An Opening Night Playoff Feel!

Photo by Willie Martin "Mr. Will"

The National Hockey League season debuted throughout the states and Canada this week.

Last night the banner was raised high atop Staples Center for a second time in three years as the Sharks would proceed to lay some wood upon the Kings.

Earlier Thursday it was the Dallas Stars welcoming the Chicago Blackhawks for the firat of two visits to Big D.

Remember last year how Chicago made three trips to the AAC before December even arrived?

Thankfully 2014 this great rivalry will be stretched out all the way to spring when the Hawks return March 21 2015. 

A crowd of 18,768 even divided in Red and Green let their voices be heard for the start of hockey season locally and elsewhere.

The Chicago Blackhawks would draw first blood at 19:16 when Duncan Keith would fire a slapshot past the person of Kari Lehtonen for a 1-0 Chicago lead. 

This despite the Stars outshooting the Blackhawks 8-3 in that first period.

Period two belonged to Dallas as Trevor Daley celebrated a 31st birthday and made the first Dallas Stars goal of 2014 at 10:13 in powerplay mode. Daley was assisted by Ales Hemsky (1) and Jason Spezza (1). 

The tie would get  erased at 15:04 of the second period when Cody Eakin connected on a wrister that flew past Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford for a 2-1 Dallas lead. Shots on goal still favored the Stars after two periods 24-11.

Chicago would then take full advantage of two power plays to finally put some shots on Kari Lehtonen to the tune of 14-9 in the third period. Patrick Sharp at 4:47 would tie things up at 2 apiece when he lit the lamp short side.

Thats how things remained until the end of regulation, overtime, and a shootout when three Dallas Stars (Jason Spezza, Tyler Seguin, and Ales Hemsky) and two Blackhawks (Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane) would get Chicago the shootout victory and extra point.

It's only one night. New faces in place with Hemsky, Jason Spezza, Anders Lindback, and Patrick Eaves. This Dallas Stars team is going to be one that possesses a goodly amount of speed.

Corey Crawford stopped 32 of 34 shots while Kari Lehtonen stopped 24 of 26 before a sellout crowd here at the American Airlines Center.

Next home game for Team Lindy will be on October 18th with the Philadelphia Flyers as the Stars now take to the road for three games. Beginning with Nashville, Columbus and then Pittsburgh before Philly comes to town.

Hockey is back! I for one am glad. The losses in Dallas will be fewer and the winning will become incrementally more welcome. The locals remember just how sickening it was to get to Game 6 with the Anaheim Ducks in 2013-2014 and not get to advance. 

This is a hungry team. This is a much more improved team. This is going to be fun to cover and watch.

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will