Friday, December 19, 2008

Dallas Stars 6, Columbus Blue Jackets 5 (SO)

By Mark Stepneski of Andrew's Stars Page

DALLAS — Thursday night's game at the American Airlines Center wasn't one for the faint hearted. The Dallas Stars squandered a two-goal lead and then appeared to lose 13 seconds into overtime, but a favorable video review gave them new life and they took advantage, beating the Columbus Jackets 6-5 in a shootout.

"Give our guys credit. They hung in there and found a way to get points. That's what it's about right now," said Stars coach Dave Tippett.

It was a night that saw Loui Eriksson notch a hat trick and Brad Richards register four points (one goal, three assists).

It was a night for fans of physical hockey. There were a combined 81 hits in the game, including 41 in the first period. There were three fights, including one where Stars rookie James Neal bloodied Columbus rookie Derek Brassard.

It was a game that even though they lost the game, Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said his team won the game because the goal that waved off in overtime was really a good goal.

It was a game where the Stars had three players return to the lineup - Stephane Robidas, Joel Lundqvist and Steve Ott- but then lost defenseman Trevor Daley during the game.

It was a game that even though his team lost the game, Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said his team won the game because the goal that was waved off in overtime was really a good goal.

"It was a pretty weird game," said Ott. "There was a lot of back and forth stuff. We thought we lost and then we ended up winning in the shootout. We'll take the two points anytime."

But in the end the Stars won their second straight game, third in the last four and sixth in the last night to pull to within one game of the .500 mark (13-14-4).

"I think slowly but surely we are starting to get [our confidence] back," said Richards. "It's good the last couple of weeks with the exception of Nashville, we've had chances to win every night."

The Stars fell behind early on a goal by Columbus Rick Nash, but Eriksson quickly tied the game and once Columbus took the lead back again, Eriksson struck with 1.5 seconds left in the first period to tie the game at 2-2.

The Stars took control of the game, at least temporarily, by cashing in on both ends of a five-on-three power play early in the second period. Eriksson scored off a feed my Mike Ribeiro to put the Stars up 3-2 and give him the hat trick.

"It was my first hat trick and it was awesome, a great feeling," said Eriksson. "All my goals had great passes. I'm getting a lot of good passes. I'm trying to be more in front, and the puck is going in right now. It's fun right now. I think confidence is a big thing, I'm getting a lot of ice time and it's always fun to be on the ice and help the team win."

After that third goal Eriksson was on a run where he had scored the Stars last five goals, including both goals in Tuesday's 2-1 overtime win over Phoenix.

"He's been a great player for us all year but the last couple games he's been outstanding," said Tippett.

Matt Niskanen scored on the five-on-four portion of the power play to make it a 4-2 game. After Columbus cut it to 4-3, Richards scored off a back hand shot to make it a 5-3 game with 11:03 left in the second period. But Columbus scored late in the second and then Nash scored with 2:46 left in regulation to tie the game.

Columbus appeared to win it 13 seconds into overtime when Manny Malhotra drove the net and scored on the rebound of his own shot, but a video review determined he kicked the puck into the net and the Stars dodged a bullet.

Columbus claimed victory.

"We won the hockey game," Hitchcock said. "It was a good goal. They can put up whatever score they want. That player did not try to kick it in. It was a great victory."

A few big saves by Turco got the game to the shootout, where Richards and Ribeiro scored and Turco stopped both shots he faced to give the Stars the win and the two points.

"We said it last game and I'll say it again - It's not pretty but we'll take it," said Tippett.

Notes: There was no immediate update on Stars defenseman Trevor Daley, who left Tuesday's game with an apparent leg injury. ... The Stars announced before the game that defenseman Sergei Zubov would have hip surgery in January. He is out for the season. ... Forward Chris Conner was assigned to Peoria (AHL) on Thursday.

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