Observations and analysis of Dallas's Tuesday victory over Buffalo.
Observations and analysis of Dallas's Tuesday victory over Buffalo.
The Dallas Stars and Buffalo Sabres each still had something to play for Tuesday night at American Airlines Center. The Stars were hoping to wrap up their first Central Division title since the 2015-16 season and take another step closer to capturing the Western Conference and President's Trophy. The Sabres were fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive, slim as they were.
The 3-2 victory didn't clinch the division for the Stars, thanks to wins by both the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets. But the outcome is all but inevitable. They did, however, officially eliminate the Sabres from securing the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference.
Despite a sluggish first period, the Stars rallied in the second and got solid goaltending and defensive play to reach 50 wins for the fifth time in franchise history.
The last time the club accomplished that milestone was the same year as their last Central Division crown.
Here are some takeaways from the game.
1. The Stars are becoming kings of the comeback.
Falling behind early isn't ideal, but comebacks have almost become the norm for this year's club. Tuesday's victory was the Stars' 25th comeback win of the season, tying a franchise record.
Coach Pete DeBoer even had a premonition his team would come out of the gate a bit sluggish, citing the intense travel schedule after not arriving in Denver until the morning of Sunday's game against the Avalanche before having just one day to get back home and recuperate between games.
"We anticipated we might have a tough first period, and we did," DeBoer said after Tuesday's win. "We settled down, and we were much better in the second and third and found a way. I didn't have a lot of good things about the first period. The last 40 minutes, we got back to our game and played much better in all areas."
Dallas fell behind early 1-0 and skated to the dressing room after the first 20 minutes trailing 2-1. They took control and scored the game's final two goals in the second period and held their ground in the third.
That's been a familiar trend this season, and the numbers back it up. The first period is the Stars' least productive, with 80 goals to their opponents' 66. The second period has been their best, outscoring opponents 103-78.
Comebacks can be viewed one of two ways. They demonstrate a team's character and resilience. They can also be a back-breaker, especially against a playoff team where each mistake is magnified.
"It feels like we give up the first goal quite a bit," DeBoer said. "That's something we gotta fix come playoff time."
2. Being in the right position makes a difference.
Just like there's more than one way to skin a cat, there are numerous ways to score goals beyond the booming missiles and point-blank shots that create excitement. Sometimes, it's also a matter of being in the right place at the right time to tip a puck into the net.
Two of Dallas's three goals against the Sabres came on deflections or tip-ins. On the night his bobblehead was revealed, Jason Robertson showed why he deserved the honor by tying the game 1-1 on a redirection at the right post following a long-range wrist shot by Roope Hintz.
Mason Marchment would have had a goal on another tip-in shortly after Robertson's, but a review showed his stick was above the crossbar, and the goal was nullified.
Few players have perfected the art of the redirect better than Joe Pavelski, who scored what proved to be the game-winner after tipping in a shot from Chris Tanev that bounced off the post.
Redirecting pucks into the net is something the 39-year-old Pavelski practices regularly.
"Sometimes they go in," Pavelski said. "I felt like I haven't had one in a while. It's on me to get free at times, I feel like my stick's been getting tied up here and there. Definitely it's nice to get one and find some space and see it go in."
Pavelski's teammates can't help but admire his mastery of the technique.
"He's all-time," Mason Marchment said. "He's one of the best, if not the best, tippers that's ever played. It's fun to watch him and learn from him and see how he finds those little pockets."
3. A season-long streak was finally broken.
It took 79 games, but the Stars received their first 10-minute misconduct penalty of the season when Miro Heiskanen was assessed one after his glove bounced into the stands.
Referee Gord Dwyer initially called Heiskanen for cross-checking late in the third period. Heiskanen expressed his displeasure at the call, something he rarely does.
When he got to the penalty box, Heiskanen attempted to throw his stick against the wall in a show of frustration. Unfortunately for him, his glove got caught and flew over the glass into the crowd.
It was an accident, but once a piece of equipment lands in the stands, the player gets an automatic misconduct. Luckily, the Stars were able to kill the minor penalty and hold on the rest of the game without one of their best defenders.
"It was just an unfortunate thing," DeBoer said. "We've got good composure as a group. I think when you win 50 games, you're playing in front. You're not in those frustrating situations as much. That probably is helpful."
Thursday will be another big night for the Stars as they host the Winnipeg Jets. A win would give them the Central Division crown and could put them one point ahead of the New York Rangers in the President's Trophy race, if the Rangers lose to the Philadelphia Flyers.
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