A Special Teams Showcase, Stars defeat Kings 5-3
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by user UNT66
Friday Night at American Airlines Center, the Dallas Stars won their third straight games, beating the Los Angeles Kings 5-3.
In a game where special teams took over, The Stars scored 4 goals on the power play and added an empty net goal to help beat up the Kings, giving the home team their four straight victory over the Kings this season.
As for the Kings, the visitors scored three times on the power play, but couldn't get that fourth goal to tie the game late in the 3rd period.
Instead, Jere Lehtinen of the Stars scored his third goal of the year with an empty net and the Stars finished their current homestand undefeated at 3-0.
Notes:
Mike Smith:
Smith earned another start and notched his second win against Los Angeles this season. For the all the positive that Smith has generated with his play, taking over for a slumping Marty Turco, his play on the penalty kill looked suspect in this game, nearly allowing the Kings to tie the game.
However, after the game finished on even strength, Smith kept the Kings from tying the game, giving the Stars the win. Thus, Smith has kept the Stars as close to the top of the Pacific Division Standings, with Anaheim leading the way at the top of the standings....
Philippe Boucher:
Philippe Boucher recorded his first career hat trick on Friday Night, scoring three outstanding goals from slapshots fired from the blueline.
For Boucher, this hat trick took 15 years and 613 games to materialize.
Yet, this night was open season for Stars defensemen on the power play, as Boucher connected on three goals and Sergei Zubov marked the scoresheet as well.
Infact, all four goals from the defenseman were similar, as each one was a slapshot from the blue line that found the back of the Kings net. Thanks to a Kings inability to shutdown the shooting lanes on the penalty kill, the Stars were able to use their power play to win the game.
All-Star Voting:
Go to DallasStars.com and vote for the Stars players (Morrow, Zubov, Modano, Turco) that are up for the Fan Balloting. If the vote ended today, No Stars players would be starting the game, which would be sad as the game is being played in Dallas.....
JG
