Monday was apparently meant for milestones for the Dallas Stars, as they looked to get back in their Western Conference quarter-final with the Anaheim Ducks.
The Stars got a 37-save performance from goaltender Kari Lehtonen, and a goal in each period to defeat the Ducks 3-0, earning their first win in the series. Anaheim still leads the series 2-1. For the Stars, it was their first playoff win since 2008. For the 30-year-old Lehtonen, who has been in the National Hockey League since the 2003-04 season, it’s his first career Stanley Cup playoff victory. It’s only his fifth career playoff game.
After a dominating performance in Game 2, albeit with a large cut and swollen lips from a puck to the face in the first game of the series, Ducks’ captain Ryan Getzlaf was held off the score sheet Monday and restricted to just one shot on goal. Corey Perry finished the night with three shots.
The Stars were able to get under the skin of the Anaheim star players. Antoine Roussel and Getzlaf began trading punches in a wild melee toward the end of the second period.
Making matters worse for the Ducks was a serious injury to defenseman Stephane Robidas, who suffered a fractured right leg in a collision with Ryan Garbutt early in the second period.