Back to reality: The Stars make it a series in Sin City and look to string some wins together.
The Dallas Stars are back in the game. A 3-2 overtime victory in Vegas has jump-started their playoffs quest. Now comes the question of how to build on that momentum.
Dallas Morning News sports writer Lia Assimakopoulos is on the road with the Stars, so she got a good close look at how the team started clicking in T-Mobile Arena. She wrote about it in her latest piece for SportsDayDFW:
“I think we’re getting an idea of how we have to play in this series in order to have success,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said Sunday.
Dallas had a 79.21 expected goals percentage in Game 3 as well as a 46-34 shot advantage and 27-4 high-danger scoring opportunity advantage. According to MoneyPuck’s “Deserve to Win O’Meter,” the Stars win Game 3 over 90% of the time in 1000 game simulation.
Even more, it appears that the Stars may have found more than one way to solve netminder Logan Thompson:
“I thought he was exceptional,” DeBoer said. “But any good teams this time of year, you’re probably getting exceptional goaltending or they wouldn’t be here.”
It’ll be nearly impossible for Thompson to perform to that level each night — and difficult to maintain the success he’s had in the first three games, especially as Dallas continues to improve. Vegas looked its best in Game 1 and has regressed each game. Dallas, on the other hand, is taking obvious strides.
Read the rest at the DMN. [SportsDayDFW]
Stars Stuff
So who wants to do the honors? …All of you? Oh please.
“Some gifts are special enough that they force you to stop and rejoice, and this is one of them.” Read Robert Tiffin on the Stars’ big win on the Strip.
There’s no doubt that the Golden Knights will respond. Mike Heika reflects on how the Stars will answer.
The Story So Far – Round 1
- The New York Rangers became the first team to advance past Round 1 with victories over the Washington Capitals on Friday(3-1) and Sunday (4-2). [NHL]
- The Vancouver Canucks won twice over the Nashville Predators this weekend, 2-1 in Game 3 and 4-3 in OT on Sunday. [On The Forecheck]
- The Edmonton Oilers took a 6-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Friday and squeaked by with a 1-0 victory on Sunday. [NHL]
- The New York Islanders got up off the mat and avoided a series sweep with their 3-2 overtime victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. [Associated Press]
- Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning found their feet against the Florida Panthers with their own 3-2 OT win. [Raw Charge]
- The Boston Bruins are one game away from closing their series, beating the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 on Saturday. [Stanley Cup Of Chowder]
- And the Colorado Avalanche got within one game of moving on after a 5-1 Game 4 win over the Winnipeg Jets. [Denver Post]
Around The Leagues
Don’t look now, but the Oilers appear to be stacking up extra help in goal.
A new article from Indian Country Today shows the deep impact of Indigenous nations on the NHL, both contemporary and historic. [ICT]
Are you keeping up the the Men’s U18 Worlds? Here’s a quick recap of weekend action.
Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park – And Beautiful Boise
The Texas Stars are ready for more, and here’s how you can get that way, too.
And the Idaho Steelheads are keeping the wins in the family. The Mountain Division Finals against the Kansas City Mavericks (Seattle Kraken) begin Saturday, May 4.
Finally
Bruce LeVine gets the last word today. Let’s go, Stars.