Based on the play of the Dallas Stars and the Anaheim Ducks through the first 40 minutes tonight, Dallas did not deserve to be on the winning end of this one. Much less winning in such offensive fashion.
They were outplayed for much of the first 40 minutes. The difference between games earlier this season and tonight’s game was that they finally got a goaltending performance that gave them the ability to weather the storm and find their game. Antti Niemi was the only reason the Stars managed to be even through the first two periods, as he came up with huge saves on the penalty kill, on odd-man rushes against, and on shorthanded chances by Ducks forwards.