Stars Win In Shootout Over Penguins To Close Out Opening Road Trip
The Stars recorded a .500 record on the first road trip of the season and turn their sights towards the home opener on Friday.
Michael Raffl scored in regulation and Joe Pavelski and Alexander Radulov scored in the shootout for the Dallas Stars in a 2-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday.
Braden Holtby made 27 saves for the Stars (2-2-0). He’s helped backstop the Stars to both wins this season, wracking up a .939 save percentage and a 2.26 goals against average in the three games he’s appeared in so far. Holtby’s play is making the case for being the Stars’ starter — for now, anyway. The coaching staff is likely going to ride the hot hand of whichever goaltender is on throughout the season unless someone makes a firm case to get the lion’s share of starts.
John Marino scored and Tristan Jarry made 28 saves for the Penguins (2-0-2). Jarry stoned Jacob Peterson and Denis Gurianov on some prime scoring opportunities to keep the game tied through regulation.
Both Holtby and Jarry had to come up with big saves in overtime as the two sides traded chances.
Raffl scored his second goal of the season with 9.7 seconds left in the first period to give Dallas a 1-0 lead on a one-timer at the right faceoff dot from a pass by Radek Faksa inside the blueline.
Chicken and Raffl's to end the first period for the Stars, 1-0. #TexasHockey
— Brien Rea (@BrienRea) October 19, 2021
(Nailed it.)
Marino tied the game, 1-1, on a rebound generated by a Brock McGinn shot at 5:26 into the second period.
“Tonight wasn’t as open of a game - it was tighter checking. Dallas defends hard,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “I thought the 2nd period, we had a lot of O-zone time, and a number of looks. We would have liked to generate a little more.”
Jeff Carter scored for Pittsburgh and Pavelski and Radulov scored for Dallas in the shootout.
“You’re just trying to stay patient and hope you make the right decision,” Holtby said about his mindset going into the shootout. “I think they’re one of those things you just have to go into it with a free mind and do your best.”
NOTES: Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (wrist) and forward Evgeni Malkin (knee) skated at practice the day before the team’s game against the Stars. Dallas defenseman John Klingberg (lower body) missed his third consecutive game since being injured in the season opener…forwards Jason Robertson (upper body) and Blake Comeau (upper body) have missed the first four games due to injury.
