BREAKING: Stars, Blackhawks both learning how to protect leads

Deadspin | Stars, Blackhawks both learning how to protect leads

Nov 25, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) and Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (4) chase after the puck during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

The Dallas Stars and Chicago Blackhawks haven’t been very good at holding leads lately. They’ll try to rectify that shortcoming when they meet on Wednesday evening in Chicago.

The Stars are coming off a 6-4 loss at the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. Dallas held a 3-1 lead after the second period, but surrendered three goals in the first 8:09 of the third and two more in the final 2:07.

“Next one’s always big after a loss,” Dallas forward Jamie Benn said. “Obviously, we want to end this road trip with a win.”

The Blackhawks are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Chicago squandered a 2-0 lead heading into the third period before giving up the game-winner 1:06 into overtime.

The Blackhawks fell to 6-1-2 when leading after two periods.

Chicago defenseman Alec Martinez, who won two Stanley Cup titles with the Los Angeles Kings and another with the Vegas Golden Knights, said confidence plays a big role in holding leads.

“If you have experience where you’ve held those leads and been successful in that, then you fall back on your experience,” Martinez told the Chicago Sun-Times. “There’s a knowing that, ‘We’re going to get this job done.’ It’s a process. Every team goes through it.”

Martinez said players also need to walk that fine line between attacking and playing with caution when holding a lead.

“You’ve got to keep attacking,” he said. “If you just sit back and allow them to enter the zone, you increase the sample size. You give them more zone time and the odds are further and further stacked against you.”

Chicago coach Luke Richardson agrees that holding a lead is all about puck management and staying out of your own zone as much as possible.

“Eventually, it’s too much and it wears out all your good energy playing defense (rather) than creating offense, which is part of our problem offensively,” Richardson said.

The Stars hope to reignite a power-play unit that is just 1-for-15 in its past six games, causing it to drop to 25th in the NHL in efficiency (16.1 percent).

Dallas ranked sixth on the power play last season at 24.2 percent.

“It starts with breakouts,” Stars forward Tyler Seguin said of improving the power play. “More pucks to the net, for sure.”

Even more discouraging for the Dallas special teams, the Stars’ penalty kill gave up one short-handed goal against Carolina and two power-play goals.

“I liked most of our 5-on-5 game all night, but the special teams were a disaster,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. “(One) short-handed goal, two power play goals by them. You’re not going to win if your special teams look like that.”

If the Stars can find success in Chicago, they can look forward to a busy December schedule that includes nine home games and five on the road.

Dallas has been much better in Its arena this season, going 8-2-0 compared to 5-5-0 on the road.

“We’ve got to go out and execute,” Benn said. “The power play can make a big difference on the road. We just need to go out there with the confidence to make a difference in the game.”