In the Central Division, there are only two teams having a worse season than the Dallas Stars and one of those teams visited the American Airlines Center tonight. This is the first game of the season between the two clubs and the first game of a three-game homestand for the Stars.
The Chicago Blackhawks had a terrible 1-9-2 start to the season before firing head coach Jeremy Colliton and promoting Rockford Ice Hogs coach Derek King to interim head coach. There’s been improvement since then and their record is 10-6-1 since the change. There’s still a long climb out of the basement ahead though.
Both teams are coming off losses last night, Dallas a 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues and the Blackhawks lost in overtime to the Nashville Predators.
Roster changes: Jacob Peterson scratched for Tanner Kero and Miro Heiskanen is back in the lineup after being out last night with illness. Also, it was Jake Oettinger’s birthday.
First Period
Three minutes into the game came a scary situation for Tanner Kero. Brett Connolly caught him along the boards with what looks like a shoulder to Kero’s chin. Kero dropped immediately and hit his head along the boards on the way down. Trainers and then the team doctor were called out to the ice and he was eventually stretchered off and taken to the hospital.
The mid-period update from Stars Public Relations:
Update: Tanner Kero is conscious, alert and responsive. He’ll be transported to the hospital for precautionary measures and evaluation.
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) December 19, 2021
Brett Connolly was initially assessed a five-minute major and then after review and the obvious injury to Kero, given a game misconduct as well. Of note: Tanner Kero was not in possession of the puck when hit. At the very least, the hit was interference. Kero was obviously injured by the hit, which was aimed at his head either intentionally or recklessly.
The Stars Joe Pavelski scored twice on the ensuing power play. The first…