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Recap: Stars Lose After a Physical and Chippy Game In Winnipeg

Posted on by Micah Turman

Mark Scheifele and Tyler Seguin had a little fun in the pre game festivities playing a little cross ice rock-paper-scissors. Unfortunately for Tyler Seguin he was swept 2-0 in the fun.

Now on to the game, a first period that had slow beginnings through the first ten minutes took a full 360 degree turn as it got interesting… fast. Winnipeg saw their first power-play of the night as the man making his season debut, Jason Dickinson, was caught on the call. And Mark Scheifele took advantage of the short handed Stars within 36 seconds of the power-play, and the jets were able to strike first blood.

Shortly after the goal, the Jets looked to strike again quickly but Ben Bishop made possibly the save of the year denying any chance Winnipeg had at extending the lead. Fast forward just a minute or two later and Esa Lindell muffs clearing the puck and Patrik Laine gets a hold of it and puts it right in past Bishop to extend the lead 2-0.

Like I said things got interesting, and that held true as Gemel Smith found himself dropping the gloves and boxing with Brendan Lemieux. Lemieux landed a hit on Smith that he didn’t take lightly as he shouldn’t, putting up a solid fight that ended in many a punches and the refs separating the two still standing.

After Greg Pateryn found himself in the penalty box, the Jets on their second power play of the night scored yet another unanswered goal and the Stars found themselves down 3-0 in the first and desperately scrambling to find a reset button they could hit. But late in the second the Stars were able to get one back and cut into that deficit as Alexander Radulov continued his 4 game goal streak. Bit of a rough start for sure but Radulov’s goal was a bright spot and heading into the first intermission it was 3-1 Winnipeg.

Into the second period we go and Alexander Radulov takes a hit from Dustin Byfuglien and Jamie Benn would have none of it. Benn sticks up for his teammate and do-si-dos  with Byfuglien, chatting him up before the captain finally gets the gloves to be dropped.

This game continued to take a turn and got as chippy as ever. Brendan Lemieux was following his shot and cam into the goal crease before he was met with Bishops glove pad in his face, as Bishop was fed up and who knows maybe he just wanted to get in on all the fighting that was going on. A 4 on 4 then presumed but to no ones avail.

A very close second period took place up until late in the period when Winnipeg seemed to extend their lead back to three. But Hitchcock challenged and the goal was reviewed for goalie interference. The defender found himself in the crease and Bishops stick got wrapped around the defender. We all weren’t sure which way the call would go, more than likely not the Stars way, yet to everyone’s surprise the Stars got a lucky one and it was overturned… NO GOAL! Still 3-1, until 1:34 left in the middle frame, when Mattias Janmark found the top corner of the net and scores on the rush. Continuing to cut down on the Jets lead, Dallas headed into the second intermission with all the momentum and down by just one, 3-2.

Third period didn’t start the way the Stars had hoped. A shot from Winnipeg gets bounced up in the air,right over and past Bishop for the Jets to take back their two goal lead.

Through the final period there happened to be nine or so minutes without a stoppage… Great for us fans watching, no commercial breaks, but for Dallas not so great. The players got tired, play got sloppy, no one could keep possession of the puck and then Kyle Connor found himself on the breakaway but was intentionally tripped by the Stars defense earning a penalty shot. Bishop stood tall and Connor made some moves but all for none as he wasn’t able to capitalize or even get the shot off for that matter.

Bishop headed off the ice for the extra attacker and Scheifele shoots into the empty net for the hat trick. Stars fall to Winnipeg on the road 5-2, ending their road trip having won two out of the five and will be happy to be back at American Airlines on Saturday.

Talking Points