NHL Update: Detroit Red Wings 7-3 outclass Dallas Stars
Patrick Eaves recorded his first career hat-trick along with an assist for Detroit Red Wings' 7-3 victory over Dallas Stars at American Airlines Centre on Wednesday night. It was Detroit’s third victory in the last 11 meetings against Dallas.
Detroit opened the scoring at 1:36 of the first period when Jiri Hudler notched his third of the year goal during Steve Ott's tripping penalty. Todd Bertuzzi got the puck with his back to the net and passed to Hudler, who lifted a snap shot from the right
circle into an open net before Kari Lehtonen could slide over to cover. Detroit thus got the 1-0 lead.
"They're just so skilled, and have such good hockey players," said Dallas' defenseman Trevor Daley. "You give them power-play time; they're going to make you pay."
Down by a goal after the first period, Dallas tied the game at 1-1 when Brad Richards scored on a breakaway at 5:39 of the second period. He took a nifty neutral zone pass from Loui Eriksson at Detroit blue line before skating in on Jimmy Howard and lifting
a wrist shot over the goalie's right shoulder.
Daley picked up an assist on Richards' goal.
Dallas took its first lead of the game, 2-1, when Mark Fistric scored his second goal of the season with a slapper at 6:24 of the middle frame. Off the faceoff in the left circle, Fistric ripped a shot from the middle of the blue line that went off Red Wings
forward Bertuzzi's stick before zipping past Howard.
Benn pushed the lead to 3-1 for the Stars. He scored his ninth of the year 29 seconds later. Mike Ribeiro banked a pass off the side of the Red Wings' net that went right to Benn in front, and Benn speedily put it in. He also had an assist.
From here on, it was all Red Wings, as Detroit carefully began to pick apart the Stars' defence and goalie Lehtonen, eventually scoring the game's final six goals in an overwhelming manner.
At 8:56 of the second period, Nicklas Lidstrom cut the Red Wings' deficit to 3-2 with his 11th goal of the year. He slapped a pass from Valtteri Filppula and the puck fluttered home harmlessly.
At 17:38 of the second, Eaves drew his team even at 3-3 with man-advantage goal and sent the game into final period deadlocked. With just one second remaining in Red Wings’ power play, Eaves got Johan Franzen's cross-ice pass from the left circle and one-timed
past Lehtonen.
Red Wings took a 4-3 lead only 5 1/2 minutes into the final period when Brad Stuart's shot from the middle of the blue line got past goalie Lehtonen, who was screened by Red Wings' forward Justin Abdelkader.
Kris Draper then gave Detroit a 5-3 advantage. Darren Helm's fore-checking gave away a loose puck to Eaves. From the left circle off a pass from Eaves, Draper ripped a one-timer past Lehtonen with 6:37 left in regulation.
After only 44 seconds, Eaves easily tapped-in Johan Franzen's pass for his second of the night and gave Red Wings a three-goal edge.
"We came out in the third and played a little bit sloppy," said Stars' forward Brenden Morrow. "We over-pursued and lost coverage. They capitalized on our mistakes."
Eaves added a shorthanded empty-net tally to complete his hat-trick with 2:14 to go and made the final score 7-3.
Howard stopped 28 shots for Detroit’s win while Lehtonen let in 6 goals on 25 shots in Dallas’ loss.
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