NEWARK, N.J. -A push in the final minutes wasn't enough as the Devils fall 4-1 to the Dallas Stars. The visiting team scored two empty net goals in the final 70 seconds to take the game out of reach for New Jersey.
"I think you saw what it was going to be like with the first two goals. Their goal was tipped then our goal was tipped. Both (goaltenders) had to make big saves at different times," Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said about tonight's game. "We had some opportunities while we were down, I didn't think our desparation to get inside in our offensive zone play I didn't think was at a high enough level. I didn't even think our rush chances, we had a few that we stayed outside and chose the outside shot where I thought we could have gotten inside."
Dallas opened the scoring in the second period when Ty Dellandrea's shot from the blue line went past Schmid. However, two minutes later the Devils would respond with a tipped goal by Miles Wood to tie the game at 1. The play started with Michael McLeod winning a face-off and Yegor Sharangovich quickly passing to Kevin Bahl at the blue line. After skating to find a better shooting lane, Bahl fired a shot on goal and Wood redirected it to score.
With 1.1 seconds left in the second period, Dallas took back the lead with their second goal of the night. Roope Hintz's shot right on the doorstep snuck past Schmid to make it 2-1 Stars.
"A shot came through and they picked up the rebound. I don't think there was something wrong structurally it's just sometimes stuff like that happens," Tatar said about the go-ahead goal by the Stars.
"I look at the icing, I didn't think we needed to ice the puck, we had possession of it, I think it starts there," Ruff said on the late second period goal. "We looked like we were going to have first touch on the puck in the corner, lost possession, our d-man was down on the ice so we're going to lose coverage on that play. And you got to get in the shot lane going out to the point bottom line."
Despite chances in the final frame, including on a power play halfway through the third period, New Jersey was unable to find the equaliser. Dallas' two empty net goals gave the Stars a 4-1 win. Tuesday's loss was the third straight for the Devils.
Devils Drop Third Straight, Tonight 4-1 to Dallas | GAME STORY
New Jersey continues its homestand on Thursday against the Flyers