In Dallas, the Stars came out flat on Saturday and lost to the Vancouver Canucks, 3-1.
The loss, combined with the Minnesota Wild win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, dropped the Stars to second in the Central Division.
“You’re always paying attention (to the standings this time of year),” Stars defenseman Ryan Suter said. “As much as you want to focus on yourself and playing the right way, doing the right things, it’s on your mind. We know we took a step back tonight and got to be better next game.”
Thatcher Demko made 25 saves in the Canucks win.
“He’s just a solid goalie,” Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet said. “Sometimes you have some team’s number for whatever reason, I don’t know why. They’re going to the playoffs, they’re a great team. It’s a good confidence builder for the guys when you can beat guys like that.”
Vancouver improved to 33-34-5 off their ninth win in 11 games.
“We’ve been working on [defensive] zone structure a lot lately and just winning some battles in our net front,” Demko said. “I think they’re the first team in the League in tips with traffic and that stuff. Obviously, they’re going to get some looks in that regard.
“After that first shot was on net, I thought our [defense] did a great job of eliminating second chances and boxing those guys. I was really proud of the guys.”
Dallas took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal from Ryan Suter just past the midway point of the frame.
“I thought we kind of struggled today, but also, I felt like they played really well,” Stars defenseman Esa Lindell said. “They were so tight on us, and all over our execution wasn’t there. Feels like they were coming at us all the time, and we didn’t really have the momentum today.”
Dakota Joshua tied the game, 1-1, with 1:36 ft in the opening period.
“We’re just kind of coming closer together here as it’s gone down the stretch,” Joshua said. “Obviously, it’s hard, the position that we’re in. But we’re still trying to take positives out of every game and keep building that momentum towards next year, and that’s been our focus. Been doing a good job of that lately.”
The Stars fell to 39-20-14 off their fourth loss in six games.
“Disappointing [outcome] for sure,” Dallas coach Peter DeBoer said. “I didn’t think a lot of guys had much tonight. We still found a way to score the first goal and then handed them momentum with the short-handed goal. We know they’re dangerous short-handed, and we talked about it, and we still gave one up.
“We didn’t execute on 5-on-5 or on the power play. They were the hungrier team. They blocked 21 shots (to the Stars’ 7). That’s inexcusable this time of year for us.”
In the second period, Brock Boeser scored 3:57 into the frame for a 2-1 lead.
Two minutes later, Jack Rathbone scored for the Canucks to push the lead to 3-1.
Matt Murray made 21 saves in the Dallas loss.
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