(Photo: Bridget Samuels/Flickr)

Dallas Stars wanted to send a big message to the Pacific Division, they will not back down without a fight. They wanted to come out strong and they did as they had a big win over the Edmonton Oilers, 3-1. Their leading goal scorer, Michael Ryder, scored two big highlight reel goals as he got both his 34th and 35th goal. With their big win against the Oilers, who are already out of the playoffs, the Dallas Stars take over the Pacific Division with 89 points.

Your number one star of the game is Michael Ryder. He is one of the biggest acquisitions that the Dallas Stars have ever signed. The Stars signed him in the off season for his offense and he has contributed very well this year. His first period goal was one of the sickest goals I have ever seen him score in his career. He blew the doors off the Oilers, making moves around the defense and scoring in the first period. That will be a highlight goal for a long time. His second was another beauty as he tapped it in from a tic-tac-toe play with his linemates Mike Ribeiro and Loui Eriksson to ice it.

Mike Ribeiro, Ryder’s linemate who have had the ultimate chemistry with one another, had the other goal as he took a slick pass from Eriksson and ripped it passed goalie Devan Dubynk. The Oilers kept pounding pucks at Kari Lehtonen until Ales Hemsky, that darn Oiler, scored the lone goal for the Oilers in the 3rd and said goodbye to Kari Lehtonen’s shutout in the third.

Which leads me to another big part of the win over the Oilers, it should be your goalie and Kari Lehtonen did it. He was huge in net as he made some spectacular saves and  he kept them in the game, he is also a big reason why they are fighting for a playoff spot for the first time in in three years.  I’m going to praise the big Finn right now because he is the MVP of the Dallas Stars. Without him, the Dallas Stars would be struggling right now.

With injuries to Radek Dvorak and Eric Nystrom, recent signing Reilly Smith made his debut for the Dallas Stars and he did fine as he had a couple shots on the net.  The Stars will end their road trip with back to back games against the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks.

GAME NOTES

Injuries: Radek Dvorak (ankle) Eric Nystrom (lower body) and Mark Fistric (abdominal strain)

Scratches: Tom Wandell, Jordie Benn, Tobey Petersen

-The Stars improved to 11-3-1 against Canadian-based teams.

-The Stars are now 20-16-2 on the road.

STARS OF THE GAME

1. Michael Ryder

2.  Mike Ribeiro

3. Jordan Eberle