The Stars overcame a winless three-game trip in Canada and a two-goal deficit on home ice to get a much-needed victory Saturday night. The Dallas Stars achieved a 3-2 win over the Seattle Kraken.
Dallas now has a crucial game against the Golden Knights on April 26 that could determine a Western Conference playoff spot.
ESPN reports the Stars were delayed in Calgary due to weather and plane issues on April 22, and they did not get into their beds until after 3 a.m. on Saturday. So, they adjusted and skipped their scheduled morning skate, prepared with pregame warmups, and won against Seattle.
Dallas Stars Head Coach Rick Bowness, who has been traveling as an NHL coach or player for more than 47 years, said Saturday night that he had never been afraid on a plane until Friday, when the team was leaving Calgary to return to Texas, according to ESPN.
“We’re going full throttle down the runway, full throttle, and all of a sudden [the captain] slams on the brakes. And everything is flying all over like you’re just not expecting them,” Bowness said before the team’s win over Seattle. “We think we’re going this way. And all of a sudden … we’re stopped.”
The Stars had a goal overturned on review in the first period and then blew a 2-0.
Jani Hakanpaa failed to clear a puck early on for Dallas, resulting in a faceoff in front of the Stars net, which resulted in a Riley Sheahan goal and a 1-0 lead to Seattle.
Yanni Gourde then tipped a puck in late in the first period, sending the Stars to the locker room stunned.
The top line came together on a beautiful play to cut the deficit to 2-1, as Joe Pavelski and Jason Robertson worked the puck, and Roope Hintz scored. The game was tied 2-2 two minutes later when Robertson fed Hintz on a power play.
Three minutes later, Denis Gurianov fed Vladislav Namestnikov for the game-winning goal.
The Stars have three more regular-season games to try and reach the playoffs. Aside from the Las Vegas game on Tuesday, Dallas will host Phoenix on April 27 and the final home contest against the Ducks on April 29.
The win over Seattle leaves the Stars with a record of 44-33-5, good for 93 points, and a first-place tie with Nashville in the wild card chase.