5 takeaways: Rough night all around for Stars, who lose again to Canucks

The good? Roope Hintz scoring twice. The bad? Pretty much everything else.
On a night when the Stars could've taken sole possession of the first wild card by two points, moved even further ahead of Vegas and put a dagger in Vancouver's playoff hopes, they lost 6-2 to the Canucks.

With the loss, the Stars were swept by Vancouver for the first time in 11 years.
Here are the five takeaways of the game.

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DESPERATE TEAM IS A DANGEROUS TEAM

In a game the Canucks had to win, they simply looked like a team that wanted it more. Sure, the Stars had their moments of controlling the play - mostly after the goals from Hintz, but the Canucks were the ones who made the most of their opportunities. They seemed hungrier and, well, a lot more desperate.
Thatcher Demko improved to 3-0 against the Stars this season, who thankfully won't have to face him or the Canucks again over the final six games of the 2021-22 campaign.

AT LEAST HINTZ SCORED

If not for Hintz, it would've been a very quiet night on the scoreboard for Dallas.
Hintz's first of two came off a beautiful wrist shot that sizzled past Demko's glove for his 33rd goal of the season and seventh point (three goals, four assists) in his past five games.

Hintz's second goal came in the middle frame, a breakaway tally on the penalty kill for his third shorthanded marker of the season and fifth of his career. With the goal, he set a new single-season high in shorthanded goals with three, besting his previous mark from 2019-20.

MOMENTUM KILLER

The Stars came to life after Hintz tied it 1-1 and should've taken a 2-1 lead shortly after when Radek Faksa had a glorious scoring chance. Unfortunately, he partially whiffed on it, and the Canucks scored moments later on a gift to Elias Pettersson.

OETTINGER'S NIGHT ENDS EARLY

After surrendering the fourth goal midway through the second period, Jake Oettinger's night was done. He was replaced by Scott Wedgewood, who went on the finish the game.
Oettinger gave up four goals on 19 shots in his second consecutive start.

PHYSICALITY RAMPS UP

Given what was on the line for both clubs, it's no surprise both teams made sure to finish their checks. Jamie Benn leveled Quinn Hughes in the corner, and then immediately answered the bell when Luke Schenn dropped the gloves. Then, it was Jason Robertson who lowered the boom on 6-foot-8 Tyler Myers after the big man leveled him seconds earlier.

The Stars finished the game with 30 hits, while the Canucks had 25.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Kyle Shohara is the Digital Manager for DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @kyleshohara.