Stars Defeat Flames

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Coming off a shutout victory against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, Dallas Stars opted to go with Kari Lehtonen again Friday against the Calgary Flames. Coach Lindy Ruff had orginally planned to start backup Andres Lindback in one of the first two games of Dallas’ three-game Western Canada trip, which will conclude on Sunday against the Edmonton Oilers. It paid off as Kari Lehtonen made 21 saves for the Stars (13-13-5). amd Jamie Benn had a goal and assist in a 2-1 win against the Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.

The Stars didn’t play a strong first period like they did in Vancouver as they collapsed around their net, leaving open the high slot in the first period. The Flames looked very structurally sound defensively in the first period as the Stars could not find the net in the first period. Kari Lehtonen stood in net with some fabulous stops in net as he had an excellent glove save on the Flames.

Jamie Benn scored on a backhand shot from close range. Stars lead 1-0 with 16:00 left in the second period. Cody Eakin got the lone assist in the Benn goal. Trevor Daley extended the lead as he scored off the rush just after the Stars killed off a Calgary power play that made it 2-1 with 8:06 left in the second period. Lehtonen couldn’t handle the Flames’ initial dump-in cleanly and shuttled the puck to the corner. Calgary retrieved it and Paul Byron eventually worked it boradack to Mark Giordano, whose wrist shot from the point fluttered under Lehtonen with 1:15 remaining in the period.

The Dallas Stars will end their road trip on Sunday night when they face the Edmonton Oilers at the Rexall Center for a 5pm puck drop.