Preseason Recap: Dallas Stars vs LA Kings

Jamie Benn and the Stars took on the LA Kings tonight in their final preseason game before next Thursday’s home opener. This has nothing to do with the game, but the Stars and Kings twitters had a pretty good time today. Check out the thread here.

Lot of penalties through the first period. Thankfully, Antti Niemi stopped the historic first shot taken in the new T-Mobile Arena. This was not a trend that continued, as he did let in a redirect from Michael Mersch on a penalty kill. Can’t pin this one on Niemi though, the defense on the penalty kill allowed Mersch to park in front of the net long enough to redirect a shot from Tyler Toffoli.

Patrik Nemeth tied it toward the end of the first, picking up his second goal of the preseason during a 4 on 4. Interestingly, that is two more goals than he’s scored in any league since scoring the game winning goal in game 5 of the Calder Cup Finals in 2014. So here’s hoping this is foretelling something good for this season. Offensive defenseman Patrik Nemeth? Make him a center! We could use the help!

It’s preseason, I will endeavor to get a hold of myself.

Things were looking great early in the second when Julius Honka scored what I believe to be the prettiest goal of the preseason.

Also featuring a beautiful assist from new Star Jiri Hudler.

Dustin Brown scored to get the score even again because again, the defense left Niemi out to dry, but it didn’t last. Johnny Oduya and Radek Faksa (who has also had some penalty trouble tonight) both scored within 33 seconds of each other to get the score up to 4-2, which is the widest margin we’ve had tonight.

Shots after two periods are 30-19 Kings.

Nic Dowd scores his third goal of the preseason to bring the Kings within one in the 3rd, but Patrik Nemeth, Stars defensive hero, wasn’t having any of that.

Quick release off a cross ice pass. Zatkoff wasn’t even able to get all the way across the goal before Nemeth’s release. Despite a two man advantage with an empty net and Brett Ritchie in the penalty box for the last minute of play, the Kings are unable to pull out another goal and, in fact, give up the empty netter to Jason Spezza.

You will be happy to hear that despite the large number of power plays and penalty kills doled out this evening, the Stars have stopped attempting to employ the dreaded drop pass on their power play. Or at least, they’ve dramatically reduced the usage.

And that’s it for preseason, Stars fans!