*Sorry for the lack of photos! Hoping to get permission eventually.*
The Dallas Stars made a great comeback win after their 6-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday when they defeated the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, March 16th at the American Airlines Center. Wyatt Johnston scored for the fourth straight game in the Stars' 4-1 victory, recording 10 points in his past six games (seven goals, three assists). Scott Wedgewood made a total of 27 saves for Dallas. The Dallas Stars also held a special ceremony for a former star player of theirs, Mike Modano, who spent his career playing for the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise... he then finished off his final season in the NHL with the Detroit Red Wings.
Kings lineup against the Stars:
Byfield - Kopitar - Kempe
Moore - Danault - Fiala
Turcotte - Dubois - Laferriere
Lizotte - Lewis
Anderson - Doughty
Gavrikov - Roy
Englund - Spence
Moverare
Rittich
Talbot
Stars lineup against the Kings:
Robertson - Hintz - Pavelski
Marchment - Duchene - Steel
Benn - Johnston - Stankoven
Dellandrea - Faksa - Smith
Harley - Heiskanen
Lindell - Tanev
Suter - Hakanpaa
Wedgewood
Oettinger
Early into the opening 20 minutes at 17:32, Thomas Harley sent a point shot that ended up bouncing off the glass, behind the net, and went in off David Rittich's shoulder. Craig Smith struck his ninth of the season and his second in the past two games for a 2-0 lead at 11:11 when he shot a wrister through traffic from the point. At 4:45 of the first, Wyatt Johnston extended the Stars' lead 3-0 from the high slot with his 50th NHL career goal, and Logan Stankoven driving to the front of the net.
The Los Angeles Kings fell short three-nothing through the first period.
During the first intermission, Dallas unveiled a statue of former Star, Mike Modano, the franchise leader in games played, goals, assists, and points. (1,459, 557, 802, 1,359)
Jamie Benn struck his 12th goal of the season early at 17:30 of the middle frame to get Dallas the 4-0 lead on the power play. Benn put the puck at the back of the net with a shot from the top right corner at the left face-off circle.
This had been the only goal scored throughout the entire second period, the Stars securing that four-nothing lead.
Los Angeles avoided getting shut out early in the third period at 18:49 - Kevin Fiala scored his 22nd of the season to score the lone goal for the Kings. He had a long shot from above the right circle that just so happened to get past Scott Wedgewood.
The Stars had swept the three-game series against the Los Angeles Kings, outscoring them 13-3.
Wyatt Johnston on the 4-1 victory and if he feels this is a good step getting closer to Stanley Cup Playoffs: "The last two games, we obviously haven't won, but I think this was definitely a much better game, a much more complete game. It's nice to get the win," - "Yeah, definitely. Right now is a pretty good time to start ramping it up, and get ready, and obviously, we don't want to hit the ground running come playoffs. So I think these last 13, 14, 12 games, whatever, are really important to get a game in a good spot."
Notes:
- Thomas Harley had a goal and an assist and became the third defenseman in franchise history to score at least 15 goals in a season at 22 years old or younger. He joins Brad Maxwell (18, 1977-78) and Craig Hartsburg (17, 1981-82).
- Wyatt Johnston had scored his 50th goal in his NHL career, becoming the third player in franchise history to reach this milestone before the age of 21. He joins Brian Bellows (102) and Mike Modano (57).
- David Rittich made a total of 25 saves for Los Angeles.
Postgame: Pete DeBoer
Postgame: Thomas Harley
Postgame: Craig Smith
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