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Stars win a heart-stopper against Coyotes, maintain Pacific lead

Kari Lehtonen, Shane Doan

Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen, left, of Finland, makes a save as Phoenix Coyotes right winger Shane Doan, right, sets a screen in the second period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

AP

Many people reasonably complained when the hyper-dramatic Phoenix Coyotes-Dallas Stars game went to a shootout, but it opened the door for one of those rare moments when sports become pure theater.

The newly crowned villain must save his team in a 1-on-1 situation with the crowd booing him.

Shane Doan surprisingly played that role well - if unwittingly - tonight. After landing a possibly suspension-worthy elbow on Dallas Stars stud Jamie Benn, Doan assisted on both goals to send the game to OT 3-3. Doan had a chance to tie the shootout up after a mind-blowing Mike Ribeiro success, but Kari Lehtonen waited him out for the 4-3 (SO) victory. Yet the most striking thing during that attempt was that the crowd booed Doan heartily the whole time.

Doan and Benn - who took at least two other scary hits - were the central figures of what was a great contest. The Coyotes continue to fall behind by two goals lately, yet they keep coming back. Edmonton had a 2-0 lead against them last night only to lose in a shootout to them 3-2 via a shootout while Phoenix fought back from a 3-1 deficit tonight.

The Stars got the last laugh, though, and their 85 points ensures that they’ll remain atop the Pacific Division no matter what happens in the big San Jose-Los Angeles battle (currently 1-1 with 3:27 left in the first period, airing on NBC Sports Network).

Benn banged up?

The only big worry - beyond those tough Pacific teams that are still not that far behind - is the health of crucial star Benn. The big forward made a shootout attempt and generally kept coming back after scary hits, but was also seen shaken up in the Stars’ tunnel during the game. We’ll have to wait and see about a development that could hurt a whole lot more than allowing the Coyotes a charity point.