith wristed the game winner home in the 11th round.
The Stars return to action on Sunday. The Edmonton Oilers and new goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov will pay a visit to the American Airlines Center.
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