The Dallas Stars, a day after ending a five-game slide with a 4-3 overtime win over the Chicago Blackhawks, found out their Christmas vacation is extended as the National Hockey League (NHL) has temporarily postponed all cross-border games.
“Due to the concern about cross-border travel and, given the fluid nature of federal travel restrictions, effective on Monday, all games involving a Canadian-based team playing a US-based team from Monday, December 20 through the start of the holiday break on December 23, will be postponed and rescheduled,” an NHL press release stated.
The postponed games – totaling seven contests – include the Stars hosting the Winnipeg Jets on December 22, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
“We will continue to play the 2021-22 regular-season schedule,” the NHL stated. “Although there has been a recent increase in positive COVID test results among players, coaches, and hockey staff, there have been a low number of positive cases that have resulted in concerning symptoms or serious illness. Therefore, the NHLPA’s and NHL’s medical experts have determined that with virtually all players and club hockey staff fully vaccinated, the need to shut down individual teams temporarily should continue to be made on a case-by-case basis.”
Stars Strike Back
The Stars followed up a seven-game win streak this December with a five-game losing stretch. Saturday night, the slump ended with a 4-3 overtime against the visiting Chicago Blackhawks.
Chicago’s forward Brett Connolly smashed into Stars’ center Tanner Kero. The blow to the head left Kero unconscious and lying on the ice just minutes into the game’s opening period.
Kero, a former Blackhawk, lay motionless on the ice for several minutes while being stabilized on a stretcher. According to a Stars spokesperson, he was sent to the hospital for evaluation, where he was aware, attentive, and responding.
Connolly was expelled and given a five-minute major penalty for interfering, allowing the Stars to score twice on their first power play for an early 2-0 lead. Joe Pavelski scored both Dallas goals for his tenth and eleventh goals of the season.
Star Jason Robertson scored his tenth goal of the year five minutes into the second period. The point was sandwiched in-between two Blackhawks goals giving Dallas a 3-2 lead heading into the third period.
Blackhawks Dominik Kubalik scored to knot the game at 3-3 midway through the third period pushing the teams into an extra frame of play.
Overtime
The Stars once again found themselves on the power play two minutes into overtime. Dallas crisscrossed passes to one another in front of the Blackhawks nets before Pavelski snapped a pass to his right, across the box, and to the stick of defensemen John Klingberg. Klingberg wound up and rocketed his shot past Blackhawks goalie Kevin Lankinen’s gloved left hand for a 4-3 victory.
Kleinberg’s game-winning shot was his first goal of the season.
“I had my chances today, so it was nice to see it go in,” Kleinberg said of the shot post-game.
Kero Update
According to a Stars representative, Kero, who was struck unconscious and rushed to the hospital on Saturday night, was released later that evening and is recuperating at home.
Following a hearing earlier in the day, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety banned Connolly for four games on Sunday evening for the hit. During his suspension, he will lose $70,000 in pay.
Up Next for the Stars
The Stars, now 14-12-2 on the season, will host the Minnesota Wild, and tickets are available for the contest.
The game can be viewed on TVAS, BSSW, BSN, and BSWI.
As mentioned previously, the contest against the Jets, scheduled for Wednesday, December 22, has been postponed.
The Stars will get another crack at the Blackhawks on Thursday, December 23, in Chicago, before a three-day Christmas break for the hockey league. The match can be viewed on NBCSCH and BSSW+.