The Upset Sports

A DFW-centric sports subscription site.

Main navigation

Tyler Pitlick scores twice, fourth Line Paces Stars to 4-3 Win

by Leave a Comment

The Dallas Stars accomplished what they failed to do during the ill-fated ’16-’17 season: they posted a fourth consecutive victory, and in pointed fashion against a quality team on the rise.

Scott Darling got the starting nod in net for the Carolina Hurricanes. The former Blackhawk backup with a career .922 save percentage was acquired in free agency last offseason in hopes that he’ll solidify their crease for the next several years. Although he made an impressive save on a point blank shot from Martin Hanzal, Darling had a mostly forgettable game as Dallas was able to uncork their even strength offense.

On a night that with two fast teams who were quick to the puck, Dallas dictated play, particularly in the first two periods. Stars goaltender Ben Bishop, who finished the night with a .921 save percentage, continued his stellar play and was a calm and poised presence for a Dallas defensive corps that is still trying to cement its lineup.

The Stars set the tone with their play in the first period with puck possession and clean zone exits. They also made a couple of key defensive plays in breaking up rushes and diffusing potential 2-on-1s and 3-on-2s.

The Roussel-Faksa-Pitlick line is a fourth line in name only. They have more than pulled their weight in the last few victories and are giving Dallas the secondary scoring that is expected from more skilled lines. Tyler Pitlick had an exceptional night with two well earned goals, his second of which seemingly put the game out of reach for Carolina.

The first period featured two beautiful 5-on-5 goals that Stars fans have undoubtedly been waiting to see. The vast creative potential of the top line manifested itself with a crisp zone exit and drop pass from Alex Radulov to Jamie Benn who scored his fourth goal of the season.

In the second period Tyler Seguin committed a slashing penalty. Dallas’ penalty kill stayed hot, killing its eleventh consecutive penalty, and liberated Seguin who immediately scored off the rush.

The Hurricanes didn’t seem to get the memo, and were not interested in going quietly. They scored three unanswered goals late in the game to make Dallas sweat.

Carolina winger Jeff Skinner maintained his blistering scoring pace and made the game more respectable on a goal with ten seconds left in the second period off an attempted breakout by Marc Methot. He followed it up with another in the third period, finding Bishop’s five hole after dislodging the puck from his glove. It was Skinner’s 21st and 22nd goals in his last 25 games.

Hurricane top center Jordan Staal scored late in the third period after Dan Hamuis chased Sebastian Aho too far out of position. The Stars much improved penalty kill unit had to bear down in the last few minutes of the game after a slashing minor to seal the victory.

The Goals

First Period

7:58 A well executed breakout from Stephen Johns to Alex Radulov allowed Radulov to skate into the offensive zone and leave a drop pass for Jamie Benn in the slot who beat Scott Darling stick side high. Stars 1, Hurricanes 0

18:07 Tyler Pitlick picked up his first goal as a Dallas Star by crashing the net and finishing the rebound from a point shot by Dan Hamhuis. Stars 2, Hurricanes 0

Second Period

5:24 Tyler Seguin came out of the penalty box with no Carolina defender in sight. Esa Lindell found Seguin from behind the Dallas blue line and the top line center finished a quality scoring chance. Stars 3, Hurricanes 0

7:46 The sizzling fourth line came up big again off of a monster forecheck by Antione Roussel who found Tyler Pitlick in front of the net to assist on Pitlick’s second goal on the night. Stars 4, Hurricanes 0

19:50 Jeff Skinner collected the pass from Brock McGinn after a turnover by Marc Methot and squeezed a wrist shot past Ben Bishop. Stars 4, Hurricanes 1

Third Period

5:32 Jeff Skinner stays hot with a five hole wrist shot after batting the puck out of Bishop’s glove. The goal was challenged by Dallas but stood as called. Stars 4, Hurricanes 2

15:24 Jordan Staal scored into a wide open net after Dan Hamhuis over-pursued Sebastian Aho. Aho recorded the primary assist. Stars 4, Hurricanes 3

Hurricanes lineup
Teuvo Teravainen — Jordan Staal — Justin Williams
Sebastian Aho — Victor Rask — Elias Lindholm
Jeff Skinner — Derek Ryan — Brock McGinn
Joakim Nordstrom — Marcus Kruger — Janne Kuokkanen

Jaccob Slavin — Brett Pesce
Justin Faulk — Noah Hanifin
Haydn Fleury — Trevor van Riemsdyk

Scott Darling
Cam Ward

Scratched: Martin Necas, Josh Jooris, Klas Dahlbeck

Injured: Lee Stempniak (upper-body)

Stars lineup
Jamie Benn — Tyler Seguin — Alexander Radulov
Devin Shore — Mattias Janmark — Jason Spezza
Remi Elie — Martin Hanzal — Brett Ritchie
Antoine Roussel — Radek Faksa — Tyler Pitlick

Marc Methot — John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis — Stephen Johns
Esa Lindell — Julius Honka

Ben Bishop
Kari Lehtonen

Scratched: Jamie Oleksiak, Greg Pateryn, Gemel Smith

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply