Stars Put An End To Blackhawks' Resurgence
CHICAGO (AP)—Michael Ryder scored on a deflection with 5:02 left in regulation as the Dallas Stars rallied with three goals late in the game to defeat Chicago 3-1 on Thursday night, ending the Blackhawks' four-game winning streak.
Tied at 1, Ryder got behind Chicago's defense and redirected Mike Ribeiro's shot between Corey Crawford's left pad and the near goal post.
Dallas' Loui Eriksson was credited with a goal 74 seconds later that made it 3-1. He scored after Ryder's shot deflected off Chicago defenseman Brent Seabrook's skate.
Dallas's Steve Ott scored on a deflection midway through the third to tie it at 1.
Stars backup Richard Bachman made 26 stops in his first start since Feb. 2, a stretch of 11 games.
Marian Hossa scored Chicago's lone goal and Corey Crawford finished with 22 saves.
As expected, Blackhawks captain and leading goal scorer Jonathan Toews missed his second game with an undisclosed upper-body injury. Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson returned to the lineup after missing seven games with a concussion.
Toews also was involved in an automobile accident on the way to the United Center on Thursday morning. According to Chicago police, the Blackhawks center struck the support pillar of an elevated rapid transit rail line as he made a turn in his Mercedes.
The police report said Toews was not injured in the accident and no citations were issued. The team called the accident a "minor one" and also said Toews was not injured in it.
While the Blackhawks have shored up their defense, their power-play continues to sputter. They failed to convert the only man advantage of the game and are 0 for their last 33 chances.
Neither team had many prime opportunities or sustained pressure in the scoreless first period. Crawford stopped Adam Burish on a short-handed breakaway 4:50 in as the Blackhawks struggled on the lone power play of the night.
Dallas' Ryan Garbutt ripped a shot from the left circle that ricocheted off both the left and right posts about 3 minutes into the second. Moments later, Bachman made a diving glove save to deny Chicago's Jimmy Hayes.
Hossa finally opened the scoring 9:32 into the second. After jumping on a turnover behind the Dallas net, Michael Frolik plowed to the front, but lost control of the puck. It squirted to Hossa, who fired in his 24th goal over Bachman's blocker.
Following a botched Chicago clearing attempt, Ott tied it at 9:25 of the third on a deflection of Trevor Daley's shot from the point. Ott, parked just above the hash marks, redirected the puck past Crawford on the stick side while Garbutt cruised through the crease.
Ryder and Eriksson connected 1:14 apart to give the Stars their second straight win.
NOTES: Blackhawks D Steve Montador missed his eighth game with an upper-body injury. . Dallas D Sheldon Souray returned after missing seven games with a bruised foot and Burish came back after missing one due to an illness. . Stars C Jamie Benn (leg) missed his fourth game and C Jake Dowell missed his first (broken finger).
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
