The Wraparound: Dallas Stars Improvements Before Playoffs The Dallas Stars manage to finish off their homestand with a hard fought 3-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday. The Stars were outshot and outplayed for certain portions of the game, including a third period where they landed just five shots on net. It was a game that made Dallas fans appreciate American netminder Jake Oettinger as he made several game-saving plays, including an overtime stop on a three-on-one opportunity. He stopped 33 of 35 Utah's shots, improving his career record to 7-1-0 versus Arizona/Utah. The Stars started the game with a bang with several scoring chances in the first five minutes. Utah managed to climb back into the game with a handful of possessions in the Dallas end but were swiftly stopped by Oettinger. Both netminders made key saves to keep the game scoreless early with Utah HC starting netminder Karel Vejmelka making multiple goal-saving plays like stopping a quick solo fast break from Stars captain Jamie Benn. The Stars finally broke the ice at the start of the second period when they quickly got the puck into the Utah end. Forward Matt Duchene beat the Utah defender into the corner for the puck and makes a quick pass back around the boards to Wyatt Johnston, who sat in Gretzky's office behind the net. Benn saw the play unfolding and quickly got into the slot, where he recieved a pass that he one-timed past Vejmelka for the game's first goal. The Utah netminder almost made the save but the power behind Benn's shot made it difficult to stop. The goal further added to Benn's recent hot streak that has seen him record three goals and eight assists for 11 points in as many games. Utah quickly responded as they worked the puck up the ice through a series of saucer passes that elevated the puck past Dallas's stick checks. They moved so quickly that the Stars defenders were unprepared for a two-on-one by Lawson Crouse and Matias Maccelli. Crouse makes another sauce pass across the crease to Maccelli and gives Oettinger no chance to stop the shot. The game was tied at one but both offences didn't stop there. Dallas managed to get past Vejmelka off a lucky break after a flurry of chances that culminated in Nils Lundkvist shot that bounced off three different sets of skates and into the back of the net. One the skates was forward Oskar Back, who got credit for the goal as it quickly bounced off his skate before hitting a Utah defender and going in for the go-ahead goal. The lead didn't last long as Utah played hard on the Dallas defence and forced them into a turnover deep into their own end. Utah's Alex Kerfoot whipped around the net trying to make a far side shot but was unsuccessful as a pair of Stars saw out his plans. What the defenders didn't account for was the puck kicking out on the opposite end and Maccelli scooping up the loose puck. He lifted the puck past Oettinger and a fallen Thomas Harley, who missed a chance at clearing out the loose puck. The game once again was tied at 2-2 with the Stars starting to feel the pressure from the young Utah roster. The third period saw both teams button up defensively with Utah taking the momentum and limiting Dallas to just two shots on net through 15 minutes. Utah saw some chances after Roope Hintz recieved the only penalty of the game but the Stars stopped all chances as they rep the second-best penalty kill in the league. Dallas was outplayed for most of the period but in the closing minutes reminded Utah that they could score quickly as they assembled a few clean shots at Vejmelka. The duelling netminders helped push the game to overtime with Utah possessing most of the momentum, limiting Dallas to just five shots in the frame. The overtime period was a back-and-forth battle with Oettinger saving the game at several points. The Stars iced the game when Matt Duchene caused mayhem infront of Vejmelka, quickly rushing towards the net before dishing the puck out to Thomas Harley, who lifted the puck over the goaltenders shoulder for the game winner. The win marked the Stars fourth straight and continued their point streak to six games. They finally depart from the Lone Star State as they travel to the Big Apple Tuesday to take on the struggling New York Rangers.
