Final
Dallas 3 – Columbus 0
Dallas continued to keep their playoff hopes alive tonight by beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0. The Stars did what they had to do, beating a team that was without three of its’ best players. Steve Ott tallied a power-play goal in the first period while Loiu Eriksson and Brendan Morrow added empty netters in the last minute of the game.
It was a close matchup throughout the game, with Columbus getting good goaltending from Mathieu Garon. He was huge in stopping multiple chances on a couple of the Stars power-plays. The only goal that he did allow was a tip in by Steve Ott. Ott tipped a shot that was fired from the point by Brad Richards. The puck bounced off the ice and just went by Garon’s leg for the Stars’ first goal.
Kari Lehtonen stopped 23 shots for the 17th shutout of his career, his third as a Dallas Star. Without all-star Rick Nash, the Blue Jackets couldn’t get that big presence in front of the net that could score big time goals. They did score one goal with four minutes left in the game, but it was disallowed because it was ruled that Derek Dorsett pushed Loui Eriksson into Lehtonen’s lap. Dorsett was penalized for goalie interference and the goal was waved off. It’s the third goal in the last two games that has been diallowed for Stars opponents, all within the last five minutes of the game.
The win, coupled with Chicago’s overtime loss to Montreal, puts Dallas two points behind the Blackhawks and Ducks for the eighth seed in the West. All three teams have three games left in the regular season.
The Stars next game will be at home on April 7 against the Colorado Avalanche.
Game Stats and Scoring Summary
| Dallas | Columbus | |
| Score | 3 | 0 |
| Shots | 30 | 23 |
| Penalty Minutes | 6 | 12 |
| Power Plays | 1 of 5 (20%) | 0 of 2 |
| Blocked Shots | 12 | 17 |
| Hits | 24 | 40 |
| Faceoff Wins | 21 | 21 |
1st Period:
- 5:00 Steve Ott (12) (Power Play) Dallas 1 – Columbus 0
Assists: Brad Richards, Alex Goligoski
2nd Period: No goals
3rd Period:
- 19:07 Loui Eriksson (25) (Empty Net) Dallas 2 – Columbus 0
Unassisted
- 19:40 Brenden Morrow (30) (Empty Net) Dallas 3 – Columbus 0
Unassisted
