With a day off in between their two-game, home-and-home set against the Winnipeg Jets, and having won the first game 5-3 in Winnipeg, the Dallas Stars were focused on tightening up on defense going into Thursday night’s finale in Dallas.
Unfortunately, that focus didn’t exactly translate into a stingy defensive effort, and the Stars fell to the Jets 6-3 at the American Airlines Center.
“I think we didn’t bring enough desperation and let them embarrass us,” center Jason Spezza said, per Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News. “When we give up six goals at home, that’s unacceptable. I’m disappointed in myself, and I think we’re all disappointed in each other.”
Antti Niemi started in net for the Stars but was pulled after allowing three goals on eight shots. Kari Lehtonen went the rest of the way, allowed three of his own and took the loss.
“I thought our defense had a tough night with some breakdowns. I thought our goaltending had a tough night,” said Stars coach Lindy Ruff. “We looked like a slow team. We didn’t play the game quick enough.”
