Stars Benn, but they don’t break

CEDAR PARK, Texas – Right about now the Hamilton Bulldogs are wishing that the Dallas Stars were still in the NHL Stanley Cup playoff picture. If that were the case, Jamie Benn would still be with Dallas, torturing some other hockey club.

Benn scored the only two Texas Stars’ goals, including the overtime game-winner, to lead Texas to a 2-1 come-from-behind win in front of over 6,200 fans at the Cedar Park Center.   The series is now tied at two games apiece.
Stars’ goaltender Matt Clime had his best game of the playoffs, stopping 26 of 27 shots, while the defense held the Bulldogs to a single power play goal by David Desharnais near the midpoint of the second period. The goal was set up by Ryan Russell and Brock Trotter. It was Desharnais’ team-leading 19^th point of the postseason.
Benn answered just 24 seconds into the third period with his twelfth goal of the playoffs. Benn picked up a rebound from a Colton Scevior shot, beating Bulldog’s goaltender Curtis Sanford to tie the game at one. Andrew Hutchinson also assisted on Benn’s goal. Sanford stopped 30 of 32 Texas shots.
For the third time in the series, the game went into overtime. Just under six minutes into the extra frame, Benn fired a Mathieu Beaudoin rebound past Sanford for his 13^th playoff goal and 20^th playoff point. It was also his fourth game winning goal. Warren Peters also assisted.
“We keep doing the right things, just grinding them down,” Benn told the Austin Statesman. “If we keep doing that, we’ll find ways to win like we did tonight .”
The teams combined for 44 penalty minutes, half of which were for roughing as the Bulldogs attempted to slow down Benn’s assault with an occasional mugging. But it was to no avail.
“(Benn’s) not a guy to be intimidated,” Texas Head Coach Glen Gulutzan said. “He’s strong. He plays both ends well and is a physical guy – just the total package. He can take (the physical play) and keep going. That’s not gonna stop him.”
Texas will try to take the series lead on home ice tonight (May 22^nd), before going back to Hamilton to finish out the series and earn a possible trip to the Calder Cup finals.
Contact mitch.cooper@prohockeynews.com