Stars’ Early Season Trend Shows the Need to Gain Control of Games By Mike Stern, Hockey Writer The Stars won and lost in unorthodox fashion last week, and have started the 2014-15 NHL season with a record of two wins, one loss and two overtime losses (both at home). The club’s early season trending has made them realize they need to take control of the hockey game. Ranked 3rd in the Western Conference’s Central Division whose crown they are expected to compete for, Dallas stole a 3-2 regulation victory last Thursday night in Pittsburgh with two goals in the final three minutes. The game-winner came off the stick of NHL Player of the Week Tyler Seguin with just three seconds remaining for a 3-2 triumph. Two nights later at American Airlines Center, Dallas was clearly outplayed by Philadelphia but took advantage of the opponent’s defensive lapses and led 4-2 midway through the third period. After the stubborn Flyers lit the lamp twice to tie the score in the third stanza, Dallas’s Jason Spezza netted his first goal as a Star to give his team a 5-4 lead. But that also evaporated less than 90 seconds later when the Stars seemed to chase the Flyers and failed to gain a foothold (or skatehold) in their defensive zone. A shot deflected past goalie Kari Lehtonen off the leg of defenseman Trevor Daley (who had scored two goals) to knot the score again at 5-5. Philadelphia won in overtime, on their second power play of the session, on a goal that somehow snuck between Lehtonen’s legs. In addition to gaining control of the game – an intangible that wins hockey games even on nights when you are not playing at a Stanley Cup caliber – Dallas could use a more solid effort from Lehtonen, who surrendered several rebounds in front that the Flyers deposited into his cage. The Stars sport a credible 2-1-2 record, good for six points, and from here will need to accelerate their level of success. Given their immense talent, that will occur only if and when they gain control of the game’s flow and puck battles. They were outshot 37-23 by the Flyers, and should’ve put the game away when they built their two goal lead late in the second period against a team that was hungrily pursuing – and achieved – their first victory of the season. The Flyer game will also be remembered for a freak arm laceration that will cost defenseman Patrik Nemeth the regular season. The 22-year old Nemeth, who made the team out of training camp, got tangled up with Philly forward R.J. Umberger, whose skate accidently cut the defenseman. Nemeth, who underwent surgery on Sunday to repair the injury, helped the AHL Texas Stars win the Calder Cup last season, and scored the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 5 against St. John’s. The club recalled defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka on Sunday to take Nemeth’s place, and will host Vancouver Tuesday night at American Airlines Center with a 7:30 p.m. opening puck drop.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 02:10:06 +0000
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