NHL - Match Recap: Dallas Stars 4-2 outclass Chicago Blackhawks
Mike Ribeiro scored a pair of power-play goals, including the winner in the final period, as the Dallas Stars got a 4-2 victory over Chicago Blackhawks at United Centre on Wednesday night.
Dallas Captain Brenden Morrow also had a goal on the advantage while Steve Ott scored a short-handed goal for Dallas, which has reeled off six consecutive victories away from home. Kari Lehtonen stopped 35 shots in the win.
Fernando Pisani and Tomas Kopecky scored for Chicago, which has lost for the fourth time in five play-offs. Corey Crawford brushed aside 18 of 21 shots in the loss.
Morrow’s early power-play goal at 2:46 into the opening period got Stars off to a good start. Matt Niskanen fired a one-timer through a pile of players, Crawford stopped it and the puck hit the chin of Morrow who settled it down and banged it in from close
range for a 1-0 lead.
At 7:28 of the first period, Ribeiro gave Dallas a two-goal advantage on another power-play with his seventh goal of the season. Brad Richards took a shot which bounced off Ribeiro who got the rebound and veered it into the net.
Blackhawks fully dominated in the second period and got on the board, 2-1, by Pisani’s goal at 9:35. Pisani carried the puck into Dallas zone and floated a wrist shot from the slot that hit the net minder’s glove and fluttered into the net.
Kopecky then tied the game at 2-2 with 8:17 remaining in the second period. Patrick Kane carried the puck into Stars zone and slipped a pass to Kopecky who one-timed it to the net but it was stopped by the goalie. Kopecky, however, got his own rebound and
using a strong second attempt, he slid the loose puck in the net.
With 7:07 remaining in the second period, Chicago got another chance to get the advantage when Viktor Stalberg was given a penalty shot after getting tripped up by Nik Grossman. Stalberg roared in alone and beat Lehtonen, but the puck hit off all three posts
in succession to keep the game tied.
After the killing of two penalties, Stars regained the lead 3-2 on their third attempt of the night at 10:46 of the third period. Ribeiro received a cross-ice pass and swept a shot from the left circle that bounced off Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson
and went into the net through goalie’s legs.
Late in the third period, Blackhawks got one last golden chance to break through the Stars' special teams when Jamie Benn was sent off for high-sticking. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks pulled Crawford for an extra skater and Steve Ott made them pay with a
short-handed empty-net goal to seal the win with a two-goal edge.
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