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NOTES: Patrick Eaves trade a tough reality check for rest of Dallas Stars

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DALLAS — Jamie Benn woke up from his afternoon nap to find out Patrick Eaves had been traded to the Anaheim Ducks.

“We’ve been linemates for most of this year it seems like,” Benn said. “One of the most unselfish players I’ve ever played with and a great teammate and a great guy. It was tough to hear that news today.”

It was a frustrating reality check for the Stars captain, who quickly called his now former teammate before heading to American Airlines Center on Friday.

“We put ourselves in this situation, so I wish we weren’t in this situation,” Benn said. “Be might see some players go and some players come. But we still got a chance to get in this and it started with tonight.”

While management has adopted a seller’s mentality, the players and coaches are still focussed on the mammoth and unlikely task of climbing up the Western Conference standings.

“I think everybody knows where we’re at, and Patty probably has been our most consistent player, and fighting through injuries the whole year. We’re going to miss him, obviously. He does a lot of real good things inside the game,” Stars coach Lindy Ruff said. “He just plays the game the right way, he knows where to go. I think he gets hurt because he goes to the front of the net, but a lot of his goals are in that dirty area. We’re going to miss his game, but I’m happy for him, happy he’s going to get an opportunity. It’s a place you don’t want to be, where I don’t want to be, but we know where we’re at.”

With Eaves’ departure and another potential departure before the deadline in Patrick Sharp, younger players are going to get a chance to step up.

“Whether it’s trade deadline or injuries and things like that, there’s going to be some turnover for lack of a better word,” Devin Shore said. “You always have to be ready to seize any opportunity that comes your way. If it doesn’t come your way you just embrace whatever role you have.”

Postgame video

The goals

First period

7:06 Radim Vrbata scored on a one-timer after a pass from Max Domi. Alex Goligoski had the secondary assist. Coyotes 1, Stars 0

14:12 Devin Shore picked the top corner on the rush for his 10th goal of the season. Stars 1, Coyotes 1

Second period

13:59 Martin Hanzal scored on a bank shot that hit Jordie Benn’s skate and went into the net. Coyotes 2, Stars 1

18:58 John Klingberg scored on the power play from the slot. Stars 2, Coyotes 2

Third period

3:03 Jamie Benn scored on a wraparound after a fake shot that froze the Coyotes goalie. Stars 3, Coyotes 2

9:22 Lauri Korpikoski scored on a rebound to give Dallas a two-goal lead. Stars 4, Coyotes 2

15:58 Cody Eakin scored on a wrist shot after winning the initial face-off. Stars 5, Coyotes 2

Stars lineup:

Benn-Eakin-Ritchie
Roussel-Seguin-Sharp
Korpikoski-Faksa-Spezza
McKenzie-Shore-Hudler

Lindell-Klingberg
Hamhuis-Benn
Oleksiak-Johns

Lehtonen

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