Dallas Stars ended their two-game losing streak Tuesday night at home against the Phoenix Coyotes, and now look to get greedy with the Vancouver Canucks paying them a visit Thursday. A once bad match-up for them (last year, 0-4-0) has turned more toward the favorable with two straight wins.
Toss in the fact that both teams are having their top players evaluated before this one (Benn, Sedin) due to illegal elbow checks and you've got yourself a real marquee debate. Jamie Benn knows he's being targeted out there, but is taking it all with a grain of salt.
"Everyone's looking to get into the playoffs now and they're keying on guys to shut them down," said Benn Wednesday. "I had an X on my back last night. I'll take that if they're going to leave our top line alone, and they stepped up and played a good game."
The Canucks come to the American Airlines Center on the second night of a back to back, and they do so with nearly the exact same experience that the Stars had in their previous game against the Coyotes. Duncan Keith elbowed Daniel Sedin in the second period and that set off a similar melee and string of misconduct penalties compared to what Dallas experienced with the Shane Doan elbow to Jamie Benn the night before.
Dallas, after having been swept by Vancouver the year before to the tune of 20-5, has bested the Canucks twice this year by a collective score of 8-4. The Stars needed a multi-goal come from behind win in their last home game against Vancouver, trailing by two in the second period.
Dallas forward was asked if he was disappointed with the hit, and took the diplomatic route.
"No, it's hockey. It's so fast out there, things happen," Benn said. "I'll let the league deal with it.
“Hockey is a rough sport. Bodies are flying, elbows are flying. Guys are trying to crack down on it now. Players are doing a lot better at taking responsibility for their hits. It was just a play that happened fast and it is what it is.”
Benn was also nailed hard by Phoenix forward Antoine Vermette in overtime and left the game briefly. He returned to take part in the shootout. Benn admitted he might have been a target for the Coyotes on Tuesday night.
“Everyone is looking to get into the playoffs and they are keying on guys to shut them down,” he said. “I had an ‘X’ on my back last night, but I’ll take that if they are going to leave our top line alone. They stepped up and played a good game.”
Doan, who will forfeit $166,463.40 in salary, will be eligible to return for the March 29 game versus the San Jose Sharks.
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