Home groan: Dallas Stars fall to Blue Jackets, 4-1, at AAC
Credit: (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
by MIKE HEIKA / The Dallas Morning News
wfaa.com
Posted on November 20, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Updated
Friday, Nov 20 at 5:30 PM
The Stars were different Thursday.
Not better, just different.
Playing in a fight-filled game and losing the special-teams battle in just about everyway, Dallas fell 4-1 to Columbus to drop to 3-3-3 at American Airlines Center.
That's not the kind of success expected from a team that entered the season with the second-best home record in the NHL since 2002.
"We have to find a way to take care of home ice," center Brad Richards said.
And find a way to get on a roll. The Stars followed an impressive performance in Detroit with a muddled game that went in about three directions.
And once again, they lost after winning. Only once this season have the Stars followed a win with a win.
That leaves them 9-6-6, trailing the surprising Blue Jackets, who improved to 12-6-2.
Columbus was smart and opportunistic. Rick Nashforced his way to the front of the net midway through the first period to shovel in a loose puck on the power play for his 14th goal. That followed a missed power-play opportunity for the Stars less than two minutes into the game.
"Those are ones we need to take advantage of," said Mike Modano, who scored Dallas' only goal.
After Nash scored, the game turned into a bit of a donnybrook, with three fights and one near-fight that was called roughing.
The Stars took advantage with a couple of power plays, including one in the final 1:43 of the first period. But instead of Dallas tying the game, Columbus' Kristian Huseliusstole a puck from Mike Ribeiroand scored on Marty Turcowith 0.3 seconds left.
James Neal took a five-minute major penalty for boarding in the second period, and Columbus scored twice more. Huselius picked up his second of the game, and Raffi Torres also scored to make it 4-0. Dallas never threatened after that.
Neal to have hearing: After his hit from behind on Derek Dorsett, Neal will have a telephone hearing with the NHL today, coach Marc Crawford said. Neal has never had a major penalty or a suspension.
"I'm not sure what happens," Neal said. "I didn't have any intent to injure him, and I hope he's OK."
Peters called up: The Stars placed winger Fabian Brunnstrom (shoulder) on injured reserve and called up center Warren Peters from the Texas Stars (AHL). Peters, 27, is a versatile forward who was on a five-game goal-scoring streak before his call-up.
"He's probably more a gritty player for us than a scorer, but he brings a lot of different elements that can help us," Crawford said.
Peters was a healthy scratch on Thursday, but will provides depth dutring stetch of eight games in 13 days.
