Stars struggling in back ends of consecutive games
--After a 3-2 shootout loss at Buffalo on Friday, the Stars are now 0-9-1 in the second game of a back-to-back this season. Dallas did manage to pick up a point for the second time in the second game of a back-to-back this season in the loss to the Sabres. The Stars are now 4-3 in the shootout this season.
--Dallas Coach Glen Gulutzan made several lineup changes for Friday's game at Buffalo. The biggest was starting Kari Lehtonen in goal for a second consecutive night. Gulutzan had named backup Richard Bachman as the starter against the Sabres after Thursday's 4-2 win at Columbus, but opted to go with Lehtonen instead and he responded with a 30-save showing.
--Gulutzan also plugged Jake Dowell in on the fourth line for Toby Petersen and Dowell rebounded nicely after being benched in Saturday's shootout win over the Wild. Mark Fistric also started on defense with Sheldon Souray suffering a foot injury in the win over the Blue Jackets and also played well, perhaps making a case for more starts on the Dallas defense.
--In the third period of Friday's game at Buffalo, the Stars managed three shots. Buffalo had 13 shots and for the game, outshot Dallas 32-26.
--The Stars led 1-0 after two periods on Friday against the Sabres but lost 3-2 in the shootout, making them 16-4-1 when leading after 40 minutes this season. Dallas is also now 20-7-1 when scoring first and 7-7-1 against the Eastern Conference. Friday's loss at Buffalo was the Stars' first against a team from the Northeast Division this season (2-1-1).
--Winning one-goal games has been a big strength for the Stars this season. But after Friday's 3-2 loss at Buffalo, Dallas is now 14-7-2 in one-goal games. The Stars are also 15-4-0 when a defenseman scores and 15-6-1 when they score on the power play at least once.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"It was a great job by Otter and Benner in the corner. I just snuck up in between the slots. Benner made a great pass and it was real easy for me to put it in the net." -- Stars rookie RW Tomas Vincour on how Steve Ott and Jamie Benn set up his first goal of the season and second of his NHL career in a 3-2 shootout loss at Buffalo on Friday.
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