Second Period Bugaboo and Missed Chances Doom Stars in 3-1 Loss to Ducks

But at least Kari Lehtonen turned in another strong performance to reinforce the idea that the Stars already have their number one goaltender for next season.

He came into this contest having surrendered just two goals on a total of 65 shots against Nashville and Los Angeles. And while he did surrender three goals in a span of just 5:19 in the second period tonight, he also made 43 saves.

Which, if you'll excuse the broken the record, proves just how sorely lacking this team is in the defensive area. Still, let's focus on the positives. 111 shots the big Fin faced on this roadtrip. 106 saves.

And he didn't allow his countrymen to tie Jari Kurri on the list of all-time goal scorers in Finnish professional hockey history. So there's that.

And they also played hard enough in the third to make the Ducks, and more to the point Curtis McEIhinney, truly earn their 3-1 win.

Which also makes it all the more frustrating.

More on that, as well as the world famous 38th star selection, after the jump.

Saturday night, just about every shot manufactured off a quality scoring chance went into the net against the Kings. Tonight, it either hit a post, dribbled off the stick of a Dallas Star, or deflected off the pads of McElhinney. That's hockey sometimes.

Also frustrating was the performance of Stephane Auger and Eric Furlatt. If you stayed up and experienced the illogical decision making of these two idiots all night long, you know what a I mean.

But enough about them.

Tip your cap to Nick Bonino for scoring his first NHL career goal on a scramble just in front of Lehtonen. And certainly tip it to McElhinney for coming up with the big stops when his team really needed them.

Your Defending Big D 3 and 38th Stars:

1st Star: Nick Bonino (ANA) Broke a scoreless tie in the second with gritty power play goal to get the Ducks moving

2nd Star: Corey Perry (ANA) Scored on a nifty backhander from the slot. Dallas' coverage in their zone was terrible. But I won't hold it against Perry.

3rd Star: Loui Eriksson (DAL) Continued his torrid pace against the Ducks with his 28th goal of the season.

38th Star: Brian Hayward (ANA) Because I can. And because he's a homeristic ass.