NHL scores 2016: Stars lose more ground and Lightning lose Stamkos

Battered and bruised, the Dallas Stars entered the season with no room for error. A month and a half later, it seems like they’re determined to clear out as much space for it as possible. They keep piling errors onto a mountain of lost opportunities. It’s over there, in the corner by the laundry bin.

No team has lost as much firepower as the Stars. Since training camp, they’ve lost Mattias Janmark, Cody Eakin, Patrick Sharp, Jason Spezza, Ales Hemsky, and Jiri Hudler to long-term injuries. That’s a pretty decent top six on any team.

So, as untested AHLers filled out the lineup, the Stars knew they would need to make the most out of every point laid out in front of them. Honestly, they’ve done better than most would expect in the sense that they’ve hung around late in most of their games. Finishing them has been the problem, and lately they’ve begun ceding points and late leads to inferior clubs.

The trend continued on Tuesday. Home after a long road trip, Dallas clung closely with the Devils in a 1-1 game through regulation before Adam Henrique finished them off in overtime.

Nine straight in overtime. From a team boasting the likes of Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn, and John Klingberg, known for their scoring prowess. But it’s just the latest collapse. In the last two weeks alone, the Stars have blown late leads and lost in overtime to the Blue Jackets, Blackhawks, and Canucks.

Injuries can only go so far as an excuse, and Lindy Ruff will tell you they don’t even consider them an excuse in the first place. But the Stars started the season in a hole, and for every foot they climb up they find ways to fall back down again. In a contested Central Division, these last few weeks may end up being tinged with regret.

Senators 3, Flyers 2 (SO)

Hurricanes 1, Sharks 0

Blue Jackets 2, Capitals 1 (OT)

Panthers 4, Canadiens 3 (OT)

Maple Leafs 6, Predators 2

Lightning 4, Red Wings 3

Jets 4, Blackhawks 0

Blues 4, Sabres 1

Flames 1, Wild 0

Devils 2, Stars 1 (OT)

Avalanche 4, Kings 1

Ducks 4, Oilers 1

Rangers 6, Canucks 2

1. The Price was not right

Carey Price was a broken stick away from tying an 89-year-old record.

The last Hab to win 11 games in a row was George Hainsworth in 1927. It’s a record nearly a century old. And, remarkably, Price’s Canadiens were about to pull even.

And then Aaron Ekblad’s stick broke, and so did those hopes.

Still, that the Habs took another point on Tuesday shouldn’t be discounted. The negative response to their trade of P.K. Subban over the summer was so overwhelming that perhaps many of us overlooked the talent on the team. We’ve seen teams start hot and cool considerably before, but what Montreal has accomplished after the last year is impressive.

2. Patrik Laine is unreal

The Jets rookie notched his 12th goal of the year on Tuesday in a rout of the Blackhawks, giving him 12 tallies in his first 18 games. He’s shooting well over 20 percent at this point, and you’d figure that won’t continue for much longer. But I’m not willing to walk out on that limb. Laine might shoot a puck at me, and I doubt he’ll miss.

3. The kids continue to be alright, and may be so for quite some time

At some point the NHL’s rookies will hit a wall. That apparently isn’t this week.

Laine was just the headliner on another terrific showing from the NHL’s youngest and brightest. Travis Konecny and Ivan Provorov were at their best on Tuesday, piling nine shots between the two of them in a tight-knit game. Michael Matheson got in on the fun with a ridiculous assist. Mitch Marner scored again for the Leafs.

And Zach Werenski launched another missile.

Steven Stamkos just can’t stay on the ice. He scored again on Tuesday, briefly giving him the league lead points. And then ...

Not great. It appeared that Stamkos tweaked his leg; whether it was his knee or a hamstring is anyone’s guess. We won’t hear more on his condition for a day or so, it seems.

Oh, and that was after Steve Ott did this to Cedric Paquette.

And the Lightning still eked out a win.