The Dallas Stars held the Edmonton Oilers to 22 shots on goal in a 4-1 win Tuesday night.
It wasn’t exactly the game Dave Tippett imagined from his squad.
“We started out the game fine. Then we took a couple of penalties, got behind and chased the game the rest of the game,” the head coach said.
The Stars scored two power-play goals in the first period. Dallas forward Roope Hintz beat Edmonton netminder Stuart Skinner with a deflection. Exactly five minutes later, the Stars’ Jason Robertson fired in a one-timer.
Just seconds after a Stars power play expired in the second, Dallas forward Denis Gurianov blazed in on goal and tucked a backhand under Skinner.
The Oilers ran into penalty trouble, and Tippett knew how that could go.
“You’re chasing the game. Against a heavy team like that, they’re going to play in front of the puck, and when you’re behind, it’s hard to jump back in,” he said.
The Oilers replied 1:08 later when Leon Draisaitl set up Ryan McLeod on a two-on-one.
Luke Glendening deftly tipped a point shot out of the air to make it 4-1 Stars before the halfway point of the third.
Edmonton defenceman Duncan Keith left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury and didn’t return. His condition at this time is unknown.
“It’s a challenge,” said Tippett.
Oilers captain Connor McDavid was held off the scoresheet for the first time this season. He had a 25-game point streak going back to last season.
The Oilers (13-5) will visit the Arizona Coyotes on Wednesday. The game is on 630 CHED with the Faceoff Show at 6 p.m. The game starts at 8 p.m.