5 takeaways: Stars get outplayed in Game 4 as power-play struggles grow

DALLAS -- The Flames came out with desperation and proved how dangerous they can be. They jumped all over the Stars from the drop of the puck and earned a crucial 4-1 victory to even the series, 2-2.
Dallas couldn't do anything with another dazzling performance from Jake Oettinger, who made 50 saves on 53 shots. The Stars went 1-for-6 on the power play, the lone goal coming with five minutes left in the third.
Here are the five takeaways of the game.

OETTINGER DOES ALL HE CAN

If not for his heroics throughout the game, this one would've gotten out of hand quickly. He single-handedly kept this a scoreless game through the opening 20 minutes, punctuated by a jaw-dropping glove save on Tyler Toffoli.
He gave up three goals on 53 shots, but his teammates couldn't provide him with any offense until it was too late.

STARS CAN'T STAY OUT OF THE BOX

The Stars could only get away with a frequent trip to the penalty box for so long. They were burned when Radek Faksa took a high-sticking penalty 17 seconds into Jani Hakanpää's tripping infraction.
The result was a power-play goal for the Flames and a 1-0 lead midway through the second period.

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FLAMES DOMINATE SECOND PERIOD

If the ice were a seesaw, one end would be straight up in the air. That's how one-sided the middle frame felt. From the game's opening puck drop, the Flames were the more desperate team, and with good reason.
They held the puck in the zone at one point late in the second period for over three minutes, changing on the fly as the Stars depleted their energy supply. Fortunately for the Stars, the power-play goal to Andersson was the only one they gave up in the middle frame.

POWER PLAY CAN'T CONVERT IN CRUCIAL MOMENTS

Down by a goal late in the middle frame, the Stars were given a power play after Andrew Mangiapane tripped Jason Robertson off the faceoff. Unfortunately, the ensuing two minutes played out like a familiar script.
Then, they had a power play five minutes into the third, but it was Calgary that had the best chance on an eye-opening 3-on-1. Oettinger managed to deny Chris Tanev point blank, but that's how rough the Stars' power play was.
Dallas has gone 2-for-17 on the power play in the series.

GAUDREAU FINALLY BREAKS THROUGH

Moments after an unsuccessful Stars power play in the third, Johnny Gaudreau was hooked on a partial breakaway.
Awarded a penalty shot, the 115-point man in the regular season walked in and tucked a backhander five hole to give Calgary a 2-0 lead. It was a backbreaker for the Stars, who had plenty of opportunities to tie the game earlier. We'll see if it ignites Gaudreau's goal scoring the rest of the way.
This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.
Kyle Shohara is the Digital Manager for DallasStars.com and writes about the Stars/NHL. Follow him on Twitter @kyleshohara.