UA-59049186-1 Stars 4, Blackhawks 0 - Recap - Good if it Goes

Stars 4, Blackhawks 0 – Recap

Saturday night, the Hawks visited the American Airlines Center to take on the Dallas Stars. The Hawks got a couple looks early and got the game’s first power play 2:17 into the game after Jason Demers tripped Andrew Shaw. The Hawks would come up empty on the power play, but would get another one a little over a minute after the Demers penalty ended, this one the result of a high stick on Bryan Bickell from Jamie Benn. The Hawks would get a couple looks on the man advantage, but they would be unable to convert.

The game’s first goal came 9:36 into the game when Patrick Eaves put a shot over the right shoulder of Corey Crawford to give Dallas a 1-0 lead. With 4:36 left in the period, Niklas Hjalmarsson was sent off for hooking, giving the Stars their first power play of the game. The Stars would convert 38 seconds into the power play on a goal by Tyler Seguin to expand their lead to 2-0. The Stars would get another power play with 52 seconds left in the period after Andrew Shaw was sent off for hooking. The Stars would be unable to score in the 52 seconds of 5-on-4 in the first, but they would start the second period with another 1:08 of power play time and a 2-0 lead.

The Hawks were able to kill off the remaining penalty time to start the second period, but the Stars would continue to control the action. Crawford was able to stop each shot that reached him, though. Late in the period, the Hawks would pick up their play and put together a couple nice possessions in their offensive zone. However, they were unable to get anything past Kari Lehtonen and the Hawks went into the second intermission down 2-0.

Early in the third, the two teams traded chances, though neither scored. Just under five minutes into the period, Hjalmarsson made his second trip to the penalty box, this time for high-sticking. As was the case the first time Hjalmrasson was sent off, the Stars converted on the power play, with Shawn Horcoff getting the goal. With 12:37 left in the third, Brandon Saad received a penalty shot after he was tripped by Jordie Benn on a breakaway. However, he was unsuccessful on the attempt, and the score remained 3-0 in favor of the Stars.

Just over nine-and-a-half minutes into the third period, the Stars would expand their lead to 4-0 on a goal by Jason Spezza. This would be the final goal scored as the Hawks struggled to get anything going, and Kari Lehtonen would record a shutout.

My picks for 3 stars:

★★★ Jason Spezza, C, DAL (1 G, 1 A)

★★ Kari Lehtonen, G, DAL (33 SV, SO)

★ Patrick Eaves, RW, DAL (1 G (GWG), 1 A)

Twitter: @KSchroeder2325

E-mail: schroeder.giig@gmail.com

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