The Stars lost to the Blackhawks in a tight game Saturday night at home.
Chicago had lost six straight games and seemed to come into American Airlines Center with a plan to end that streak. Dallas, also fresh off a loss, had plenty of good shot opportunities, but the team could not connect. Turnovers abounded and shots kept going wide, but they held their own until a shootout that turned in the Blackhawk’s favor ended things.
Chicago’s Tyler Bertuzzi opened up scoring Saturday night three minutes into the game when he snuck the puck behind Jake Oettinger, who got tied up defending Alex Vlasic — the one who made the quick pass to Bertuzzi.
The Blackhawks gave the Stars a man-advantage five minutes later after the officials banished Oliver Moore to the box for tripping Matt Duchene. But Dallas, up against the fourth best penalty kill in the league, did not score and had to fend off a shorthanded shot attempt from Louis Crevier.
Nils Lundkvist’s wrist shot evened things out for the Stars a few minutes later. The defenseman, who has only played in 11 games this season, put up his second shot of the season. Head coach Glen Gulutzan was pleased with his performance.
“I just think he’s better on his toes. And he’s been on his toes lately, meaning keeping pucks alive,” Gulutzan said. “He’s got skill at the back end, great shot today off the pass, and he’s a young defenseman that’s going to get better and better.”
The Blackhawks came into the second period with energy, looking to reclaim their lead. Oettinger stopped some promising chances to keep the score even.
The Stars got a chance of their own when Connor Murphy got a two-minute minor for holding Duchene, but once again, the Blackhawks limited Dallas’ chances. Jason Dickinson put Chicago ahead five minutes after a shot went over Oettinger’s right shoulder. But Dallas snapped right back when Justin Hryckowian knocked in Wyatt Johnston’s shot attempt that ricocheted off the post.
One power play from each team later, the score remained 2-2, and the period ended with 16 shots on goal from Dallas and 20 from Chicago.
The third period heated up halfway through, when Jamie Benn got a two-minute minor for high-sticking. Dallas killed that penalty and the captain, fresh out of the box, got a one-on-one chance against Arvid Soderblom. Although the goalie put a stop to it, the energy shifted. The sold-out crowd got loud, hungry for a goal. Mikko Rantanen satisfied their cravings when he slipped the puck behind Soderblom and put the Stars up 3-2.
That lead did not last long, however. Bertuzzi went down the ice and pulled off a goal that looked a lot like Rantanen’s. Now tied, the intensity on the ice picked up a notch. Every shot looked like it could be the game winner. Wyatt Johnston almost ended things after an excellent stretch of stick work, weaving through Chicago players and firing off a shot that hit the post as time winded down.
The game headed to overtime. The Stars got close several times. Sam Steel, Rantanen and Jason Robertson all had chances, but they could not connect with the net. It was shootout time.
Robertson went up first and missed. Then Teuvo Teravainen and Rantanen missed, then Ryan Donato managed to get one past Oettinger. Duchene got one in for Dallas, and Andre Burakovsky could not seal the deal for Chicago. Johnston stepped up next, the roaring crowd begging him to connect with the net. He could not. Nick Lardis managed to get one past Oettinger and the game ended 4-3.
“You always want the two points,” Hryckowian said. “Thought they played well tonight. Obviously can go either way when it goes to a three-on-three OT and shootout. We want to be on the right side of those, but sometimes it doesn’t go that way.”
Dallas collected a point, just like last game against Detroit. Although it was not the outcome the team wanted, they will have a few days of practice to recalibrate before taking on the Buffalo Sabres at home on Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. CT.