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Stars 2, Penguins 1

Dave Molinari 9 years ago

Some news and notes, numbers and quotes from the Penguins’ 2-1 loss to Dallas at the American Airlines Center Thursday night:

*** The Penguins, who have scored a total of two goals in their past four games, have lost four in a row in regulation for the first time this season.

*** The loss, coupled with Washington’s 3-2 victory at Minnesota, leaves the Penguins and Capitals tied for third place in the Metropolitan Division with 88 points. The Penguins [39-22-10] have played one fewer game than Washington.

*** The Penguins entered the game in a 1-for-22 slump on the power play, but did get their only goal during a man-advantage in the second period. Kris Letang scored it, his first power-play goal in 56 games.

*** Dallas got its goals from Brett Ritchie and Jamie Benn in an 83-second span early in the second period.

*** Coach Mike Johnston had warned the Penguins that the Stars have made a habit of starting well lately, but that didn’t prevent Dallas from having its way for much of the first period. The Stars accounted for seven of the first eight shots in the game. “I thought they caught us on our heels,” Johnston said.

*** The Penguins have lost consecutive road games in regulation for just the second time this season. It also happened Dec. 23 (Tampa) and 29 (New Jersey).

*** Penguins winger Steve Downie was shaken up in a collision during the closing minutes of play. There was no immediate word on the nature or severity of any injury he might have.

*** The Penguins outshot the Stars, 15-4, during the third period, but couldn’t get a puck past goalie Kari Lehtonen to force overtime. “We had our opportunities,” Johnston said. “We just couldn’t bury them.”

*** Defenseman Rob Scuderi believes that, recent results aside, the Penguins are close to getting their game back in synch. “If we were at this time of year and losing games 4-1 and 5-1, not showing much heart – not showing much of anything – I’d certainly be worried,” he said. “But we’re losing 1-0 games, or 2-0 with the empty-netter, a couple of 2-1 games. We’re right there. We just have to find a way to bury some goals and I think once we get our confidence back, we’ll be rolling.”

*** Sidney Crosby, on pulling out of the Penguins’ current skid: “We all realize it’s up to us. Nobody’s going to fix it for us. Nobody’s going to hand us two points when we play a game. We have to help ourselves and be better.”

*** Dallas has gotten the first goal in six of its past seven home games against the Penguins.

*** The Penguins have spotted their opponent a 1-0 lead in each of the past four games. “It’s not easy to play from behind,” Scuderi said. “We’re very good at playing with the lead, I’ve felt, and we have to get back to it.”

*** The Penguins will close out their three-game road trip with a game at Arizona Saturday at 9:08 p.m.