Posted by By Jon Gabrielle
Once again the Dallas Stars dropped a hockey game last night at the AAC, their third straight loss, coming this time at the hands of the Calgary Flames in overtime, 3-2.
Even the return of their teams icon, Mike Modano, could not alter the Stars continuing misfiortune at home on this evening.
Modano returns at the AAC (photo by cryogenic666/flickr)
Instead it was a future Hall of Famer of their own, Jerome Iginla, that scored twice, including the overtime winner, that gave the Flames the come from behind victory.
A cursory glance at the morning paper and you might have come away with the thought that the Stars earned another point, yet managed to lose again in bonus play. And while that’s true, this loss was quite possibly even more disturbing than the previous 6 games lost at the end of regulation.
It was the way this loss unfolded that may have left some in the AAC a bit perplexed.
The Stars, now 6-3-6, outshot the Flames 40-21 up until the 19:11 mark of the final period. And that’s when things went terribly wrong!
It would be the final two shots of the evening, both by the Flames, that would send the crowd scurrying to the exits.
With their goalie pulled and the puck in deep to the side of the net, the crucial breakdown occured. Tom Wandell, the young 22 yr. old Swede and defensman, Stephan Robidas battled the Flames forecheckers below the goal line while the other defenseman, Nicklas Grossman remained in front of the net. Then it happened; a perfect storm of events that makes me glad I’m not in the film session today with the boys.
It begins with Robidas getting knocked down, but inexplicably staying down, in a seated position. At this point, Grossman, seeing his mates outmanned and losing the battle begins to stray behind the net. At exactly the same time, veteran Daymond Langkow slips past Wandell to the now vacated front of the net. You guessed it…bingo…the wiley Langkow ties it with a low backhand that left goalie Marty Turco looking confused.
Many questions arise from the defensive lapse. Not the least of which is why a 22 yr. old Swede, Tom Wandell, who had played all of 11 minutes in last night’s affair, was pitted against the Flames in a 6 on 5 situation in his own end with the Stars clinging to a one goal lead? Is he our best defensive forward? Was it poor bench management by the staff? And while Robidas obviously panicked staying down on the ice, his partner cannot be baited into leaving the front only to drift aimlessly behind the cage, leaving Langkow unfeathered and fancy free to tie the game with a scant 49 seconds remaining in regulation.
Coach Marc Crawford had this to say. “The last goal that they scored…we made a mistake. You wish we didn’t make mistakes. We got a little over-anxious, too many people on the puck carrier and when you over-pursue, it was one of the few times we left the front of the net unguarded. That was disappointing.”
So while there’s blame aplenty to go around on this morning, the coaching staff and the Stars will turn their attention to the Vancouver Canucks who come knocking Friday night. 
After a slow start, the Canucks have won 6 of 8 heading into tonight’s tilt with the Minnesota Wild. And while injured goalie, Roberto Luongo is on the trip, he’s not expected to play tomorrow night and is listed as , day to day.
I Hope you enjoyed this post. As always, leaving a comment below is both appreciated and encouraged. Thanks!
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