The Dallas Stars are going to put you through the emotional wringer at the American Airlines Center this season, it seems.
Two nights after ripping off four-straight to erase a 3-0 deficit against the Anaheim Ducks the Stars found themselves under siege and down 3-1 to the Vancouver Canucks halfway through the third period Thursday night.
It seemed the unstoppable offensive train the Stars are driving through the league would finally be held to a single tally after averaging 3.44 per night in the season’s first nine games- But talent did what talent does.
John Klingberg, Patrick Sharp and Jamie Benn would combine to drive the Stars to their eighth win on the season despite the rocky road, stunning Vancouver 4-3 after victory seemed assured.
And don’t forget Antti Niemi, who made some mammoth stops along the way in that third period to give them the chance.
The Stars pledged to start the game better after sluggishness against the Ducks nearly cost them on Tuesday and they delivered, out-shooting the Canucks 10-0 through the game’s first 12 minutes in a dominating display of puck possession.
Ryan Miller was up to the task, the hot start went to waste, and Alex Burrows took advantage of what would be the first of many mistakes at the opposing blue line to go the other way to test Niemi for the first time.
Alex Goligoski fouled him, he got a good backhand on Niemi’s net, and the Canucks seemed destined for a power play- The officials disagreed despite the quality chance and sent Burows to center ice and to a 1-0 lead.
The hot start negated.
Patrick Sharp would get it back on a bit of a fortunate play as he lofted a lazy puck in from distance that somehow beat Miller, but then the turnovers would continue.
The Stars defense continued to activate aggressively, and Vancouver was in full flight behind the majority of the Stars on a variety of odd-man rushes that were the sole source of offensive pressure for Desjardins’ bunch.
Further mistakes would include an offensive zone penalty for tripping by Roussel, and with that the Canucks had their second special teams goal of the contest and a 2-1 lead to take into the third period after having poured 21 shots on Niemi in the previous 28 minutes.
Mistakes can be fixed, of course- So the Stars started with putting Tyler Seguin back in the middle rather than on Cody Eakin’s wing to begin the third period.
Alex Burrows, somehow, again, scored 10 seconds after that to effectively put this one away, Stars fans felt at the time. Alex Goligoski and John Klingberg on the ice against the Canucks’ top line as they were when they handed Burrows the breakaway that produced the first Vancouver goal.
A lucky point bid pulled them to within one but more delinquency from Jason Demers in his first game back from suspension put the Stars on the PK and squashed what little momentum there was.
Or, no, it didn’t.
Late magic was in store as John Klingberg’s point bid was deflected by a suddenly hot Patrick Sharp past Miller and the game was tied at three. After all that mess and frustration and mental flatulence, the pure talent on the Stars roster had the game tied at three.
Speaking of talent, did you see the 3-on-3 over time? It took two shifts for Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and John Klingberg to end that one with a sexy wrister from the captain, who is absolutely sizzling right now. Stars win.
They’re on a roller-coaster right now- But they’re finding a way to come out of these things on the upswing. Whether or not that’s sustainable is a subject we can debate in the comments. For now it seems they’re simply finding a way to win, and that’s all we can ask for.
8-2-0, with a chance to grab their 17th and 18th points before October expires on Saturday.