LAS VEGAS -- Stationed in the crease and packaged in a 6-foot-7 frame, Ben Bishop has become the Stars' security blanket. He's there to clean up mistakes, to stone opponents, and, ultimately, to keep the Stars in games. He's been part of the strength of the Stars this season, and the team will need him more than ever down the stretch.
During the Stars'4-1 loss to the Golden Knights on Tuesday night, Bishop was strong in his second start since returning from an upper-body injury that kept him inactive for six straight games. He made 44 saves, and was spectacular in facing an onslaught early. But he couldn't cover up a third period in which the Stars were outshot 21-1.
The Stars offense hasn't given goaltenders this season cushion to operate and Tuesday night didn't give Bishop much leash again.
"Their room for error is slim to none," Stars coach Jim Montgomery said.
The loss dropped the Stars from the first wild card spot in the Western Conference, jumped by Minnesota and only one point up on Colorado for a playoff spot. Dallas has now lost seven of its last 10 games, and has two more games on the road trip in Los Angeles and St. Louis.
Bishop frustrated the Golden Knights and was only beat by Max Pacioretty's wicked wrist shot on a second-period power play, and a late carom off Tyler Seguin's foot following a Bishop turnover in the third period ("Some unlucky bounces there, and not much you can do about it," Bishop said.)Vegas added a pair of empty-net goals.
He saved the Stars by rescuing them during a third-period 5-on-3 in which Dallas had to survive 97 seconds down two men. Bishop went side to side to rob Jonathan Marchessault's attempt. He went back the other way to deny Pacioretty. On that power play, he faced seven shots. None beat him.
"What incredible saves he made on the 5-on-3," Montgomery said. "Elevated our bench. Our goalies have been fantastic all year long, and Bish was fantastic tonight."
Bishop even allowed the Stars to weather a stretch in which they went more than 12 minutes without a shot on goal. But Bishop's turnover with about five minutes left in the third period allowed Pacioretty to bank in the game-winning goal and his second one of the game.
Bishop and backup Anton Khudobin have been the most consistent part of the Stars' play this season, and are the biggest reasons Dallas entered Tuesday night with the fourth-lowest goals against in the NHL. They have been the reason the Stars playoff hopes are very relevant despite a dry offense, and have allowed the Stars to adopt an identity of playing 2-1 or 3-2 games instead of 5-4 or 4-3 ones.
But problems arise when the offense doesn't, and a single error can sink the Stars.
Bishop's performance was necessary to even keep the game tied entering the third period. And now, with the Stars' forwards corps becoming potentially more depleted, Dallas will need him and Khudobin's brilliance to be continued.
The Stars offense was nonexistent in the third period with just one shot and it came on a dump-in from the neutral zone. They offense disappeared in a tied game in a playoff hunt, and now may deal with another loss up front.
Andrew Cogliano exited the game in the first period with an upper-body injury after Vegas enforcer Ryan Reaves drove him into the boards in front of the Stars bench. Cogliano's head and left shoulder crashed into the boards and he immediately went down the tunnel to receive medical attention.
Cogliano has never missed a game due to injury in his 12-year NHL career. But he may be in danger of joining other injured forwards now. After the game, Montgomery said Cogliano was day-to-day and would be re-evaluated Wednesday in Los Angeles.
Stars captain Jamie Benn missed Tuesday night's game with an upper-body injury suffered Saturday, and re-aggravated Sunday against the Blackhawks.
"It's not precautionary," Montgomery said. "He's not available tonight."
The Stars could have used a quick recovery from Benn because of an injury to newly acquired winger Mats Zuccarello, who broke his arm blocking a shot against the Blackhawks and will miss the next four weeks recovering.Zuccarello had surgery on Tuesday morning and will remain in Frisco in the short term to recover and skate at the Stars' practice facility.
Without multiple forwards expected to contribute to the Stars' top six group, Bishop and Khudobin will be counted on to backstop the Stars to a playoff spot. In the postseason, they'll be asked again to lead the charge round-by-round.
So far this season, that hasn't been a problem for the Stars, as long as Bishop and Khudobin stay healthy.
Bishop staying healthy has historically been a problem late in the season. He missed time last year as the Stars slid down the standings. In Tampa, Bishop was absent late. Earlier this month, he missed time. But Tuesday? Tuesday was the reason he's so important to the Stars.
"Tonight, I felt like I hadn't missed a game," Bishop said.