Slumping Golden Knights lose 4-2 to Dallas Stars
DALLAS — The Golden Knights had a chance to measure themselves against the NHL’s hottest team Monday.
They came up short.
The Knights (11-11-4) fell behind early to the Dallas Stars (15-8-2) and never recovered. The Stars had a 2-0 lead after the first period and responded twice when the Knights cut their deficit to one goal in the second and third period.
The 4-2 final score showed the Knights still have a ways to go to contend with the Western Conference’s elite. They fell to 0-2-1 in their last three games and 2-6-2 in their last 10. The Stars improved their point streak to 12 games (11-0-1).
The Stars matched a franchise record — they’ve done it five times dating back to 1967 when they were in Minnesota — with their seventh straight victory.
Here’s what else we learned from the loss:
1. Slow start
The Knights’ start was a harbinger of things to come. Defenseman Jon Merrill was called for tripping just 25 seconds into the game.
The Knights survived that penalty kill but couldn’t survive a second when left wing Jonathan Marchessault was called for slashing. Stars defenseman John Klingberg hit teammate Alexander Radulov with a shot from the point, and the puck bounced into the net with 8:18 left in the first period.
The Stars doubled their lead 1:43 later when defenseman Esa Lindell wasn’t picked up entering the offensive zone. He had time to skate in and beat Malcolm Subban, and suddenly the Knights had to fight back from two goals down against a team that ranked second entering Monday in goals against (2.33).
“Our starts haven’t been good enough,” right wing Mark Stone said. “If we start the game on time, we’re usually on top at the end.”
2. Power play struggles
Despite the early deficit, the Knights were given every chance to climb back into the game.
Dallas took four penalties in the opening 11:43 of the second period, but the Knights failed to score. Their power play generated four shots on goal, with three coming on their first of four opportunities.
The Knights even had a 5-on-3 for 18 seconds, but center Paul Stastny lost the faceoff. The Stars flung the puck down the ice to kill time and get to a 5-on-4.
“I have to find a way to win that or even have a 50-50 chance just so we can get possession off that,” Stastny said. “That one’s on me.”
Defenseman Shea Theodore did score a goal five seconds after the Knights’ fourth power play expired with 6:12 left in the second period to make it 2-1. It wasn’t enough to make up for all the missed power-play opportunities.
“It just didn’t look sharp at all,” said coach Gerard Gallant of his team’s ninth-ranked power play (21.7 percent). “That really hurt us. It’s been good all year, and tonight just didn’t look sharp.”
3. Penalty kill caves
The Knights’ other special teams unit was also to blame for the loss.
The penalty kill put the team in an early hole with Radulov’s power-play goal in the first. Then, after Cody Glass was called for hooking with 7:59 remaining, it was asked to maintain a 3-2 deficit and keep the Knights’ chances alive.
It failed. Radulov scored his second goal off a rebound 10 seconds into the power play to give the Stars a two-goal lead again.
It was a devastating goal for the Knights, who entered the third trailing 3-1 but chipped away at the lead with a goal from Stastny 1:23 into the period. The Stars finished 2-for-3 on the power play.
“We come away with that kill, I think we win that game,” defenseman Nate Schmidt said. “You get back down two and you’re fighting an uphill battle again, it’s hard.”
Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.
