The Stars defeated the Boston Bruins 3-2 in overtime in a matinee game thanks to a game winner from Tyler Seguin. In a surprise move from the Stars coaching staff, Jason Spezza was a healthy scratch, his first since he has worn a Stars uniform. Kari Lehtonen got his first start in net for the first time in about a month and rewarded his team with strong play (30 saves on 32 shots).
The shot totals piled up for the Stars (12-1) in the first 10 minutes of play, but they couldn’t get one past backup goaltender David Khudobin. The backup for the Stars was also instrumental in keeping the game scoreless when the Bruins pushed back with two power plays to bring their shot total to 10 at the end of the period.
Since Stephen Johns has moved to the left side with the injury to Marc Methot, he has had many opportunities to take advantage of shooting from that side with his right hand. It finally paid off in the second period when Remi Elie found him joining the rush late, and Johns beat Khudobin with a wrist shot.
Alexander Radulov put the Stars up by two off of a broken play. Jamie Benn performed a nice bit of trickery on the face-off dot against Patrice Bergeron to get the puck to carom off of Khudobin’s blocker onto to Radulov’s stick. He finished with a backhander. Zdeno Chara later answered with a slap shot from the left point to put the Bruins on the board and bring them within one.
The Stars killed off a critical penalty to Antoine Roussel at the beginning of the third period to keep the clamps down. Lehtonen made a diving backwards save that’ll go the highlight reels for a couple of days. He was later beaten by another shot from the point, this time by Ryan Spooner. Lehtonen couldn’t control the rebound as it bounced off of Esa Lindell as he was trying to clear Jake Debrusk from the crease. The goal tied the game and sent it to overtime.
The Stars drew a penalty deep into the overtime frame and forced the referee to keep his hand up for well over a minute as they emptied their net on the delayed call. After patiently probing the defense, Tyler Seguin deftly skated through the slot and made every Bruin react before he potted home the game winner.
Play of the Game
Tyler Seguin’s overtime heroics were completely fitting for the former Bruin. The Stars drew a penalty and took their time testing and probing the defense before getting their correct personnel on the ice. Seguin took the puck and skated through the slot to make every Bruin bite before elevating the puck over David Khudobin for the game winning goal.
LEHTONEN ???? pic.twitter.com/ztMYS3YasG
— Dylan Nadwodny (@dnadders) January 15, 2018
The Upset Three Stars of the Game
1. Tyler Seguin (GWG) – Seguin’s calm and steady play at the end of the game was a milestone moment for the former Bruin. He also had to go up against Boston’s stout centers on the face-off dot all game.
2. Kari Lehtonen (.938 SV%) – Kari was big when he needed to be, coming off a month-long layoff. He made timely saves and only gave up to game-tying goal on a fluky play.
3. Stephen Johns (1 G) – Johns’ goal gave the Stars the lead early and forced the Bruins to chase.
The Goals
First Period
No goals
Second Period
3:49 Remi Elie led the rush for the Stars and found Stephen Johns joining the play on the left circle. Johns finished with a wrist shot, beating David Khudobin on the far side. Stars 1, Bruins 0
A great give and go from Elie to Johns and the Stars get on the board first. 1-0 DAL. pic.twitter.com/PC3qrELFIT
— Dylan Nadwodny (@dnadders) January 15, 2018
8:15 Patrice Bergeron, aided intentionally by Jamie Benn, won a face-off for the Bruins that ricocheted off of David Khudobin’s pad and onto the stick of Alexander Radulov who finished the broken play with his back hand. Stars 2, Bruins 0
A shot off the faceoff goes off Khoudobin and Radulov is there to pick up the pieces. Stars lead 2-0. pic.twitter.com/KHJ3hxfI09
— Dylan Nadwodny (@dnadders) January 15, 2018
16:28 The Bruins won a puck battle and Charlie McAvoy got the puck to Zdeno Chara all alone at the left point. He crept in closer and got a slap shot to go past Kari Lehtonen. Stars 2, Bruins 1
— Dylan Nadwodny (@dnadders) January 15, 2018
Third Period
11:21 Kari Lehtonen was beat on another shot from distance. Ryan Spooner shot from the point, and Lehtonen made the initial save, but the puck bounced off of Esa Lindell as he had Jake Debrusk tied up at the net. Stars 2, Bruins 2
A Spooner shot flies in on Lehtonen, goes off him, off Lindell, and 23's effort to keep it out pushes it across to tie the game up. 2-2 in Boston. pic.twitter.com/RShydcH2cK
— Dylan Nadwodny (@dnadders) January 15, 2018
Overtime
Tyler Seguin went into the slot on a delayed penalty call and forced the Bruins defensemen and goalie to lay out on the ice before he elevated the puck to score the game winner. Stars 3, Bruins 2
On a delayed penalty call, Seguin dances through the Boston defense, waits for Khoudobin to make the first move, and slides it by. Stars win 3-2 in OT. pic.twitter.com/hW4sC78P69
— Dylan Nadwodny (@dnadders) January 15, 2018
Bruins lineup
Brad Marchand — Patrice Bergeron — David Pastrnak
Jake Debrusk — David Krejci — Ryan Spooner
Danton Heinen — Riley Nash — David Backes
Tim Schaller — Sean Kuraly — Noel Acciari
Zdeno Chara — Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug — Brandon Carlo
Matt Grzelcyk — Kevan Miller
Anton Khudobin
Tuuka Rask
Injured: Adam McQuaid (broken fibula)
Scratched: Frank Vatrano, Paul Postma
Stars lineup
Jamie Benn — Tyler Seguin — Alexander Radulov
Mattias Janmark — Martin Hanzal — Devin Shore
Antoine Roussel — Radek Faksa — Tyler Pitlick
Remi Elie — Gemel Smith — Brett Ritchie
Esa Lindell — John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis — Greg Pateryn
Stephen Johns — Julius Honka
Kari Lehtonen
Ben Bishop
Injured: Marc Methot (knee)
Scratched: Jason Spezza, Dillon Heatherington
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