Benn, Hintz help Stars clinch playoff spot at Canucks expense
VANCOUVER — Special teams proved to be the difference in a key matchup between the Vancouver Canucks and Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
The Stars capitalized on their power-play chances and clinched a spot in the NHL playoffs with a 3-1 win.
The Canucks struggled with the man advantage and will have to wait to secure their post-season berth.
“This is the kind of hockey it’s probably going to be the rest of the way, the kind of hockey it is around the league right now,” said Canucks goalie Casey DeSmith, who had 31 saves on the night.
“Everyone’s just trying to buckle down and play the right way, do the right things. I thought we did that for most of the night. Obviously special teams was the difference.”
Dallas went 2-for-5 on the power play while Vancouver was 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
A “mechanical” power play and careless penalties proved costly for the Canucks, said coach Rick Tocchet.
“I think guys will be disappointed,” he said. “You’re looking for somebody to make a play or maybe a little more discipline. Maybe that’s the difference. These games are coin flips.”
Roope Hintz scored and contributed a pair of helpers for the Stars (46-19-9), while Jamie Benn added a goal and marked a milestone with an assist. Jason Robertson added some insurance with an empty-net strike and Joe Pavelski notched a pair of assists.
The Canucks (45-20-8) got a goal from J.T. Miller.
Jake Oettinger stopped 27 of 28 shots as Dallas stretched its win streak to six games.
“It felt like a playoff game,” Oettinger said. “They’re a great team obviously over there, they’ve been one of the best teams in the league all year and there’s just not a lot of flaws in that team. So just a good measuring stick and obviously we know what’s at stake. Just to get a gritty win like that is huge.”
Dallas sits first overall in the Western Conference, three points up on Vancouver and the Colorado Avalanche. The Canucks remain atop the Pacific Division standings, six points ahead of the Edmonton Oilers.
Making the playoffs — and earning home ice — isn’t easy in the NHL, said Stars coach Pete DeBoer.
“You have to do a lot of work, starting six, seven months ago, to give yourself the opportunity to be one of those 16 teams that plays for the Stanley Cup. So I’m just proud of our group,” he said.