(Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press Via AP)
Since moving to Dallas in 1993, the Stars have won only one Stanley Cup in 1999. It’s safe to say the franchise has suffered painful losses in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, which ones are the worst of the worst?
This is a list of the top 10 worst single Playoff losses in Dallas Stars history. One rule is in place with the list. If one loss from a series is in the top 10, another one can’t be in the top 10. Some Stars fans could put two losses from one particular series. Let’s dive right in:
#10 Stars lose Game 7 of the 1997 Western Conference Quarterfinals in an upset to Edmonton Oilers
After finishing the 1996-97 season winning the Central Division with 104 points, the Stars earned the no. 2 seed in the Western Conference for the 1997 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the seventh seeded Oilers.
In the series, the Stars lost three games in overtime (Game 3, Game 5 2OT). The Stars forced Game 7 after winning 3-2 in Game 6. Game 7 would need overtime with the score tied 3-3. There’s a saying the third time is the charm. Was third time the charm for the Stars in overtime? No. Oilers forward Todd Marchant sealed the upset scoring 12:26 into the first overtime to end the series.
#9 Stars collapse in Game 6 vs Anaheim Ducks in 2014 first round
After a six-year Playoff drought, the Stars sneaked into the Playoffs with 91 points as the second Wild Card team matching up against the best in the West the Anaheim Ducks.
The Stars lost both Game 1 and 2 on the road in Anaheim. Dallas rallied and won the next two at home before losing Game 5 in Anaheim. Game 6 at the AAC in an effort to force a Game 7 back to California looked well up 4-2 in the third period. Then, it got ugly for Dallas.
With two minutes, 10 seconds left in the third, Nick Bonino scored for Anaheim making it 4-3. With 24 seconds left, Devante Smith-Pelly tied the game 4-4. The game winner in overtime was scored 2:47 into overtime by Bonino to clinch the series. Bonino started the comeback in the third, and ended the first round series.
#8 Johnny Gaudreau ends the Jake Oettinger 2022 Playoff show in Game 7 of round one
The 2022 first round matchup between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars was highlighted by goaltenders Jacob Markstrom and Oettinger.
Calgary and Dallas split the first two games in Calgary, then split the next two in Dallas. Calgary won Game 5 and Dallas responded winning Game 6 at home. It came down to Game 7.
Jamie Benn scored for Dallas 40 seconds into Game 7. The Flames scored twice in the second period as Vladislav Namestnikov scored the lone Stars goal in the second period. No goals in the third were scored. Game 7 needed overtime.
Oettinger made phenomenal saves against Calgary. All Flames fans and players could do is wonder how Oettinger could let one in. It happened 15:09 into overtime with Johnny Gaudreau ending the series. Oettinger’s 64-save performance ended up with an overtime loss. Oettinger finished the 2022 Playoffs with a .954 save percentage.
#7 Mighty Ducks’ Petr Sykora ends the game that would not end in Game 1 of the 2003 Semifinals
Dallas finished the 2002-03 NHL season with the best record in the Western Conference with 111 points. After defeating the eighth seed Oilers, the Stars met the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim who upset the no. 2 seed defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings as the no. 7 seed.
It was a goaltenders battle in game 1 between the Stars’ Marty Turco and the Ducks’ Jean-Sébastien Giguère. Stars forward Brenden Morrow tied Game 1 up at 3 with 2:47 remaining in regulation. The coffee was needed for everyone inside the AAC.
The first overtime ended. The second overtime ended. The third overtime ended. The fourth overtime ended. When will this game end?
It ended 48 seconds into the fifth overtime with Ducks forward Petr Sykora scoring. To play that long and lose can deflate anybody.
Turco made 50 saves; Giguère made 60 saves.
The Stars lost Game 2 in overtime in the next game. Dallas trailed 3-1 going home for Game 5 and won Game 5. But, lost Game 6 to end the series. If the Stars won Game 1, the momentum and series could’ve change drastically for Dallas.
Had Dallas won the series, they would’ve played the Wild in the Conference Finals. The Ducks swept the Wild and took the New Jersey Devils to seven games in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals before losing.
#6 Red Wings end any hope of a 3-0 collapse and eliminate Stars in the 2008 Western Conference Finals
The Stars entered the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the fifth seed. The Stars defeated the Ducks in six games in round one and defeated the Sharks in round two in six games. Game 6 against the Sharks was highlighted by Morrow’s goal in the fourth overtime to win the series.
The Conference Finals opponent was the President’s Trophy Detroit Red Wings. The Wings won the first three games of the series. Dallas won the next two to force a Game 6 with Turco allowing two goals combined in Game 4 and Game 5.
Game 6 started rough with Dallas trailing 3-0 after the first period. Stephane Robidas scored 2:27 into the third to make it 4-1 Detroit and that was it. Detroit clinched the West inside the AAC. Had Dallas won, they would’ve faced the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup Finals.
(Jessica Rinaldi/REUTERS)
After losing the series, the Stars lost fan favorite and important players after 2008 including Morrow, Turco, Mike Modano, Sergei Zubov, Brad Richards and Jere Lehtinen before making the Playoffs at last in 2014. Three years after losing to Detroit, the Stars filed for bankruptcy. It was a rough and dark six years before Dallas got back into the Playoffs again in 2014.
#5 Lighting conquer the Bubble and win Game 6 of the 2020 Stanley Cup vs Stars
The 2019-20 NHL season was suspended due to COVID-19 on March 12, 2020. The NHL announced its plan to start back the season in May 2020 with the NHL Bubble. Dallas began its play in the Bubble on Aug. 3. Before the season was suspended, the Stars lost their last six games of the regular season.
The Stars defeated the Flames, Avalanche and Golden Knights to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. Dallas would meet the Tampa Bay Lightning from the Eastern Conference.
After winning Game 1, Dallas lost the next three games. Dallas lost Game 4 was lost in overtime with Kevin Shattenkirk scoring the game winner. The Stars had new life after Corey Perry scored in double overtime in Game 5 to win 3-2 to force a Game 6.
Lightning goaltender Andre Vasilevsky had other plans to have the series go seven games. The Lightning shutout the Stars 2-0 to clinch the Cup. After the game, Benn was defeated after losing the Cup.
#4 St. Louis native Pat Maroon scores Game 7 clincher in St. Louis of round two in 2019
After upsetting the Nashville Predators in the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Stars matched up with the St. Louis Blues in round two.
After trailing the series 2-1, the Stars won the next two games to go up 3-2 going home for Game 6. The Stars lost Game 6 by a final of 4-1 to make the series go seven games.
Stars forward Mats Zuccarello tied Game 7 at 1 with just over four minutes left in the first period. After that goal, the game became a goaltender battle between Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington and Stars goaltender Ben Bishop. Overtime was needed for Game 7.
In double overtime, Maroon scored on a rebound past Bishop after Robert Thomas hit the post. Bishop made 52 saves in Game 7. The Blues would go on to win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2019.
#3 Blues chase Kari Lehtonen from the crease in Game 7 of the second round in 2016
The Stars clinched the best record in the Western Conference with 111 points. Benn scored 89 points in the regular season which was more points than his 87 points in his Art Ross season from 2014-15. After defeating the Wild in round one, the Stars met the St. Louis Blues in round two.
The Stars trailed the series 3-2 going into Game 6 in St. Louis. Dallas won Game 6 by a final of 3-2 forcing Game 7 at home in Dallas.
Throughout the 2015-16 regular season, Dallas played goaltenders Lehtonen and Antti Niemi played great as a duo. Lehtonen posted a 2.76 GAA in the regular season and Niemi posted a 2.67 GAA. Lehtonen started 39 games in the regular season and Niemi started 43.
In Game 7, Lehtonen got the start. It didn’t go as expected. Lehtonen allowed three goals on eight shots in the first period. Lehtonen was replaced by Niemi to start the second. St. Louis lead 5-0 after the second period. Dallas would go onto lose Game 7 by a final of 6-1 at home.
(LM Otero/Associated Press)
#2 Devils deny a Stars repeat and clinch 2000 Stanley Cup in Game 6 at Reunion Arena
After winning the 1999 Stanley Cup, the Stars started their title defense. They won the Pacific Division with 102 points and finished second in the Western Conference.
After defeating the Oilers, Sharks and Avalanche to win the Western Conference, the Stars faced the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Devils entered the Cup hot completing a 3-1 comeback in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Flyers. The goaltender matchup for the 2000 Cup was a great one between Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur and Stars goaltender Ed Belfour.
The Devils had home ice advantage for the Cup. In Game 1, the Devils won 7-3. Dallas won Game 2 with the next two games at home. After losing 2-1 in Game 3, the Stars held a 1-0 lead going into the third period of Game 4. The Devils scored three goals in the third to win 3-1 in Game 4.
Dallas forced a Game 6 back in Dallas after Modano scored triple overtime to win 1-0. Dallas had a new sense of confidence going home to force a Game 7.
Stars captain Derian Hatcher hit Sykora with under eight minutes left in the first period. Sykora left the game on a stretcher and didn’t return. In the second period, both teams traded goals. For the second straight game, overtime was needed.
In double overtime, Devils forward Jason Arnott ended any chance of repeating as Patrik Elias found Arnott from the corner and Arnott put the puck from the passed Belfour for a 2-1 win in Game 6. No repeat for Dallas. The Stars lost all three home games in the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals. Losing the Cup at home in double overtime would make any fan or player sick to their stomach.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Stars lose Game 6 of the 1998 Western Conference Finals vs Red Wings
- Despite losing in the Western Conference Finals as the President’s Trophy winner, Dallas would rebound from the Detroit series and win the Cup the following year.
Stars lose Game 7 of the 2007 Western Conference Quarterfinals vs Canucks
- Dallas forced a Game 7 after trailing 3-1 before losing Game 7 by a final of 4-1. The following year, Dallas made a run to the Western Conference Finals.
Stars lose Game 6 of the 2023 Western Conference Finals vs Golden Knights
- Dallas forced a Game 6 after trailing 3-0 to Vegas before losing 6-0 in Game 6. There’s another loss from the Vegas series that clinches the number one spot on the list.
#1 Benn is forced to leave, Oettinger is chased out of the net and debris is thrown onto the ice in Game 3 of the 2023 Western Conference Finals vs Golden Knights
This is the worst Playoff loss and the most embarrassing Playoff loss in Stars history.
After the Stars trailed the Vegas Golden Knights 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals, they would host Game 3 and Game 4 to get back in the series.
Game 3 started rough as Jonathan Marchessault scored 1:11 into the game for a 1-0 Vegas lead. Forty-two seconds later, it got worse. Benn cross-checked Golden Knights captain Mark Stone in the head. Officials reviewed the hit and called a game misconduct. Benn’s night was over 1:53 into Game 3.
Vegas’ Ivan Barbashev scored the lone goal on the five-minute major 5:57 into the first period. It got worse. William Carrier scored with 12:50 remaining in the first period to make it 3-0 Vegas. Stars head coach Pete DeBoer pulled Oettinger after Carrier’s goal. Oettinger lasted 7:10 of Game 3 before getting pulled for Scott Wedgewood.
Dallas trailed 3-0 after the first. Alex Pietrangelo scored 8:28 into the second to make it 4-0 Vegas. Frustration boiled over for the Stars late in the second period.
With under 30 seconds left in the second period, Stars forward Max Domi hit Vegas’ Nicolas Hague and received a misconduct penalty. It set the fans off as debris was thrown on the ice from Stars fans.
The teams were sent to the locker room with 21.6 seconds left. As the teams returned to finish the second period and start the third period, fan frustration wasn’t done as Knights goaltender Adin Hill had popcorn thrown at him.
Dallas would lose Game 3 by a final of 4-0 and fans booed the team heavily as the final seconds ticked off the clock. Hill recorded a 34-save shutout. The loss was bad for Dallas that the Stars released a statement.
After the Game 3 loss, Dallas’ captain wouldn’t speak to the media.
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