Unraveling in the Second Period
The Dallas Stars' hot start to the season came to a crashing halt on Thursday night as they fell 5-3 to the visiting Vancouver Canucks. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, the Stars fell victim to a disastrous second frame that saw the Canucks score three goals in a span of just 3:26 to take control of the game.
"It's nothing we haven't seen before, but I think we have to do a better job of weathering the storm," said Stars defenseman Thomas Harley after the game. The collapse was particularly frustrating given Dallas' strong opening to the season, having won their first three contests.
Goaltending Struggles
A major factor in the Stars' downfall was the play of backup goaltender Casey DeSmith, who was making his first start of the year in place of the injured Jake Oettinger. DeSmith allowed four goals on 25 shots and was unable to match the stellar performance of his Canucks counterpart, Thatcher Demko.
"We gave up some unnecessary risks and they capitalized," said Stars head coach Jim Montgomery. "That's something we'll need to clean up, especially when we're not getting the goaltending we need."
Looking Ahead
The Stars will have little time to dwell on the loss, as they head to St. Louis on Saturday to take on the Blues. It's an important early-season divisional matchup, and the Stars will be eager to bounce back and regain their early-season form.
"We have to get back to basics," Montgomery said. "This is a long season, and we know we have the talent to be one of the top teams in the West. But we have to play a full 60 minutes, and that's something we didn't do tonight."
TL;DR
- The Dallas Stars suffered their first loss of the season, falling 5-3 to the Vancouver Canucks after blowing a 2-0 lead
- A disastrous second period saw the Canucks score three quick goals to take control of the game
- Backup goaltender Casey DeSmith struggled, unable to match the play of Canucks netminder Thatcher Demko
- The Stars will look to rebound quickly as they head to St. Louis to take on the Blues on Saturday