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| (Credit: Abbotsford Canucks) |
For the first time this postseason, the Stars found themselves trailing in a series after losing game one of the Western Conference Finals 3-2 in overtime on Thursday night in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Looking to bounce back in game two, the Stars were unable to overcome stellar goaltending from Artūrs Šilovs (26 saves) and the number one ranked penalty kill unit in the postseason and fell 1-0 in game two in the best-of-seven series.
The first period began with the Stars looking to push tempo and prevent the Canucks from establishing the forecheck. This caused Linus Karlsson getting called for tripping, giving the Stars their first power play. In a potentially pivotal play in the game, as the penalty expired, Karlsson exited the penalty box and had a breakaway scoring chance that Remi Poirier denied.
Prior to the game, Texas head coach Neil Graham told broadcaster John Peterson, "Aggressiveness can be an advantage, but it can also be exploited if you're doing things incorrectly. So for us, you know, we play physical brand of hockey ourselves, but we use it in a way to get the puck back. We want to be connected on our breakouts. We want to have support through the neutral zone."
Just two minutes later, Matěj Blümel was stopped on an outstanding save by Šilovs who slid to his right at the last second to prevent a goal. Neither team were able to cash in on the power play, as both goalies looked sharp. The period would end with the home team maintaining a 10-9 shot advantage.
The middle frame saw a continuation of the first as both goaltenders looked locked in, stopping any scoring chances. Abbotsford best scoring chance occurred when Kyle Capobianco turned the puck over allowing the Canucks to have a 3-0 scoring chance, but Poirier came up with the big save.
Even though Texas controlled much of the second period, including having three power play opportunities, they could not get the puck past Šilovs who made some incredible saves to keep the game scoreless heading to the third period.
The scoring drought ended with just over 12 minutes remaining in the third when traffic in front of Poirier resulted in the puck getting deflected past Poirier. Akito Hirose was credited with the goal, his first of the postseason, putting the home team up 1-0.
In desperate need of an equalizer, the Stars could not find one. After a Curtis McKenzie goal was disallowed with 2:46 remaining due to the officials deeming he had used his stick to push Šilovs' glove into the net, the game would end with the Canucks taking a 2-0 advantage in the series as they head back to Cedar Park for Game 3 on Monday night.
The Stars return home to the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park to play Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on June 2nd at 7 PM.
Tonight's linesHughes-Hyry-Blümel
Pettersen-Becker-Mckenzie
Wheatcroft-Scott-Romano
Capobianco-Krys
Taylor-Karow
Looft-White
Poirier
Injures, scratches and notes
McDonald (out for season)
Tonight's attendance was 7,050.
You guys able to explain Lind’s 2min minor when he didn’t drop his gloves (the one that led to a 4-on-4)?
ReplyDeleteWe didn’t answer on ice from the officials other than unsportsmanlike like conduct for both players. Neil Graham and the Stars felt like Di Giuseppe should have received the instigator penalty.
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