In Dallas, the Stars got off to a good start, but forgot about the final 55 minutes of the game on Sunday.
The visiting Florida Panthers reeled off three goals in the first period and one in the third, for a 4-1 win over the Stars.
“That was a very important win for us,” Florida head coach Joel Quenneville said. “You lose a guy like [Ekblad] and you know the severity of it, you see it, it’s not an easy game to go through. I thought the guys stayed with it and battled. Two points for him and for us, and at the same time you lose a guy that’s having one of those seasons, you have a defenseman that’s controlling the play in big minutes and all situations and you lose him and you lose his leadership, it’s tough. It’ll be a good test for us for sure.”
Chris Driedger got the start for the Panthers and made 33 saves. to get the win.
“He was awesome,” the Panthers’ Keith Yandle said. “He’s a calm goalie, he’s good positionally. He’s a guy that when he’s called upon he brings his A game and I think for us to have obviously two goalies like that (Driedger and Sergei Bobrovsky) that you can count on to win every night is a huge advantage.”
Jason Robertson opened the game with a goal for a Dallas lead.
“I don’t think there is anything in particular that has been a problem,” Dallas’ Blake Comeau said. “Tonight, we came out flat, and other games it seems like it’s our PK, and other games it seems like our power play is flat. We just have to figure out a way to be clicking on all cylinders here.”
Jonathan Huberdeau struck twice in the first period reply and Anthony Duclair added a marker on a penalty shot for the 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.
“I think I wasn’t playing well, but I think the past two games I’ve been playing better,” Huberdeau said. “I’ve got to take that and get confidence and play better the rest of the season. I think the team played well and that’s how we’re going to win some games, when everybody is playing well and playing hard.”
Owen Tippett sealed the win with a late empty-net goal for the Panthers.
Jake Oettinger made 19 saves in the loss.
“Clearly we weren’t prepared at the level they were,” Stars head coach Rick Bowness said. “It’s very simple and very obvious. We just weren’t as prepared as they were.”
Aaron Ekblad was carried off the ice on a stretcher in the second period with an apparent knee injury.
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