Blown 3-on-0 in OT may have been defining play of the Dallas Stars season

DALLAS — If the Dallas Stars ultimately miss the playoffs, this may be the play that defines the season.

Tied with the best team in the Western Conference in overtime, the Stars had a 3-on-0 against Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk.

It should have been the game-winning goal. It should have helped Dallas take three out of four points against two of the top teams in the league after an overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.

Instead Cody Eakin blew the shot over the net and over the glass, ultimately setting the stage for the Wild to win the shootout and the game 3-2.

Is this the first 3 on 0 in NHL history that fails to register a shot on goal……… #MINvsDAL pic.twitter.com/jM7NZaEMTF

— OC (@OldComiskey) January 25, 2017

Wild coach Bruce Boudreau thought the game was over.

“I just turned my head and didn’t even want to look, and then I heard the crowd not cheering,” Boudreau said. “I said what the hell happened there. Then I looked down (at the monitor) and was hoping there was a delay. But I still haven’t seen it because I didn’t want to look at it. There was a 3-on-0 and there’s only three men on the ice, you’ve got to think something bad’s coming up.”

Postgame video

The goals

First period

13:35 Jason Pominville picked up a loose puck after Patrick Sharp missed the net and carried it into the zone on a 2-on-1 with Zach Parise before firing a wrist shot over Kari Lehtonen’s shoulder. Wild 1, Stars 0

Pominville opens the scoring with this 2 on 1 goal pic.twitter.com/9lOrL1FbCn

— Bat Flip Sports (@BatFlipSports) January 25, 2017

Second period

4:38 Mikko Koivu fired a one-timed blast past Lehtonen on a pass from Nino Niederreiter on the power play. Wild 2, Stars 0

Koivu with his 14th of the season ? #MINvsDAL pic.twitter.com/Wsr8c62d9S

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) January 25, 2017

9:38 Jason Spezza forced a turnover in the Wild zone and Antoine Roussel setup Tyler Seguin for the goal on a 2-on-1. Wild 2, Stars 1

#TylerSeguin from a knee makes it 2-1 MIN #MINvsDAL #DallasStars #GoStars #StarsGIFs #tacogoal pic.twitter.com/6KRM9CfEAY

— ⭐️RoxStar⭐️ (@RoxStar) January 25, 2017

19:39 Patrick Eaves batted a puck out of midair and past Dubnyk after Jamie Benn’s pass had been blocked by a Wild defender. Wilds 2, Stars 2

#PatrickEaves and his marvelous hand/eye coordination ties it up going into 2nd intermission #MINvsDAL #DallasStars #GoStars #StarsGIFs pic.twitter.com/9cvhNHTLaR

— ⭐️RoxStar⭐️ (@RoxStar) January 25, 2017

Stars lineup

Benn-Eakin-Eaves
Roussel-Seguin-Spezza
Korpikoski-Shore-Sharp
McKenzie-Cracknell-Ritchie

Lindell-Klingberg
Hamhuis-Benn
Nemeth-Johns

Lehtonen