Pittsburgh Penguins edge Dallas Stars 4-3 in shootout -NHL Update
Dallas was lucky to take the match into overtime despite the one point loss to Pittsburgh as the Penguins edged Stars, 4-3, in a shootout Wednesday night, February 29, 2012, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
Dallas needed that extra point to get back into the playoff race as the Stars are stand at number eight in the Western Conference, one point ahead of Colorado Avalanche with 71.
The loss also snapped a four-game winning streak that had Dallas as the favourites heading into the contest but Pittsburgh, also coming in with three wins in a row, extended that to four now.
Stars’ centre, Jamie Benn, was back in the Dallas line-up after missing six games due to a leg injury, something he had been hoping for after having to sit on the benches the whole time.
"It felt good to get out there and play," Benn said. "I hated having to watch games. I love the energy and confidence of the team right now."
Benn picked up the first goal of the night for his 18th of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season at the 15:25 mark.
Pittsburgh answered right back as Steve Sullivan registered his 12th of the year with less than two minutes remaining, something which remained throughout the contest as the match went in and out of both teams hands.
"It was back and forth," Penguins centre, Jordan Staal, said. "It felt a lot like playoff hockey -- very tough, lots of hitting."
Penguins lost young defenseman, Kris Letang, after he was hit during the first period nearly midway through by Stars’ Eric Nystrom, something which motivated them even further.
It was announced later on in the second period that Letang would not be coming back and looking back at the hit, it is expected that Nystrom could face some disciplinary action from the league the next day.
"I know (Nystrom) traveled a distance to make the hit," Pittsburgh Penguins coach, Dan Bylsma, said.
Craig Adams and Chris Kunitz scored two straight for Pittsburgh in the third after Sheldon Souray broke the tie with 13 seconds left to play in the mid-period, but Michael Ryder added the last of the night to level the match, forcing an over-regulation matchup.
Pascal Dupuis capitalised on Pittsburgh’s fourth shootout attempt as Ryder missed to equalise it once again on their last chance.
Colorado is also hot at the moment with four wins straight and could be heavy on the Penguins when they face-off on Saturday while Stars definitely have the advantage over Edmonton Oilers as they are set to meet on Friday.
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