In a tightly contested matchup on Thursday, the Dallas Stars were unable to protect a one‑goal lead, ultimately losing 2‑1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a shootout. The decisive moment came with 3:14 remaining in regulation when defenseman Zach Werenski slipped a backhand past Columbus goaltender Casey DeSmith, erasing Mikko Rantanen’s earlier lead.
Early lead and missed chances
Dallas opened the third period strongly, scoring at 6:27 after Rantanen capitalized on a rebound created by Wyatt Johnston. Johnston had taken advantage of an Ivan Provorov turnover, firing the first shot that Cam Talbot stopped before Rantanen collected the rebound and found the near post. The goal gave Dallas a 1‑0 advantage, but it did not make the score comfortable.
Werenski’s equalizer and the shootout
Werenski’s equalizer arrived after he moved in from the left circle and sent a backhand over DeSmith’s left pad, with Kent Johnson and Matthew Knies credited for the assists. Columbus responded by forcing a shootout, where the Blue Jackets ultimately prevailed.
Shot totals and defensive effort
The Stars logged six shots in the third period, while Columbus recorded ten. Although the shot differential was modest, it highlighted a late imbalance in offensive opportunities. Dallas’ defensive performance, however, earned commendation. With Miro Heiskanen sidelined by an upper‑body injury, the Stars killed both Columbus power plays, blocked several attempts, and limited damage enough to carry a lead into the final minutes.
Thomas Harley logged 28:31 of ice time, contributing five shots and three blocks. Esa Lindell added five shots and three blocks in 26:05, while Nils Lundkvist logged a season‑high 21:06 of minutes. Despite these efforts, Columbus generated 30 shots, a substantial counterweight to Dallas’ defensive accolades. DeSmith stopped 29 of those 65 total shots, keeping the Stars within striking distance.
Goaltending highlights
Cam Talbot was a bright spot for Dallas, making 27 saves on 28 shots and earning the game’s first‑star honor. Notable saves included a scrambling spinning glove stop on Lindell’s wrist shot at 9:16 of the second period and a left‑pad block of a breakaway by Robertson at 16:45.
The second period ended scoreless despite Dallas firing 12 shots at Columbus netminder. In contrast, the Stars managed only six shots in the third, underscoring offensive frustration when the team needed to extend its lead.
Takeaway
While Dallas displayed solid defensive fundamentals and strong goaltending, the lack of sustained offensive pressure in the final period proved costly. Werenski’s late goal forced a shootout, and the Blue Jackets capitalized, leaving the Stars to reflect on missed opportunities and the need for deeper scoring depth to protect leads in future contests.
Original reporting: DenisonWeekly.news — read the source article.
