Dallas Stars return to race for playoff spot with 4-2 win over Columbus Blue Jackets - NHL Update
Dallas Stars needed a lift after their last encounter with a playoff spot contender ended in a pounding. What better way to get some confidence back after that loss than to win on the road against the worst team in the National Hockey League (NHL).
The Stars returned to winning ways with a big 4-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday, February 9th, 2012, at the Nationwide Arena.
Dallas entered the game on the back of a 4-1 mauling at the hands of playoff rivals, Phoenix Coyotes, and dropped down to tenth in the Western Conference, and a game against the worst NHL side could not have come at a better time.
Stars’ win has now pushed them back up the Western Conference rankings to ninth with a 28-23-2 record and 58 points, as they managed to hang on to the coat tails of Phoenix Coyotes who are eighth and two points above Stars.
Defenseman Alex Goligoski knows the importance and toughness of games in the final stretch of the season and praised his teammates’ work ethic.
"It's going to be tough. Every year is, those last 30 games of the year, everybody's fighting for position. And you've got other teams fighting for other reasons, for jobs and whatnot.”
Adding further:
"There's going to be no easy games. We know that, I think our work ethic was a lot better tonight. That was good to see."
For the Blue Jackets, it was the end of a two game winning streak and their record has now dropped to 15-33-6 to remain at the bottom of the Western Conference.
Blue Jackets interim coach Todd Richards said.
"I liked the way we battled back. I liked the way we fought all the way to the end. The problem was, we weren't ready at the start. We dug ourselves a 2-0 hole and we just couldn't overcome that deficit."
The Stars ran out of the blocks in the first period as they built up a 2-0 lead early on.
Jamie Benn scored at 1:35 to make it 1-0 and three minutes later, defenseman Alex Goligoski put the Stars 2-0 up, sending in a rebound past Blue Jackets' goaltender, Curtis Sanford.
Dallas didn’t let up one bit in the second period, going 3-0 up at 1:09 through Stephane Robidas.
Columbus though have toughened up lately and continue to fight tooth and nail for every single point. They were at it once more in this game.
At 8:32, the Blue Jackets made it 3-1 as left wing, Vinny Prospal scored on the power play to stop Stars' goaltender, Kari Lehtonen from claiming a shutout.
Astonishingly Columbus scored once again after four minutes, again on the power play as Rick Nash made it 3-2 and for a crazy moment, it seemed that the Blue Jackets might mount a comeback in the third period.
However, Dallas remained calm and in the final minute of the third period, made the game safe with Benn scoring his second of the night to make it 4-2.
Dallas will now travel to Buffalo on Friday, February 10th, to face Buffalo Sabres and continue their push for the playoffs, while Columbus Blue Jackets will face a struggling Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
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