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SUNRISE, Fla. — During the Stars’ 6-4 win over the Panthers on Thursday night, the emotions felt inside the visitor’s dressing room spanned the spectrum.
As they jumped out to a four-goal lead in the first period, there was elation. When goaltender Scott Wedgewood left the game on a stretcher in the second period, there was fear. During the second intermission, when Wedgewood was responsive and in good spirits, there was relief. As the Panthers clawed back and trimmed the Stars lead to 5-4, concern eked in.
In the end, the overarching emotion was probably satisfaction after the Stars picked up five out of six points on a three-game road trip through the Eastern Conference.
“Getting the win, maybe it wasn’t as pretty as we want, but strong two points and a great road trip,” Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist said.
Wedgewood left the ice on a stretcher during the second period after a pair of twisting shorthanded saves on Anton Lundell. Wedgewood immediately reached towards his lower back and flipped over onto his back. After a nine-minute stoppage, Wedgewood exited through the Zamboni tunnel in the northeast corner of FLA Live Arena.
At 9:29 p.m. ET, the Stars confirmed that Wedgewood would not return to the game. After the game, Stars coach Pete DeBoer said Wedgewood’s upper-body injury would be re-evaluated back home in Dallas.
Wedgewood was walking around the Stars’ dressing room after the game.
“We’re going to go home and get him checked out, but obviously, you never like to see that,” DeBoer said. “He’s not in any danger, he’s coherent, all of that stuff.”
During the game, Wedgewood made 21 saves on 23 shots before Jake Oettinger relieved him.
Roope Hintz scored twice on his 26th birthday, and Tyler Seguin had a two-point night with a goal and an assist. Lundkvist scored his first goal as a Star, and Jamie Benn netted his seventh of the season.
The Stars jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first period following an onslaught of opportunities gifted by the Panthers. Florida mistakes and turnovers presented the Stars with plenty of scoring chances.
“They put a lot of pressure on you,” DeBoer said. “If you can win some of those pinches, make some of those plays under pressure, you can create some of those odd-man rushes. I think that was our goal coming in, and I thought we did that. We executed when we got the chances, too, which was critical.”
Hintz finished a 2 on 1 for his first goal, following a toe drag and slick pass by Seguin. Lundkvist snuck down the boards and to the net, finishing a beauty and then crashing into the boards during his celebration. Wyatt Johnston won a board battle to spring Ty Dellandrea and Benn, who deked Sergei Bobrovsky and scored through the five hole. Seguin scored on another 2 on 1, breaking his stick in the process.
Florida pushed back in the second period, cutting the Dallas lead to 5-3 entering the third. Matthew Tkachuk’s goal made it 5-4, and Dellandrea iced the game with an empty-net goal in the final minute.
Seguin, who has known Wedgewood since the two grew up in Brampton, said he was “terrified right away” after Wedgewood’s injury. But his concern was eased during the second intermission.
“Then just listen to the docs, what they’re saying and overheard,” Seguin said. “Knew that hopefully, it wasn’t too crazy serious. He was a warrior for us tonight, made some incredible saves and it’s the only reason we got up early. .. Sense of relief to see him, he was in good spirits and gave him a high-five, and hell of a save.”
When DeBoer was told that Seguin said Wedgewood was fine, he quipped: “I’m not sure if Tyler’s medical degree qualifies to give that diagnosis.”
But the very fact that DeBoer was able to laugh at the situation was an indication that Wedgewood’s injury wasn’t as severe as initially feared.
If Wedgewood is to miss any time, the Stars will likely send down Matěj Blümel to create cap space to recall goaltender Matt Murray from AHL affiliate Texas.
For now, though, the Stars return to Texas after wins in Philadelphia and Florida, and an overtime loss in Tampa. After 11 of the first 17 games on the road, Dallas will host a four-game home stand that features dates with three Central Division rivals.
“It’s a great win, great road trip for us,” DeBoer said. “Obviously, it wasn’t exactly how we wanted to draw it up, but that’s a tough lead to play with and then with the goalie going down and Otter coming in, we bent but we didn’t break.”
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