Big D has big meltdown!

By Jon Gabrielle, Stars correspondent

 

 

 

After a couple of days off, and a chance to work on specific team concepts, the Dallas Stars took their comfortable charter out west to start their 5 game road trip, beginning in Anaheim.

After blowing a 2 goal lead to Edmonton back at the AAC on Saturday, head coach Marc Crawford went back to work Monday morning at practice. “We had a chance to address some of the areas of concern…I was pleased with what we got out of practice today. We went a little longer than we usually do. We did a little bit of teaching and more work on our system play than normal.”

Fast forward to Tuesday night against the Ducks, and everyone including the coach had to be feeling real good…at least for awhile.

The Stars held a 2-0 lead after one period of play, with Mike Modano and Brad Richards leading the way. At 6:20 of the second period, Richards potted his second of the game extending the Stars lead to 3-0, while setting the “dial” on cruise control.

But in this post lockout NHL, where two and three goal leads are not nearly as safe as they were once were, a not so funny thing happened to the Dallas Stars on their way to pats on the back and collecting two points.

 Joffrey Lupul was called for tripping late in the second period at 16:14.  With little sense of urgency and a 3-0 lead, the Stars deftly passed the puck around the perimeter of the offensive zone. That’s when it began!

With Trevor Daly caught down low, Mike Ribeiro took his place on the point near the end of the penalty. It all seemed harmless enough.

However, Ribeiro tried an ill-advised pass through the slot just as Lupul was exiting the penalty box at center ice. Seconds later he corraled a Ryan Getzlaf pass behind a stunned Matt Niskanen and an out of gas Mike Ribeiro. Marty Turco was unable to bail out his teammates and the goal cut the Stars lead to 3-1 heading into the second intermission.

In between periods, the Stars television broadcasters wondered aloud if the late goal would affect the team. No, one opined, because it’s a two goal lead…if it were a one goal lead, maybe, but the way the Stars are playing tonight it shouldn’t affect them.

If we didn’t know it then, we certainly know it now…the momentum had completely swung in the Ducks favor.

The third period was an offensive display of dominance by Anaheim, outshooting the Stars 14-2, while Dallas retreated into a defensive shell.

With 62 seconds remaining in regulation and the Stars completely on their heels, the diminutive 22 year old, Dan Sexton, from Bowling Green University, scored the second goal of his career, as well as the period, to send the game into overtime.

The shot came from a bad angle in the right face-off circle with Turco’s view unencumbered.  A devastating goal by any measure and one that may linger on the psyche of this team for awhile.

Instead of starting the 5 game road trip invigorated with a win, they are left to ponder a disturbing defeat. Normally, the 30th contest of an 82 game marathon, might meld into the background, however this one has all the ear marks of one that may linger.

By this time the wheels had completely fallen off as the Stars seemed to be playing for the shootout, being outshot in the overtime 7-2.

Unforunately, it never got that far as Saku Koivu finished off a beleagured bunch of Stars with 46 seconds left in the overtime, banging in his own rebound.

Final score: Anaheim 4, Dallas 3.

Meltdown complete!

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