Stars fall 3-0 in Nashville
/Andrew's Dallas Stars Page
Coming off a big win Friday night over the Detroit Red Wings Friday night, the Dallas Stars wasted an outstanding performance by backup goalie Tobias Stephan Saturday night, falling 3-0 to the Predators in Nashville.
"We didn't have people that were difference makers tonight," said Stars coach Dave Tippett. "That's what you need. We made a good step last night and you look to make a difference tonight. We just didn't push hard enough to win."
Stephan, making his first start since October 31, gave up an early goal on a pretty move by Nashville's Joel Ward, but he held the fort and kept the Stars in the game with several outstanding saves.
"I was a little over-aggressive at the start," said Stephan. "My job is to get myself ready. I was trying to be really calm and patient. It was a tough start, but after that I settled in. We just couldn't score."
The loss was a disappointing setback for the Stars, who were coming off a 3-1 win over Detroit on Friday night. By falling short in Saturday's game they dropped crucial points to a team they are chasing as they try to get back into the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
"Valuable points," said Tippett. "These are valuable points. I don't care who is in your lineup you've got to find ways to win. Just coming in here and thinking we played well last night and not having the push in here tonight was disappointing. "
The Predators struck early in the game for what turned out to be the game-winner. With three Dallas forwards trapped up ice, Nashville forward J-P Dumont led the rush up ice and dropped the puck to Ward, who faked a shot to freeze Stephan and then slipped the puck into the net with a backhand shot as he drove around the goal.
After that Stephan was a wall, coming up with big save after big save. His most spectacular one came early in the second when he robbed Nashville's Greg Zanon on a three-on-one rush by snagging a point blank shot with his glove hand.
Former Stars goalie Dan Ellis was sharp at the other end, making several sharp saves as well. He stopped Fabian Brunnstrom and Andrew Hutchinson with Dallas on a second period power play.
The Stars' power play again was a sore spot in the game, going 0-4 on the night and dropping to 3-51 over the last 11 games. That's 5.9 percent.
"We have the personnel to make it work and there have been nights where there are lots of chances," said Stars center Brad Richards. "We just aren't capitalizing and we need to find ways to."
Said Tippett: "That's where difference makers can make a difference and right now they're not."
Nashville finally got some breathing room at 7:05 of the third period when Jerred Smithson landed a big hit on Darryl Sydor along the boards on the forecheck, got the puck to David Legwand and the Nashville center drove from the corner to the front of the net and slipped the puck under Stephan to make it a 2-0 game.
Ward sealed the win with an empty net goal with 1:26 remaining. The win snapped a three-game winless slide for the Predators.
“I think we are getting better. Tonight was our fourth shutout in the last 10 games," said Nashville coach Barry Trotz. "We haven’t been scoring a ton of goals but when you’re playing fairly good defense that’s going to be key for us.”
Ellis actually lost his last shutout, coming out on the wrong end of a 1-0 shootout loss to St. Louis on November 25.
"My win-loss record stinks," said Ellis, who improved to 9-11-3 with Saturday's win. "The last few games have been frustrating for our team because we were playing strong and we didn't get anything out of it or we only got one point."
The loss dropped the Stars to 11-14-4 on the season and was their second shutout loss of the season. They host Phoenix on Tuesday.
Notes: Saturday marked the sixth and final game of Stars forward Sean Avery's six-game suspension. The team could announce their specific plans for Avery, who is not expected to return to play for the team again, as early as Sunday.
| First Period |
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The Predators took the early lead, getting a goal 4:27 into the game to take a 1-0 lead. After a all three Dallas forwards got trapped deep in the Nashville zone, J-P Dumont led the Predators' rush up ice, dropped the puck to Joel Ward, who faked a shot to freeze Tobias Stephan and then slipped the puck past Stephan with a backhand shot as he drove around the net. Stephan kept the Stars in the game, making several nice stops including a stop on a shorthanded breakaway by Martin Erat. Overall, Stephan made 14 saves in the period.
The Stars best chance came when Mike Ribeiro had a good chance
late in the period from the left circle, but Nashville goalie
Dan Ellis turned that one away. |
| Second Period |
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Stephan made a spectacular, highlight reel glove save on Greg Zanon early in the second with Nashville on a three-on-one rush to keep it a 1-0 game. Stephan made a total of 12 saves in the period but his teammates couldn't get the equalizer. They missed on two power play chances and Krys Barch hit a post from the left circle. Ellis had eight saves in the period, including good stops on Fabian Brunnstrom and Andrew Hutchinson with the Stars on the power play. Score after second period: Nashville 1, Dallas
0 |
| Third Period |
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Both teams missed on power play chances in the first five minutes of the period and two minutes after the Predators missed on their chance they struck at even strength to extend their lead to 2-0. Jerred Smithson landed a big hit on Darryl Sydor along the boards and chipped the puck to David Legwand, who drove from the corner to the front of the net and slipped the puck under Stephan at the 7:05 mark of the period. The Stars pulled Stephan late in the game for the extra attacker, but Ward sealed the win with an empty net goal with 1:26 remaining. Final Score: Nashville 3, Dallas 0 |
| Official Scoresheet | Official Super Stats |
