Monday nights 5-4 victory against the Arizona Coyotes gave the Stars their fourth win since the All-Star break and fifth consecutive win overall. The Stars now have a 28-21-4 record and are 3rd in the Central Division, only six points behind Nashville.
In the past five games, the Stars have scored 16 goals coming from nine different players, including five from Tyler Seguin. The depth scoring has stepped up since the break as well. Contributing over half of the goals scored during the win streak.
Monday nights game was a very unconventional game to watch as a Stars fan. The Stars can barely score four goals in a game, much less a period. In addition, three of those goals came in a 71 second span.
After the second period, the Coyotes were leading 2-1. To start the third, the Stars would have to kill off the remaining time of Brett Ritchie’s 5-minute major. Not only were they able to kill it off, but they managed to draw a penalty and make it 4-on-4.
Arizona Not so #1 Penalty Kill
The Coyotes entered the game with the number one penalty kill in the entire league. After the game they still had the number one penalty kill in the league. But you would not have thought that had you watched the game. Three power play goals scored by the Stars to get them on the scoreboard and to give them the lead. The two power play goals that were scored in the 3rd period came under 36 seconds apart. 35 seconds later Mattias Janmark gets an even strength goal to give the Stars a two-goal lead. A lead that was short lived.
Just over three minutes later the Coyotes countered with two goals in 61 seconds to tie the game at four. The Stars were able to take a 5-4 lead off the stick of a red hot Tyler Seguin. The big three came in clutch to put the Stars ahead and get them what would eventually be the game winning goal.
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Early Acquisitions Proving Right
A few weeks back Stars GM Jim Nill made a trade that sent Devin Shore to Anaheim in exchange for Andrew Cogliano. I was happy with the trade at the time it was made. Now I am enjoying it more as every game passes. Cogliano has fit well into the Stars lineup and has produced a goal and an assist so far in seven games with the team. In those seven games, the Stars are 5-2.
Last Monday the Stars made headlines once again by acquiring former Dallas defenseman Jamie Oleksiak from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Oleksiak has not looked out of place in his 2nd stint with Dallas. He has yet to register a point but that is fine. They didn’t bring him back to score goals. He has been playing great defense and has created a few scoring chances. Since acquiring Oleksiak the Stars are 4-0
Looking Forward
The Stars will look to continue their win streak this Thursday as they will travel to Nashville to face the Predators and begin a five-game road trip. After Nashville,lle they will travel to the desert to face the Coyotes for the third and final time this season. They then will take on both Florida teams and finish out the road trip in Carolina. Not sure what to expect but this road trip will be a good test for the new energized Stars team. If they can come out with 6-of-10 possible points then I think the road trip will be a success.
Cover photo credit: KLUV-Radio.com Chris Bugajsky covers the Dallas Stars and the NHL for Full Press Coverage. Follow Chris on twitter @CBugajsky14 and @FPC_Stars
