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 So when the Stars tallied four first-period goals, including two
in a 25-second span, the jumpstart they were hoping for fueled not
only Dallas' third straight victory, but one that clinched a playoff
berth.
Vernon Fiddler scored twice and the Stars built off their quick
offensive start in a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at the
United Center.
The win was the Stars' fourth in five games against Chicago this
season.
"(The United Center) is one of those buildings you have to be ready
to go or you're going to get it handed to you," Fiddler said. "We
came over here prepared and stuck to the game plan and capitalized
on our opportunities.
The Stars took a commanding first-period lead, which was fueled
early by their fourth line, which produced a pair of goals in the
span of less than 30 seconds. Colton Sceviour flicked a shot from
behind the net that bounced off of Chicago goaltender Scott Darling
before Sceviour followed up with a pinpoint pass to Fiddler to
provide Dallas with the early 2-0 advantage.
 Not only did the Stars jump out early like they hoped, but got
production from a line that sparked Dallas throughout the
playoff-clinching win.
"Anytime you can production up and down your lineup, it helps,"
Sceviour said. "Especially at a time of the year when games are so
close and it's so hard to win."
Patrick Eaves' power-play goal extended the lead to 3-0 with just
under four minutes to play in the period. Fiddler then finished off
the scoring barrage when he out-raced Patrick Kane to the puck and
then beat Darling on a short-handed goal following a Blackhawks'
turnover for a 4-0 advantage.
Just like that, the Blackhawks -- who have lost five of their last
six games -- found themselves in a rut they couldn't get out of the
rest of the night.
"It was hard to watch," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "I
don't know if it's confidence, but we have to find a way to rectify
the way we play and the way we play with more urgency."
The Stars had plenty of that.
Dallas chased Darling after registering four goals on its first 15
shots and carried a 5-1 lead into the third period after Radek Faksa
padded an already comfortable lead late in the second period when he
fired a shot past Michael Leighton. Darling, who was pulled, giving
way to a goalie who hadn't appeared in an NHL game since 2013.
[to top of second column] |
Faksa's goal swung the momentum back to Dallas after the Blackhawks
had cut the deficit to 4-1 with 3:37 left in the second period.
Chicago's Andrew Shaw redirected a shot out of the air and past
Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen, who had stopped the first 18 shots he
faced before Shaw's goal.
Lehtonen, who finished with 30 saves, surrendered up a second goal
midway through the third period when the Blackhawks' Richard Panik
was able to slip the puck under his left pad to make it 5-2.
But Dallas' Cody Eakin responded again and capped the scoring with
an empty-net goal late in the third period, which punctuated the
Stars' entry into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
"The last few years, we've been that team that is fighting for (the
playoffs) right up until the last few games," Fiddler said.
"Obviously it's nice to get the 'X' next to Dallas, but obviously,
we know we've still got lots of work ahead of us."
NOTES: Stars D Jordie Benn returned to the lineup after missing
eight games with a lower-body injury. ... D Kris Russell was a
game-time scratch with a lower-body injury. Russell skated in the
morning to test his strength. D Jamie Oleksiask and LW Travis Moen
were also scratches for the Stars. ... Blackhawks G Corey Crawford
missed his third straight game with an upper-body injury. Coach Joel
Quenneville responded with a "we'll see" when asked if Crawford
would travel for Chicago's upcoming four-game road trip that begins
Saturday in Calgary. Crawford's replacement, Scott Darling, made his
fourth straight start for the first time since December. ...
Quenneville said F Marcus Kruger could play Saturday against the
Flames. Kruger has been out since Dec. 18 after undergoing surgery
for a dislocated wrist. ... C Dennis Rasmussen, D Christian Ehrhoff
and LW Brandon Mashinter were scratches for Chicago.
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