DALLAS _ The evolution was slower than Jim Montgomery would have hoped. The offensive zone possession was lacking, the defensive breakouts weren't crisp, the power play bobbed between good and bad, and the Stars' overall play was inconsistent from night to night.
Entering Friday night's eventual 2-1 overtime win over Washington at the American Airlines Center, the Stars appeared to have found the formula for success. They'd collected points in four straight games. The power play scored in three straight. The offense pumped 40-plus shots on goal in three straight games.
Then came the test of the defending Stanley Cup champions. Tyler Seguin gave the Stars their fourth win in the last five games with a goal with 1:23 left in overtime. The Stars survived regulation despite just two shots in the third period, and the five-game point streak ties a season high.
Seguin scored for the second straight game, first on a rebound off an Alexander Radulov shot during a first-period power play, then in overtime from beside the net. Seguin now has 15 goals this season, and it was the fourth time this year Seguin has scored in back-to-back games.
Anton Khudobin made 35 saves in his first start since a 49-save shutout of Nashville last week. Khudobin was outstanding during the third period, when the Stars had to kill penalties twice against Washington's potent power play, led by Alex Ovechkin. His excellence continued in overtime when he robbed Lars Eller with a nifty glove save on a slap shot from the slot.
Before the game, Montgomery was asked how the Stars stop the power play.
"Don't take penalties," Montgomery said. "I'm serious. They're too good. We cannot take needless stick penalties. Last time we played against Washington there, we killed off the first two penalties. They scored on the third one. Just can't do it."
Washington was gifted three power plays on Friday night, and Khudobin answered all of them, making eight saves during Capitals power plays. The goaltending _ with Khudobin and Ben Bishop has been fantastic all year _ the rest of the team's game is rounding into shape.
Earlier this week, Montgomery lauded his team for details often unseen by spectators. He said their neutral-zone counters were better. The defensive zone coverage, along with the rush defense was more consistent, which allowed the Stars to transition to offense easier.
"We have gotten better offensively, even though maybe the results aren't there yet on the scoreboard, we have become a better offensive team from our own team right through to the offensive end," Montgomery said.
Now is as good a time as any for the Stars to get going on the ice.
Last week, their play was barely a topic of conversation when the hockey world focused on CEO Jim Lites' criticism of Seguin and Jamie Benn. This week, the announcement of the Winter Classic drew attention. Now, the Stars are entering a critical portion of their schedule littered with Central Division opponents and home games.
Beginning with Winnipeg on Sunday, three of the next four games are against division opponents. Six of the next nine games are at home.
