DALLAS (KNTU) Roope Hintz scored two goals, the Dallas Stars power play scored three first-period goals, and the Stars routed the Nashville Predators 5-1 in Game Four of their Western Conference playoff series on Wednesday, April 17, at American Airlines Center.
The Stars entered the game with their backs against the wall after losing games two and three. A loss in game four would have given the Predators a 3-1 series lead before the two squads head back to Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Saturday.
Dallas came into the matchup just 1-for-13 on the power play in the first three contests. They eclipsed that mark in the first period on Wednesday.
The Stars went 3-for-4 on the power play and jumped out to a 4-0 first-period lead. The Predators never mounted a serious challenge at any point in the game.
“We changed [the power play]up a little bit and talked about it in meetings,” Stars defenseman John Klingberg said. “It was a beautiful shot by Roope [Hintz] to get going and then I think we got momentum and confidence and just kept rolling from that. We came out and set the pace right away.”
Dallas four first-period goals ties the franchise record for the most goals scored in a playoff period since the team moved to Dallas in 1993-94.
Stars goalie Ben Bishop allowed just one goal, rebounding from his uncharacteristic start on Monday night when he allowed two soft goals. Bishop didn’t allow a goal until Roman Josi broke the shutout with a third-period score.
“I knew [Bishop] would bounce back, and it was nice to see the power play do it in such a dominant fashion,” Dallas coach Jim Montgomery said. “I thought Seguin’s line with Jamie [Benn] and [Radulov] started us really well and were physical, and I thought our first power play set the tone.”
The four early goals were scored against Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne, who had been brilliant throughout the series and made a game-saving stop against Jamie Benn just two nights ago. But Rinne was being benched just 14 minutes into game four.
Hintz’ two goals led the Stars, including the game’s opening goal to ignite the sellout crowd of 18,532 people at American Airlines Center.
Three minutes into the game, Nashville defenseman Mattias Ekholm was called for high-sticking Blake Comeau in the corner. Forty-one seconds into the power play, Hintz fired a wrist shot into the top left corner to give Dallas an early lead.
“It was a big thing to score here at home and get the crowd with us,” Hintz said. “They’re doing a great job, so it was nice to see.”
One minute and 16 seconds later, Nashville’s Flip Forsberg flipped a puck into the crowd — which turned into a nice snag by a Stars fan — and was charged with a delay of game penalty. Just over 30 seconds later, Alexander Radulov took the puck off a faceoff and slapped a knuckler from the high slot past the outstretched glove of Rinne to give the Stars an early 2-0 lead.
Andrew Cogliano scored an even-strength goal off a portly rebound of a Blake Comeau shot, and Mats Zuccarello scored his third goal of the postseason on Dallas’ final power play of the first period to give the Stars a 4-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
John Klingberg acted as Dallas’ facilitator on offense all night, finishing with three assists, which moved him into a tie for second for most assists by a defenseman in a single playoff game.
Dallas also flexed their muscles with a hard-hitting, physical defense. At the games halfway point, the Stars had outhit Nashville 24-9, and even the 5 foot 7 inch, 163-pound Zuccarello joined the action after leveling Dan Hamhuis in the corner.
“I’m a process-oriented coach,” Montgomery said. “When we’re winning the process and staying in the moment and winning foot races and battles, I said the hockey gods were going to turn on our side. Tonight, we got a couple of posts and in, and that’s us getting rewarded.”
UP NEXT:
Dallas and Nashville continue the series with Game Five on Saturday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Puck drop is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
