Yeah, I haven’t really gotten over that loss last night either. For the second straight game, the Stars were dealt a gut punch in the form of a game tying goal with the net empty at the other end. It was also the second consecutive game the Stars seemingly had the game in hand with a two-goal lead in the third period.
And unlike on Tuesday, the Stars didn’t have the benefit of an unnecessary hook followed by a Jamie Benn dagger to save the day.
I would have thought, considering those circumstances, that Marc Crawford would have used the occasion of the post game media scrum to rip into his team and suggest they needed more of a killer instinct in the third period with a two goal lead. Afterall, we are well into the playoff run stretch.
Instead, we get this from Crow (Mark Stepneski/ESPN Dallas).
“That’s a big point for us, even though we gave up a point,” said Stars coach Marc Crawford. “It’s a big point for us. As of right now we’re in the playoffs and we just have to keep moving forward.”
Overall, I think Crawford’s attitude change has been good for the Stars. But I think last night would been a good night to use one of those bullets.
- There’s also a good quote from Adam Burish about having to quickly forget about last night’s loss as another opportunity for picking up two points awaits the Stars tonight in San Jose, as well as a few other rays of positivity from the Stars locker room last night. [ESPN Dallas]
- Helene Elliott leads off her game story by pointing out perennial Stars killer Lubomir Visnovsky recorded the first hat trick in Ducks history by a defenseman. [Los Angeles Times]
- Eric Stephens notes in his game story that Teemu Selanne scored his 400th career goal when he tied the game at the 18:57 mark of the third period. Yeah, he’s killed the Stars over the years, too…and a number of other teams as well. [Orange County Register]
- And in case you weren’t paying attention to the scoreboard last night, the Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets didn’t do the Stars or Ducks any favors last night as the Canes fell to the surging Blackhawks and the BJ’s dropped a 4-3 decision to the Flames. Of course, I doubt anybody else in the playoff race was happy to see the Stars give up that two goal lead in the third and ensure a three point game. [Chicago Tribune] and [Calgary Herald]
- Looking ahead to tonight’s game, it’s been a low scoring season by Dany Heatley’s standards. But he scored a couple of goals against Detroit in the Sharks’ last game and David Pollack suggests he may be about to “heat” up the nets with his scoring touch. [San Jose Mercury News]