Sam’s Story: Stars Battle Back, Lightning Strikes in OT Loss

Games between the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning usually have two outcomes: a shutout victory for the Bolts, and a fun, exciting back-and-forth affair that usually ends in overtime. With Andrei Vasilevsky getting the night off, only one answer could be correct. This was the second type, as the Stars and Lightning exchanged nine goals in a Bolts 5-4 overtime win. 

Dallas made plenty of mistakes to cost them the game. They turned pucks over, missed open chances, and took five penalties against a lethal Tampa power play. But each time, they responded with even more determination. 

When Tampa took leads of 1-0, 2-1, and 4-3, the Stars did not fade away. The fourth goal was even unsuccessfully challenged, leaving the Stars on the penalty kill once again. Then when Dallas began to push late in the game, a Joel Kiviranta high-sticking call put them right back in the doghouse. How did they respond?

With Radek Faksa’s first goal of the season, and their second shorthanded goal in as many games to tie the game at four. Faksa was the last forward on the club to tally a goal this season.

“I think we play with lots of confidence when we are winning by one goal or losing by one goal,” Faksa said. “Even though we are losing, we try to have the puck and have possession. We don’t just back off like last year. The best defense is offense.”

“It was one of our closer games,” Jason Robertson said. “Most of our wins have been kind of by a lot. We’ve got to find a way to win these games.”

The Stars dominated special teams, and they needed it. Dallas went 2-3 with the extra man and 4-5 on the penalty kill, adding a shorthanded tally to cap things off. 

In the extra period, chaos ensued. But when isn’t 3-on-3 chaos? The Stars had a 3-on-1 with Joe Pavelski, Nils Lundkvist, and Roope Hintz but couldn’t score. The Bolts had three chances from dead in the slot with no defenders in the area but could not convert. Finally, a 2-on-1 allowed Alex Killorn to beat Jake Oettinger low on the glove side, and the Stars comeback fell just short. It was the first real overtime experience for Dallas and served as a learning point that should help them moving forward. 

“I think every time you get in a situation, it’s a learning experience for me to learn what they’re about, and for them,” Stars Coach Pete DeBoer said. “Those guys [Marchment and Johnston] are guys that are going to be in that situation going forward for this team, so might as well jump right in.”

Note: Ty Dellandrea left the game after blocking a shot from Steven Stamkos on his right leg. He returned and finished the game. 

Sam’s Three Stars 

• First Star: Alex Killorn, TB (1 goal, 2 assists)
• Second Star: Ian Cole, TB (1 goal, 1 assist)
• Third Star: Joe Pavelski, DAL (1 goal, 1 assist)