The Dallas Stars completed the season sweep of the Los Angeles Kings with a 4-1 victory at the American Airlines Center Saturday.
On a rain soaked day in Dallas, Mike Modano returned to the city where he made a name for himself as the greatest player in franchise history to be immortalized in the cityscape outside the American Airlines Center.
Delayed by rain, his statue accented with the iconic green jersey forever associated with his lap around the rink in Buffalo as he hoisted the Stanley Cup was unveiled during the first intermission of the game. Complete with a speech to a packed building full of fans, many wearing his jersey, tears fell as steadily as the rain outside. Memories were relived, and Modano watched as he officially became a part of this city, forever represented in bronze at the edge of PNC Plaza.
By the time that speech finally happened, the Stars had worked the crowd into a frenzy with a 3-0 first period lead against the Los Angeles Kings. Goals from Thomas Harley, Craig Smith and Wyatt Johnston gave Dallas a cushion that would never really get tested for the rest of the game. Johnston's goal was the 50th of his career, and the youngster stayed hot after eclipsing his total from his rookie season Thursday.
Jamie Benn made it 4-0 just 2:30 into the second period, and despite a Kevin Fiala goal in the third, Dallas easily hung on to win 4-1 over the Kings for the second Saturday in a row. Scott Wedgewood was strong in net, just like a week prior in California, stopping 27 shots en route to a much needed victory.
It was undoubtedly Modano's night, but for the Stars, the victory meant Dallas has still never lost three games in a row in regulation under head coach Pete DeBoer. Let's take a look at some key facts from the game:
- Johnston scored for the fourth game in a row, tying Roope Hintz for the team lead with 26 on the season. Since the addition of Logan Stankoven to his line, Johnston has 8 goals and 6 assists in 11 games. Any thought of a sophomore slump is long gone.
- The third member of that trio, Jamie Benn, has also regained form after a regression from his 'Bennaisance' last season. The captain has registered 3 goals and 9 assists in that same timeframe. It comes at a perfect time, as Tyler Seguin has been out with an injury for those 11 games.
- The Stars outscored the Kings 13-3 in the three game season series. Dallas only allowed one goal per game and only trailed in one of those contests.
- Despite the win, Dallas did not regain first place in the Central Division. The Colorado Avalanche scored the game winner in overtime with 1.5 seconds left to beat the Edmonton Oilers to stay level with the Stars at 91 points. Colorado owns the tiebreaker of regulation wins. The Winnipeg Jets have a chance to bump Dallas back down to third with a win against the Columbus Blue Jackets Sunday.
Up next for the Stars is a rare three day break before returning to action at the American Airlines Center Wednesday against the struggling Arizona Coyotes.
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