DALLAS _ The Stars received solid goaltending Tuesday.
They got the breaks.
They didn't deserve to win.
A Dallas team that has been battling injuries, illness and bad luck for much of the season, simply found a way to lose to the Calgary Flames, 2-1.
It was a contest where the Stars frittered the first goal of the game, several incredible saves from Kari Lehtonen and even an overturned goal call because of a coach's challenge.
A Dallas team yielding the most goals in the NHL held the Flames to just 20 shots on goal and challenged Calgary goalie Chad Johnson all night, but couldn't get the key goal.
No, that went to the Flames, who drew a Brett Ritchie holding penalty in the third period and then pushed in the game-winning goal when center Sean Monahan was allowed to walk to the front of the net and knock in his own rebound. Lehtonen, who was fantastic for most of the night, looked awkward in allowing the rebound, just another anomaly that leaves Stars fans unsure who to blame.
In the end, it was a team loss.
The defense and forwards combined to break down and allow a two-on-none in the second period after Lehtonen was able to stop no fewer than three breakaways, including one shorthanded. While Jordie Benn, Julius Honka and Radek Faksa, each had breakdowns, Johnny Gaudreau was able to glide down the left wing wide open, take a pass from former Stars winger Alex Chiasson and tie the game at the 12:19 mark of the second period.
Dallas had scored first on a hard working goal from Curtis McKenzie and was 9-2-2 when scoring first. McKenzie scored first Saturday in Colorado and the Stars played a conservative game and built on it in an eventual 3-0 victory.
This time, however, the Stars took too many chances and hung Lehtonen out to dry too many times.
Even when the Stars were given a break, they couldn't capitalize. Calgary scored on a Mark Giordano shot to take a 2-1 lead, but the Stars were quick to challenge for offside. The challenge worked, and Dallas preserved the tie heading into the third period. But Monahan scored and the Stars were not able to answer.
Brett Ritchie thought he scored to tie the game in the third period, but officials ruled the whistle had blown and that the puck was kicked in. Patrick Eaves had a shot bounce of the side of the net and the top of the net and into the crease,but Chad Johnson gloved it to protect the lead.
In the end the Stars didn't do enough to win.
Dallas falls to 10-11-6 (26 points) and is now 1-6-3 following a win. The Stars have won consecutive games just once this season and squandered a chance to not only move above .500 but build positive momentum as they start a stretch that will put them at home for 10 of 13 games.
"We'll start with one game at a time, but it's an opportunity to get some practices in, play some games at home and hopefully get on a roll," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said before the game.
But this wasn't the start they wanted.
