This season the Dallas Stars are putting together today has been a bit of record-setting magic. Most empty net goals in a season in NHL history: check. Most points by a Stars team in a decade (a decade!): check. Second most goals in a season by a Dallas Star: check and check, thanks to Jamie Benn’s 40th goal of the season. He trails only Mike Modano in scoring the most goals in a season as a Dallas Stars, surpassing other franchise greats like Brett Hull.
It was the biggest moment of the game, as the Stars completed an unaswered comeback after going down by one early in the game. They’d score three straight goals by the end of the second period to put this one out of reach for the Arizona Coyotes, and avoid a season sweep at the same time.
Radek Faksa continued his hot streak with his third goal in the last five games. He joined several other young guys like Stephen Johns and Valeri Nichushkin with strong games tonight, even if the scoresheet didn’t reflect it. Johns continued his strong physical play setting the tone early for the Stars with a big hit on Max Domi. Nichushkin continues to make good plays with the puck even if he can’t find the back of the net himself as often as it feels like he should.
To continue their recent spate of physical play in the last few games, the Stars dropped the gloves twice tonight. Colton Sceviour took exception to a Coyotes player after a clean hit by his captain evoked a reaction. Jordie Benn capped on another one late in the third period with a fight that looked like it was teed up from the drop of the faceoff.
Lost amid the physical play and goal scoring was the play of Antti Niemi. He was strong in net, and made several big saves early in the second period when Arizona was pressing.
The entire team had grins from ear to ear at the end of the game after getting another win. None bigger than Jamie Benn.