'We've got some stuff to figure out': Devils blank Stars, 3-0

The road wasn't kind to the Dallas Stars last season, and it hasn't been a friendly place early on in 2018-19. The Stars fell to 0-2-0 away from home after a 3-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center Tuesday night.
"Luckily it's early in the season, and it's just two games, but we've got some stuff to figure out," said Stars center Tyler Seguin. "That spark isn't there like it is at home. We've got to figure out why."

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The Stars, who lost 4-1 at Ottawa Monday night, were on their heels from the drop of the puck Tuesday night in New Jersey. The Devils scored on the power play 3:42 into the game and had the Stars chasing the rest of the night. New Jersey added two more goals in the second to push the lead to 3-0.
"Play with more emotion at the start," said Stars coach Jim Montgomery. "I see a big difference with how a majority of our players play at home than when on the road. That's something we have to address, and that's between the ears."

The Stars were held to a season-low 24 shots on goal and were shorthanded a season-high six times. Anton Khudobin got the start in goal and stopped 31 of 34 shots.
New Jersey goaltender Keith Kincaid recorded his second shutout of the season as the Devils improved to 4-0-0 on the season, outscoring the opposition 17-4.
The Devils were all over the Stars early, drew a penalty and cashed in on the game's first power play when Kyle Palmieri scored off a one-timer from the left circle to make it a 1-0 game at 3:42 of the first period. The Stars had their chances. Jason Spezza had a couple of good looks in the period, including a breakaway where he shot wide. Dallas also had a couple of chances on the power play in the first but couldn't take advantage.
New Jersey extended the lead to 2-0 early in the second period. After the Stars turned the puck over in their end, Damon Severson set up Blake Coleman, who scored from the slot at the 2:03 mark. The Stars had some good chances to cut the lead to one, but Kincaid had big saves on Jamie Benn and Radek Faksa. The Devils extended the lead to 3-0 late in the period. After Khudobin broke his stick and was frantically calling to the bench for a new one, the Stars tried to break out of their end, turned the puck over and Jean-Sebastien Dea roofed a shot from the slot at the 16:19 mark.

"We should have iced the puck," Montgomery said. "Someone should have communicated to [John] Klingberg, who was behind the net to ice the puck. We tried to run our controlled breakout. We didn't execute it, and it cost us."
Benn and Devils forward Miles Wood dropped the gloves and engaged in a spirited fight early in the third.
"Just trying to get the guys going," Benn said. "It's as simple as that."
The Stars came close to getting on the board, but Seguin hit a post with Dallas on the power play, Devils forward Nico HIschier blocked a point-blank shot by Roope Hintz, and Kincaid turned away shorthanded chances by Mattias Janmark and Gemel Smith.

Turning point

The Stars were on their heels from the start of the game Monday. The Devils had 10 of the first 11 shots on goal and scored on their fifth one to take a 1-0 lead on Kyle Palmieri's power-play goal. The Stars, who had played the night before, were chasing the game for the rest of the night. The parade to the penalty box didn't help. The Stars were shorthanded six times in the game, including twice early.
"These games on the road, if you want to give yourself a chance to win you've got to stay out of the penalty box," said Stars captain Jamie Benn.
"Their power play gave them momentum and put us on our heels," said Stars coach Jim Montgomery.

Players of the game

Keith Kincaid, New Jersey: Devils goaltender stopped 24 shots for his second shutout of the season. Had several quality saves.
Kyle Palmieri, New Jersey: Palmieri's power-play goal early in the first was the game-winner and his seventh goal in four games this season.
Nico Hischier, New Jersey:Devils forward had six shots on goal, seven scoring chances and had a big block at the end of the game to help preserve Kincaid's shutout.

They said it

"You are hoping for 4-2, but 4-2, 3-3 is kind of what I expected. Like I said at the beginning of the year, there's going to be peaks and valleys a lot here for a little bit until we start playing with the right pace and energy and execution and effort." -- Stars coach Jim Montgomery on where the team is right now
"It just can't happen anymore, our road record. You have to be at least minimum .500. You want to be above with our division. And we know that. We've got to look in the mirror. Leaders have to talk about it, too. We've got to make some adjustments. I am not pressing the panic button, but we've got to figure out some stuff here."-- Stars center Tyler Seguin
"That's not good body language by me. That's frustration. I can't show that. That's a bad habit, I would say." -- Stars goalie Anton Khudobin on waving his arms for a new stick just before New Jersey's third goal

Medical matters

Stars forward Alexander Radulov left the game in the third period. Montgomery said Radulov "tweaked something" and that he should be fine. ... Defenseman Marc Methot and forward Valeri Nichushkin both got the night off due to soreness. Jason Dickinson was a healthy scratch. Roope Hintz, Gemel Smith, and Roman Polak all came into the lineup.

Stat pack

Up next

The Stars return home for three straight games at American Airlines Center, taking on Minnesota, Los Angeles, and Anaheim.

Stars lineup

Jamie Benn - Tyler Seguin - Alexander Radulov
Mattias Janmark - Roope Hintz - Blake Comeau
Devin Shore - Radek Faksa - Tyler Pitlick
Gemel Smith - Jason Spezza - Brett Ritchie
Esa Lindell - John Klingberg
Miro Heiskanen - Connor Carrick
Julius Honka - Roman Polak
Anton Khudobin
Ben Bishop
Scratched: Marc Methot (soreness), Valeri Nichushkin (soreness), Jason DickinsonInjured: Stephen Johns (post-traumatic headaches), Martin Hanzal (back)

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Mark Stepneski has covered the Stars for DallasStars.com since 2012. Follow him on Twitter @StarsInsideEdge.