Written by Pat Iversen at SBNation.com
The Dallas Stars followed up one of their worst playoffs losses in franchise history with a strong effort against the St. Louis Blues that knotted the series at 2-2.
Cody Eakin had the game-winning goal in overtime, giving the Stars a 3-2 win in Game 4. The series heads back to Dallas on Saturday for Game 5. Kari Lehtonen got the start in net for Dallas and sparkled with 24 saves, finally giving the Stars goaltending they needed. St. Louis goalie Brian Elliott countered with 25 saves in the loss.
Dallas immediately gave up one of the strangest goals of the playoffs so far. The Stars accidentally put six skaters on the ice in the defensive zone, skated up ice with the puck and quickly gave up a breakaway goal to Vladimir Tarasenko. With six guys on the ice.
That was the only hiccup in a solid first period for Lehtonen and the Stars. The Blues played solidly as well, leading in shots and killing off a Stars power play for the 12th straight time in the series.
The game opened up in the second period with an egregious turnover by Blues defenseman Joel Edmundson in his own zone. His breakout pass was picked off by Stars center Radek Faksa, who scored his third of the playoffs to tie the game. Blues captain David Backes took a penalty on the next shift, and Patrick Sharp buried the Stars’ first power play goal of the series for a 2-1 lead.
The lead did not last, as the Stars fell into penalty trouble again. With Cody Eakin in the penalty box and the Blues on a 4-on-3 power play, Paul Stastny tipped in a shot from Tarasenko to tie the game again.
To continue reading this article, click here.
