Dallas, TX
Five thoughts from Stars’ Game 1 loss to Vegas: Dallas gets chances, can’t capitalize
The Vegas Golden Knights took an early lead in the first-round series against the Dallas Stars Monday night with a 4-3 win in Game 1.
The Golden Knights scored the game’s first goal just 1:23 into the contest and never looked back.
The Stars will now have to steal a game at T-Mobile Arena to advance to the second round.
Here are five thoughts from Game 1 of the Stars-Golden Knights series.
Knights out: Photos from Dallas Stars’ Game 1 loss to Vegas
Early-game struggles bleed into playoffs
The Stars set a franchise record this season when they notched 26 comeback wins in the regular season. Half of their total wins came after falling into an early hole.
Stars coach Pete DeBoer said late in the regular season that while the record said his team is resilient, it also alerts him that it has a habit of sacrificing the first goal, which cannot carry into the playoffs.
In Game 1 against Vegas, it did. On the game’s first shift, Sam Steel was called for high sticking, and Mark Stone gave Vegas a 1-0 lead just 1:23 into the game on the power play.
“You can’t chase the game the whole series,” DeBoer said. “I thought we were chasing the game all night. We’ve got to make sure we fix that going forward.”
While Dallas didn’t collapse after sacrificing the early lead, Vegas didn’t let up either. Seven minutes later, Jonathan Marchessault made it 2-0. The Stars continued to find scoring chances but were never able to recover from that deficit.
Dallas has been able to afford first-period struggles because it’s been so dominant in the second period, scoring 106 goals in the frame for third best in the NHL. It didn’t get that same boost in the second, as Vegas extended its lead just 1:06 into the frame, and Dallas did not score.
Vegas dominates on special teams
The Stars’ first playoff outing was disastrous on special teams. Vegas scored on both of its power plays while the Stars went 0-for-2.
Vegas had the 20th-best power play in the league at 20.2% in the regular season while the Stars ranked sixth at 24.2%. The Stars’ penalty kill ranked eighth (82%) while Vegas’ ranked 16th (79.3%).
The Stars had no excuse for struggling on special teams the way they did. After Steel committed the early penalty, it took Vegas less than a minute to get on the board. Late in the second period, trade deadline acquisition Tomas Hertl restored Vegas’ two-goal lead with another power-play score.
For as strong as Dallas has been on special teams, it must capitalize on that advantage in future games. It also needs to avoid taking penalties, especially on the first shift of the game. If it weren’t for Vegas’ two special-teams goals, the game could have been very different.
Jake Oettinger was not at his best
Not all four goals were Jake Oettinger’s fault. The first was deflected. The second and third were on shots from point-blank range.
But given how well the Stars’ netminder has played over the last month, his first playoff outing wasn’t what he would’ve hoped for.
“I think we’ve got to do a better job tying up sticks around the net,” DeBoer said. “I think we can help him. But I think, like everybody, he’s got another level for us, too.”
Oettinger had a 10-1-0 record in the last 11 games of the regular season with a .941 save percentage and 1.54 goals-against average.
On Monday, he faced just 15 shots all night. Dallas controlled the puck possession, but when Vegas had its opportunities, it capitalized.
He also let in a goal on a prayer of a shot from the boards by Brayden McNabb that may have deflected off a player but also looked like he lost sight of the puck.
Across the ice was Logan Thompson for Vegas, and while he’s had a standout year, he was making his playoff debut Monday. He allowed three goals on 30 shots.
Oettinger said Sunday that he will have bad games in the playoffs and has to be prepared to bounce back. Dallas just didn’t expect that in Game 1 and will need him to do so quickly before Wednesday night rolls around.
“Not the ideal start, but everyone’s going to look at their own game and try to be better next game, and that starts with me,” he said.
The Stars goalie did have a rare assist on Mason Marchment’s third-period goal, the first of the season and fifth of his career.
Momentum swings and capitalizing on opportunities to be key in series
The playoffs are about capitalizing on opportunities when they’re in front of you. Vegas was opportunistic in Game 1, and the Stars weren’t.
A handful of plays led to major momentum shifts in the game.
Steel’s penalty set the tone. Ryan Suter answered for Dallas on a shot from the point midway through the period, but due to Marchment being offside, it was taken off the board after a Vegas challenge.
Just seconds later, Marchessault scored, making it 2-0 in the first and handing all the momentum to the Golden Knights.
The Stars generated significantly more scoring chances than Vegas did, outshooting the Golden Knights 30-15. Dallas had 10 high-danger scoring changes to just six by Vegas.
But when Dallas could’ve tied it up, especially late in the third period, it was unable to. Vegas did just enough to walk away with the series lead.
“I thought we could have won the game tonight, but we didn’t play well enough to make sure we won the game tonight,” DeBoer said.
Mark Stone’s return could be a bigger problem than Dallas anticipated
One of the top storylines entering the series was whether Vegas’ captain Mark Stone would return from long-term injured reserve for the start of the playoffs.
For the second year in a row, Stone returned just in time for the playoffs, this time from a lacerated spleen. Many questioned the convenient timing of his return as soon as the league no longer has a salary cap. The American Airlines Center crowd let him hear it, booing Stone every time he touched the puck Monday.
But the captain’s impacts were felt instantly, as he scored the first goal of the series on the power play. He was on a new line with Hertl, whom he had never played before, but the two jelled, as both scored in the contest.
The Stars said they weren’t concerned about the return of Stone, William Carrier, Alex Pietrangelo or any of Vegas’ lineup changes ahead of the series. But their return clearly injected some energy into Vegas’ start to the series that Dallas will have to better handle in Game 2.
Twitter: @lassimak
Dallas Fire-Rescue has deployed six personnel to assist with ongoing wildland fire response efforts in California.
On Saturday morning, a Type 3 fire engine staffed with four wildland firefighters, part of a strike team composed of resources from across the state, headed to Los Angeles County, according to a news release. Two Dallas Fire-Rescue members will also join the Emergency Medical Task Force to provide essential medical support for the firefighting crews.
The strike team will assist in high-priority areas where their efforts can have the most significant impact.
“We stand in solidarity with the teams of firefighters working to protect lives and property,” said Dallas Fire Rescue interim chief Justin Ball. “Dallas Fire Rescue Department is always ready to step in to support our fellow firefighters, especially in these extremely challenging conditions.”
Wildland firefighters, including those from Dallas Fire-Rescue, are specially trained in wildfire suppression and capable of tackling fires in challenging and hazardous environments, such as steep terrain and high temperatures, the news release states.
The deployments are expected to last up to 14 days, with the possibility of extension based on operational needs and ground conditions in Los Angeles County.
Dallas Fire-Rescue will collaborate with other strike teams, which include personnel from Parker County, Greenville, Allen, Frisco and McKinney, the news release states.
Associated Press
Denver Nuggets (22-15, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Dallas Mavericks (22-16, fifth in the Western Conference)
Dallas; Sunday, 3 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets visit Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
The Mavericks have gone 16-13 against Western Conference opponents. Dallas is ninth in the NBA with 45.2 rebounds led by Dereck Lively averaging 8.2.
The Nuggets have gone 14-10 against Western Conference opponents. Denver is third in the NBA scoring 120.6 points per game while shooting 49.9%.
The Mavericks average 116.4 points per game, 0.1 fewer points than the 116.5 the Nuggets give up. The Nuggets score 8.8 more points per game (120.6) than the Mavericks allow (111.8).
TOP PERFORMERS: Irving is shooting 49.0% and averaging 24.3 points for the Mavericks.
Russell Westbrook is shooting 45.9% and averaging 12.9 points for the Nuggets.
LAST 10 GAMES: Mavericks: 4-6, averaging 111.1 points, 43.9 rebounds, 23.1 assists, 7.0 steals and 7.1 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.9 points per game.
Nuggets: 6-4, averaging 122.8 points, 45.5 rebounds, 32.0 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 50.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.1 points.
INJURIES: Mavericks: Dante Exum: out (wrist), Luka Doncic: out (calf), Kyrie Irving: out (illness).
Nuggets: Aaron Gordon: day to day (calf), Jamal Murray: day to day (knee), DaRon Holmes II: out for season (achilles), Spencer Jones: day to day (thigh), Vlatko Cancar: out (knee).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Robert Quinn (Charleston Co. Jail)
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Robert Quinn was arrested in South Carolina Friday morning after police said he tried to leave the scene of an accident.
Quinn, 34, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and reckless driving, jail records show.
What we know:
Police in North Charleston, South Carolina responded to a car dealership just after 2 a.m. Friday because of a collision involving a red truck.
The North Charleston Fire Department arrived first on the scene and told police that the suspect might be attempting to leave the scene of the crash in another car.
When police arrived, they found Quinn in the passenger seat of a white Dodge Challenger that had its reverse lights on. The vehicle’s driver placed the car in park and told police she had been called by Quinn to “pick him up,” according to a police report.
Police said Quinn had visible injuries to his head and face, had slurred speech and was uncooperative with officers who asked for his identification.
Quinn eventually provided his identification to officers, but asked himself “where is my wallet” while his wallet was in his hand before dropping it in his lap.
The police report states a maroon Ford F-150 registered to Quinn was on the other side of the parking lot and looked to be the vehicle that started the collision.
Police said Quinn’s truck hit the passenger side of a Honda Element, which was pushed into a blue Ford F-150 that hit another car.
Officers asked Quinn to get out of the Challenger, but Quinn resisted by holding the door to the car, the report states. Police removed Quinn from the vehicle, and he was “escorted to the ground” by officers because he was trying to pull away from them.
Officers interviewed the woman with Quinn, who said she had met him at G-Club, a gentleman’s club, where she works, earlier that night.
Another employee of the club came to the scene and said Quinn had left alone about an hour before the collision happened.
Timeline:
Police said they used city cameras to build a timeline of the crash.
The police report states Quinn’s truck was seen driving down the road around 2 a.m. Friday and was veering left, crossed an intersection, a median and then onto dealership property.
City cameras did not pick up the collision, but it can be heard, the police report states.
Police said around 2:03 a.m. a single person is seen walking through the parking lot and a few minutes later that person walked to a Valero gas station.
At 2:07 a.m., the person is seen walking back to the dealership parking lot while stumbling and falling several times, the police report states.
About a minute later, a white Dodge Challenger is seen entering the parking lot around the same time that the fire department arrived, according to the report.
Dallas Cowboys Defensive End
Quinn played the 2019 season with the Dallas Cowboys after being traded from the Miami Dolphins for a sixth-round pick.
Quinn was suspended for the first two games of the season after violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He was named the team’s starting right defensive end when he was reinstated.
Quinn finished the season with 25 tackles, 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Quinn signed a five-year, $70 million contract with the Chicago Bears the following season.
Quinn was drafted 14th overall by the St. Louis Rams in 2011 and spent six years with the team before going to Miami, Dallas, Chicago and ending his career in 2022 with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Quinn was born in North Charleston, South Carolina, where he played high school football before playing college football for the University of North Carolina.
The backstory:
This isn’t Quinn’s first tangle with law enforcement.
July 2012 – Florissant, Mo.
Quinn was arrested for driving while intoxicated in July 2012 in Florissant, Missouri, while a member of the St. Louis Rams.
Florissant police said Quinn was involved in a single-car accident on an exit ramp of Interstate 270 on July 10, 2012. Police said he was cooperative with them during the arrest.
Quinn was also charged with failure to exercise a high degree of care and having no insurance.
August 2023 – Summerville, S.C.
In August 2023, Quinn was arrested in Summerville, South Carolina after police found four unoccupied vehicles in a subdivision had been damaged.
At some point, Quinn allegedly exited his vehicle and got into a physical altercation with a woman before leaving the scene.
According to an accident report, a Ford F-150 truck crashed into multiple vehicles. Responding officers proceeded to search the vehicle and found an empty whiskey bottle on the passenger side floorboard.
Per the police report, the unidentified woman was sitting in her driveway when the suspect hit two parked vehicles. The driver then exited the truck and offered to buy her beer, the woman told investigators.
Quinn was charged with third-degree assault and battery, hit-and-run of an attended vehicle, four counts of hit-and-run property damage and striking fixtures on or adjacent to the highway.
What’s next:
Quinn was booked into the Charleston County, South Carolina jail.
Jail records show Quinn has a preliminary court date set for Feb. 27, 2025.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the North Charleston police department and previous FOX reporting.
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