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Three of the Stars' biggest names had the best seats in the house for the Stars' comeback that wasn't.
Goalie Marty Turco. Center Mike Modano. Defenseman Sergei Zubov.
All three are All-Stars, and all three didn't play a second of the third period of the Stars' 4-3 loss to the Sabres on Monday afternoon.
After seeing his team blown out 4-1 in the first 40 minutes against a Sabres
team that had been summarily spanked in their first two games, Tippett decided
enough was enough. No matter how good you've been, or should be, if you aren't
delivering in a given game there are others to take your minutes. NFL Tickets
So out came all three.
"I think it was a pretty straightforward message," Modano said. "We
personally didn't play well."
It was the first time Turco gave up four goals in a game since a 7-4 victory
over the Kings on Jan. 7. It was the first time he had been pulled from a start
since Dec. 11, 2002. NFL Tickets
Modano played less than 12 minutes, and Zubov less than 15 minutes.
The Sabres, who had lost their first two games by a combined 8-0, came out against
the Stars as if it were Game 7 of the playoffs and not Game 3 of the regular
season.
And by the time the Stars' comeback started, it was a little too late. And a
few inches too low.
After third-period power-play goals by Stars defensemen Philippe Boucher and
Stephane Robidas cut the deficit to one with less than 10 minutes remaining,
the Stars had two more great chances to tie. NFL Tickets
With a 6-on-4 and less than one minute remaining, Stars wing Bill Guerin's shot
near the crease was stopped on a sensational diving glove save by Sabres goalie
Martin Biron. With less than five seconds left, Stars defenseman Teppo Numminen's
point shot was maybe a puck-length wide to the right.
Close calls, however, were of no consolation for a team that felt this was a
game that easily should have been theirs.
"Let's face it: We didn't play well," Stars wing Scott Young said.
"You know this team is having team meetings, they're getting ripped in
the paper and by their coach and that's a dangerous team to play. You know that
going in."
Maybe they forgot, as a little more than five minutes into the game the Sabres
were ahead 2-0.
But it was Buffalo's third goal that acted like a kick in the face.
Trailing 2-1 and on a power play midway through the second period, the Stars
had countless scoring chances and rebound shots at Biron in a scrum around the
net.
After their final shot of the power play was stopped (again), Buffalo wing Miroslav
Satan hit center Daniel Briere as he was coming out of the penalty box for a
breakaway. A quick fake, and Briere had Turco leaning the wrong way for a clean
shot and a 3-1 lead. Six minutes later it was 4-1 when Satan scored a goal.
"The momentum was swinging our way," said Turco, who allowed four
goals on 21 shots, "and we needed one big save to keep it close. And that
didn't happen."
By the time the momentum swung back their way, he was off the ice. And it was
too late.
BREAKDOWN
WHY BUFFALO WON
The Sabres were sick of being embarrassed, and played like it. They scored twice
in the first 5:05 of the game, and Daniel Briere's second-period goal killed
any momentum the Stars had. NFL Tickets
WHY DALLAS LOST
The power play, 2-for-9 on the night, was 0-for-5 in the first two periods.
Center Mike Modano, defenseman Sergei Zubov and goalie Marty Turco weren't effective,
and none of them played in the third period.
THREE STARS
1. Sabres center Daniel Briere: One goal, one assist. He had the space to be
effective, and he was.
2. Stars center Stu Barnes: One goal, plus-1. A member of the Stars' best line.
3. Sabres center Curtis Brown: One assist, plus-1. Very active, and played more
than nine minutes on the PK.