Rick Bowness experienced quite a day of change.
Bowness began Tuesday as an assistant coach for the Dallas Stars but ended it with his first victory as an interim head coach in 15 years, just hours after the team dismissed head coach Jim Montgomery.
With Ben Bishop securing his first shutout of the season and the 32nd of his career, the Stars defeated the New Jersey Devils 2-0.
“As much as I’m excited to be in charge again,” Bowness said, “this isn’t how I wanted it to happen. I came here to work with Monty and to win the Stanley Cup with him.”
Devils interim coach Alain Nasreddine, who has been in his role for just a week longer than Bowness, is still searching for his first win after four games (0-3-1).
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Nasreddine said. “There are a lot of mixed emotions, but after a week, you start to get into a routine and realize this is happening. Our situation doesn’t help, but I’m passionate about what I do, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Montgomery was dismissed on Tuesday morning. General manager Jim Nill cited unspecified unprofessional conduct that violated the “core values and beliefs of the Dallas Stars and the NHL.” Nill did not provide further details.
Radek Faksa and Joe Pavelski scored in the first period for Dallas, while Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood kept his team competitive with 33 saves.
“It was kind of an odd day, not an easy one,” Pavelski said. “Playing the game was the easiest part. Monty did a great job preparing this group, and today’s game showed the foundation he’s built here.”
The Stars secured their third consecutive win.
Meanwhile, the Devils, sitting last in the Metropolitan Division, have not won in their last six games and have been outscored 25-9 during that stretch.
Bowness, a coaching veteran of 35 years, was hired by Montgomery in June 2018. He had been overseeing the penalty kill and will continue in that role while also working with the forwards.
“I was a little rusty,” Bowness admitted. “It’s much easier running the defense with only six guys. But I enjoyed it; it was fun.”
Pavelski, a seasoned player with 12 years in the league, was impressed with Bowness.
“He brings a lot of energy to this group, and he had a lot of energy on the bench tonight,” Pavelski said.
Bowness has previously served as a head coach for five other teams over nine NHL seasons, accumulating a 123-289-48-3 record, with his last stint as a head coach being with Phoenix in 2003-04. Montgomery finished his time as Stars coach with a 60-45-16 record over one-plus seasons.
Dallas scored just 1:42 into the Bowness era. Andrew Cogliano sent a pass from the left corner to Faksa behind the net, and Faksa beat Blackwood with a wrap-around goal.
Pavelski doubled the lead at 11:50 of the first period, backhanding a Roope Hintz wrist shot rebound into the net.
The Stars dominated the first period, outshooting the Devils 16-2.
New Jersey outshot Dallas 24-19 in the final two periods but couldn’t get past Bishop.
Each team had only one power play in the first two periods. The Devils failed to register a shot on theirs, while Dallas managed two shots.
Early in the third period, P.K. Subban tried to spark the Devils by drawing two penalties 10 seconds apart. Despite New Jersey controlling the puck in the third, Bishop held firm, securing the Stars’ first shutout.
“We’ve come close to a shutout a few times this year,” Bishop said. “The goalie gets the credit, but it’s really a team effort.”
Game Notes:
- The Stars and Washington Capitals are tied for the NHL’s best record since Nov. 1 (13-3-2).
- The Devils placed C Nico Hischier (illness) on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 5.
- Bishop’s lowest saves total in a shutout was 13 on Dec. 4, 2014, for Tampa Bay against Buffalo.
- New Jersey stopped all five of Dallas’ power plays, while the Stars successfully stopped all three Devils’ man advantages.
UP NEXT:
- Devils: Continue their four-game road trip at Colorado on Friday.
- Stars: Conclude their four-game homestand against Vegas on Friday.
