Ducks vs Stars RECAP: Texas-Sized Shutout

It was an emotional night in Anaheim as former Ducks Corey Perry and Andrew Cogliano made their first appearances at Honda Center since they Southern California and headed to Dallas, Texas.

Despite Perry currently serving a five-game suspension for an elbow on Ryan Ellis at the Winter Classic, he was in the building and insisted that the Ducks run his tribute instead of waiting until the next time Dallas comes to Anaheim, which is April 1st.

At the first TV timeout of the game, the Ducks ran this video as a tribute to one of their all-time greats; a man who will very likely see his number 10 eventually hang from the rafters of Honda Center.

I’m not crying you’re crying.

The other long-time Duck now with the Stars was the one who did play in the game. Anaheim’s iron man Andrew Cogliano also received a touching tribute and a standing ovation during the second TV timeout.

Good work, Ducks.

Unfortunately for those Ducks fans in the building, that was about as good as things would get.

Dennis Gurianov got the part started for Dallas off a one-timer from Roope Hintz on the power play with Hampus Lindholm sitting in the box for high sticking. Despite the Ducks having a significant lead in shot attempts with 61% in the first period, they took only 42% of the expected goals, meaning that the high volume of shots they generated were not particularly dangerous.

The second period is where things got chippy. It started with a few scuffles followed by Max Jones being called for a high stick. Except the high stick was actually Roman Polak’s on Jason Dickerson. Jones was unjustly sent to the box, followed by Alexander Radulov promptly scoring on the power play.

The missed calls and the hug-fests after the play led to Ducks resident MMA fighter Nicolas Deslauriers dropping the gloves with Jamie Oleksiak in one of the better battles we have seen all season.

Unfortunately, despite taking the lion’s share of the shot attempts in that period as well as an overwhelming 70%+ share of the expected goals, Anaheim once again failed to finish their chances with Ben Bishop somehow playing larger than his massive 6’7” frame would suggest.

The third period saw the Ducks eventually let go of the gas pedal and allow Dallas to effectively shut the game down in their favor. Dallas Eakins pulled John Gibson down two with over three minutes left (good decision, pull the goalie earlier you cowards @NHLcoaches). Unfortunately, Ondrej Kase immediately turned the puck over in the defensive zone which allowed Hintz to put it into the empty net and cap off a 3-0, 27 save shutout performance for Bishop and the Dallas Stars.

Next Up: The Ducks take to the road where they will face the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Saturday at 5:30 PM Pacific.

By The Numbers

3 Stars

3. Denis Gurianov

2. Roope Hintz

1. Ben Bishop