DALLAS — In Carter Hart’s first game back after a two-week layoff with a lower-body injury, the Flyers welcomed him by leaving him under siege.
The Stars scored three times on 16 shots in the second period to help them to a 4-1 victory over the Flyers on Thursday night at the American Airlines Center. Two of the Stars’ goals came on the power play.
Kevin Hayes, the career center playing right wing, ensured that the Flyers would not be shut out. He scored from a tricky angle just above the goal line with seven minutes remaining in the second period in response to the Stars’ four unanswered goals. Hayes’ tally snapped a 23-game goalless drought and brought his season total to 18.
While the Flyers may not have fired many pucks past Stars goalie Jake Oettinger, they pulled a few punches. James van Riemsdyk, who is not a fighter by trade, dropped the gloves with Stars center Luke Glendening in retaliation for his third-period hit on Scott Laughton.
Hart ultimately made 27 saves on 31 shots, as the Flyers’ losing streak extended to five games.
Costly penalties
In their last nine games, the Flyers have shown improvement on the penalty kill, going 24-for-28. But leading into Thursday night’s contest, the Stars possessed the seventh-ranked the power play (23.97%), while the Flyers ranked 24th on the penalty kill (75.45%), underscoring a need for the Flyers to stay out of the box.
But the Stars went on their first power play of the night with nearly a minute remaining in the opening frame when defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen was called for tripping. With forwards Travis Konecny and Laughton backchecking after a shorthanded scoring chance, Stars winger Jason Robertson received a pass off the wall in his defensive zone from Tyler Seguin to start a breakout. Robertson’s initial shot from the point was blocked by defenseman Nick Seeler, but Robertson collected his own rebound and scored to pull the Stars ahead, 1-0.
Less than a minute into the second period, the Flyers were caught with too many men on the ice, putting the Stars immediately back on the power play. Miro Heiskanen’s shot from the blue line deflected off of Joe Pavelski up front as the Stars went up, 2-0. The Flyers went 0-for-2 on the penalty kill through 60 minutes.
Power play comes up empty-handed
Not only do Stars boast the stronger power play than the Flyers, but they also flaunt the more stifling penalty kill. Going into Thursday night, they ranked third on the kill (83.19%), while the Flyers ranked last on the power play (15.49%). Dallas’ strength at a disadvantage showed early against the Flyers, who went on the power play twice in the first period thanks to Cates drawing a cross-check and Tanner Laczynski drawing an interference.
Through two man advantages, the Flyers only managed a pair of shots on goal, failing to solve the Stars’ penalty kill and Oettinger. The Flyers went 0-for-2 on the power play, extending their power-play goalless drought to four games.
Less than a minute into the second period, the Flyers were caught with too many men on the ice, putting the Stars immediately back on the power play. Miro Heiskanen’s shot from the blue line deflected off of Joe Pavelski up front as the Stars went up, 2-0. The Flyers went 0-for-2 on the penalty kill through 60 minutes.
Power play comes up empty-handed
Not only do Stars boast the stronger power play than the Flyers, but they also flaunt the more stifling penalty kill. Going into Thursday night, they ranked third on the kill (83.19%), while the Flyers ranked last on the power play (15.49%). Dallas’ strength at a disadvantage showed early against the Flyers, who went on the power play twice in the first period thanks to Cates drawing a cross-check and Tanner Laczynski drawing an interference.
Through two man advantages, the Flyers only managed a pair of shots on goal, failing to solve the Stars’ penalty kill and Oettinger. The Flyers went 0-for-2 on the power play, extending their power-play goalless drought to four games.
