/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58322199/usa_today_10542858.0.jpg)
Well that could have gone better. After going 4-1-0 in their previous five, the Dallas Stars finished off the homestand with a disappointing 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
It was the first game off the bye week for both the Stars and the Avalanche, and it was Colorado’s sixth consecutive win. The Stars are still sitting in a playoff spot (the second Wild Card) and are two points above the Avalanche, but the latter has two games in hand.
Here’s Captain Jamie Benn in his postgame interview:
With the homestand behind them, Jamie Benn says the Stars need to bring their best on the road. pic.twitter.com/MdfhJjTJGW
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) January 14, 2018
And here’s Head Coach Ken Hitchcock:
"I think we've got to catch up. We've got to get our game up to another level and find that level for us." pic.twitter.com/dWPz7B2ZDe
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) January 14, 2018
Goaltender Ben Bishop takes some personal responsibility for the loss:
Bishop took blame for the two third-period goals. Said he needs to make a save on one of them. "I’ve got to find a way to make one of those saves in the third period to keep the team in it."
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) January 14, 2018
You can read more of the postgame quotes over at Mark’s place: [Between the Blue Lines]
Of course it’s not as if everything about the game was sad. I mean this was a pretty nice goal, right?
Radulov lets a sneaky little drop pass go to John Klingberg and he fires a shot off Bernier. Jamie Benn gets the rebound and ties the game at 1. pic.twitter.com/UUVBXXsuRV
— Dylan Nadwodny (@dnadders) January 14, 2018
Around the League
The Minnesota Wild and the Winnipeg Jets were the only other Central teams to play last night, facing off against one another. The Wild emerged with a 4-1 victory. [Hockey Wilderness]
I’m sharing this with you all because it’s fun to see you all mad and bitter:
5️⃣ point night for this guy! 2 and 3 to take over the rookie scoring lead. @Barzal_97 #Isles pic.twitter.com/cKI8ql6mdo
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 13, 2018
Speaking of rookies, we’ve been hearing plenty about Matthew Barzal and Brock Boeser, but what rookies could make a run for the Calder in the second half? [THN]
And while we’re talking about trophies, it seems like it’ll be a similarly tight race for the Norris. But has last years winner, Brett Burns, already played himself out of contention this year? [FanRag Sports]
This was a scary moment from yesterday:
Phillip Danault stretchered off the ice after taking an errant Zdeno Chara slapshot in the head https://t.co/3yleCrT91O
— Eyes on the Prize (@HabsEOTP) January 14, 2018
The Penguins were on the outside looking in for awhile, but excellent play from Sidney Crosby and evgeni Malkin have them back in thick of things. [NBC Sports]
In case you weren’t paying much attention to hockey the past few days, Puck Daddy has you covered:
Best and Worst of the Week: Bergeron, Talbot and an unlikely streak https://t.co/q6RtLQXCPM pic.twitter.com/M1M3DeNqj3
— Yahoo Sports NHL (@YahooSportsNHL) January 13, 2018
Trade talk time: I feel I always link about Vegas’ conundrum approaching the deadline, but what will happen with ex-Star James Neal is especially worth keeping an eye on. [FanRag Sports]
Meanwhile the Buffalo Sabres will certainly be trading Evander Kane, but what exactly should they expect in return for the power forward? [Sportsnet]
Finally...
The Sabres (last in the Eastern Conference, second to last in the NHL) don’t seem to be rebuilding very well. You know who is? The Vancouver Canucks:
Why the #Canucks are an example of a model rebuild. (@CoreyHirsch)https://t.co/awd9Ln2TYX pic.twitter.com/78fFl5PTVd
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 13, 2018
Loading comments...