Dallas Stars defeat Colorado Avalanche 3-2: NHL Recap
Mike Ribeiro scored a goal and an assist, while Kari Lehtonen turned aside 34 shots, as the Dallas Stars remained in the play-off race with a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche at Pepsi Centre on Friday night.
An excited Ribeiro said after the game, “We keep the dream alive and keep believing we can get in there.”
Brenden Morrow and Loui Eriksson each also lit the lamp for the Stars, who have won four consecutive games, including two against the Avalanche.
This victory keeps Dallas in ninth place in the Western Conference with 95 points. Dallas are now two points behind the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks, who are tied for seventh-place with 97 points.
To earn the eighth seed for the play-offs, the Stars will need a regulation or overtime victory against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday, while hoping that the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Detroit Red Wings in regulation.
Dallas Head Coach Marc Crawford told reporters after the game, “We now have a meaningful game on Sunday. It’s going to take every single point we can muster to get into the playoffs. We’re anxious to get to Minnesota and play the game.”
Brandon Yip tallied two goals for the Avalanche, who have lost their fourth straight game. Goaltender Peter Budaj allowed all three goals on 28 shots in the defeat.
Before the game, Avalanche Captain and veteran defenseman Adam Foote announced he would be retiring at the end of the current National Hockey League (NHL) season. Foote has missed his side's last 12 games with a leg injury. However, he is looking forward
to playing in the season-finale against the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday.
Dallas got the scoring started in the 11th minute of the opening period when Ribeiro redirected a pass from Karlis Skrastins past Budaj to make it 1-0. The Stars then doubled their advantage in the seventh minute of the middle period when Brad Richards dished
out a pass to Eriksson, who used a one-timer to beat Budaj for his 27th goal of the season.
Colorado cut the deficit in half with less than seven minutes to play in the second period when Yip netted a short-handed goal. The Stars took a 3-1 lead less than a minute into the final period. The goal was set up by Steve Ott, who sent a pass in front,
where Morrow banged the puck home for his team-leading 32nd goal.
Yip made it 3-2 for the Avalanche in the fifth minute of the third period with his second goal of the night. It was Yip’s 12th goal of the season. Budaj was benched late in the final period, but Colorado could not find an equaliser.
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