The Jets returned from their All-Star break tonight against the Dallas Stars. Despite the fact that they returned to the ice with a healthy lineup, it wouldn’t be enough against Dallas thanks to Antti Niemi playing out of his tree.
Drew Stafford scored on the Power Play in the first period to open up the scoring. The period ended with Byfuglien sitting in the box. Tyler Seguin scored at the beginning of the Second on a wicked slap shop just as the penalty expired. Not too long after Byfuglien was called once again for boarding Colton Sceviour. Personally, I don’t believe it should have been called. Byfuglien hit Sceviour clean and was simply the bigger, stronger man. But luckily Adam Lowry scored in his first game back from IR. Shortly after that Little was sprung for a breakaway but was denied by Annti Niemi.
Midway through the second, Drew Stafford sprung Andrew Copp for a breakaway, but like Little before him, had no luck with beating Niemi. With eight minutes left in the period, Jason Demers gets called for tripping against Chris Thorburn but were unsuccessful. However, to make matters worse, The Stars broke free and had a 3 on 0 against Hellebuyck as Demers left the box and John Klingberg tied it up. This wouldn’t be the last goal as Ales Hemsky would score before the second period ended.
Not very long into the third Andrew Copp was called for a tripping penalty on Valeri Nichushki and merely forty seconds into the power play Seguin scored once again. The Jets would get a small glimmer of hope with Dustin Byfuglien scoring to put the Jets within one goal. Sadly, It was all the Jets could muster despite hitting the crossbar in the dying minute of the game, leaving the final score to be 5-3 Dallas. However, if it wasn’t for Niemi’s saves on Little’s and Copp’s breakaways it could have gone the other way.
What are your thoughts on the game? Feel free to leave them in the comment section below
