Stars Shine, Halt Streaking Penguins

Yesterday was one of those days. After dragging through my workout, I decided to do my Saturday afternoon cardio at the gym rather than outdoors so I could watch the Penguins-Stars game on TV, in effect killing two birds with one stone.

I started out briskly enough but soon began to lag. It was a real struggle to do my customary 60-minute walk. There were plenty of internal “negotiations” (I wanna’ quit…no you don’t) along the way. Truth be told, I barely made it to the finish line.

As it turns out, a pretty fair description of our 3-2 loss to nettlesome Dallas at American Airlines Center, which halted our league-best winning streak at 10 games. Our boys started strong, snagging a 2-0 first-period lead on goals by Brian Dumoulin and Kasperi Kapanen while piling up an 11-7 edge in shots on goal.

However, the Stars stayed within striking distance thanks to a second-period marker by Denis Gurianov. In the final period they took over, weathering a couple of black-and-gold bursts while nearly doubling us in shots on goal, 15-8.

Ageless Joe Pavelski knotted the score with five minutes remaining, banging home a second-chance opportunity from close range. Seventy-five ticks later John Marino blew a tire in the neutral zone, trapping Jeff Carter in the process and leading to an odd-man break for the Stars. Tristan Jarry made a spectacular tip-of-the-glove save on Miro Heiskanen while belly-flopping to the ice. However, with No. 35 stranded hopelessly out his cage and his teammates slow to react, Roope Hintz had easy pickins’ as he nudged the puck into an open net to give the Stars a 3-2 lead. Their final margin of victory.

In fairness to our guys, with nuclear sniper Bryan Rust and gritty Brock McGinn joining Drew O’Connor in Covid protocol and Evgeni Malkin still in mothballs, skipper Mike Sullivan was forced to ice a watered-down lineup. Puck luck…or lack of…played a part, too. Evan Rodrigues dinged a post in the opening frame and Danton Heinen did likewise in the third period. You’ll have that on occasion.

However, make no mistake. The homestanding Stars earned this victory through the dint of hard work and ceaseless pressure, the kind we usually apply to our foes. Indeed, they had us back on our heels for much of the second half of the contest. When we’re forced to stand and defend rather than carry the play? Cracks start to appear in our armor, especially our defense down low.

It echoes my most recent article. Are the Pens as currently constructed built for the rigors of postseason play? Based on yesterday’s game, which featured a strong opposing goalie, close-checking and a playoff-type feel?

A sobering reminder that the jury’s still out…

Puckpourri

The Stars outshot the Pens, 32-29, and won 52 percent of the faceoffs. They dominated in shot attempts (47-34) over the final 40 minutes.

Dumoulin appeared to channel E-Rod on his goal, a snipe from the left circle six minutes into the first period. Kapanen’s goal, an unconscious net-front deflection of a Marcus Pettersson drive 25 seconds later, was a thing of beauty. Maddeningly inconsistent though he may be, the flying Finn possesses some elite skills.

Jake Guentzel assisted on Dumo’s goal, giving him 26 points in his past 17 games. Bulwark Kris Letang logged a team-high 23:26 of ice time and picked up an assist as well. Tanger has eight assists in four games since the holiday break.

Jarry allowed three goals in a game for the first time since December 1 in Edmonton and for only the second time since November 14. A span of 16 games.

The Pens went with essentially ten forwards. Defenseman Mark Friedman, seeing his first game action since November 13, filled in at wing on a makeshift fourth line. The feisty Toronto native skirmished with Alexander Radulov, but got turned around on the Stars’ first goal. Kasper Bjorkqvist dressed, but saw only 5:34 of ice time. A mild bone to pick…if you’re not going to play the kid, send him down and call up someone else. I personally think Radim Zohorna would be a far better (and more productive) choice.

Carter returned to the lineup. He picked up an assist and won 54 percent of his draws. However, he was on the ice for two of the Stars’ goals.

The Pens (20-9-5, 45 points) are presently in fourth place in the Metro, four points behind the Capitals and five points off the division lead. Next up…a trip to the left coast for a clash with much-improved Anaheim on Tuesday night.