"We talk about being good with effort and execution, and if you have no effort, it doesn't matter what you're trying to accomplish or what your game plan is, you're not going to be able to execute," Montgomery said. "That was our poorest performance of the preseason, and we just have to get better. We can't accept having that kind of effort."

Dallas dropped a 3-1 game to the Blues, despite an outstanding performance from 23-year-ol goalie Landon Bow, and Montgomery said he felt the team lacked the necessary effort to compete from the drop of the puck.

ST. LOUIS -- The Stars on Friday got their first taste of preseason disappointment, and the first taste of coach Jim Montgomery's real criticism.

Dallas held a lengthy practice on Thursday and flew in the day of the game, so that might explain getting outshot 14-4 in a scoreless first period. But Montgomery said there were no excuses.

Video: Jim Montgomery breaks down preseason loss to Blues

"We weren't very good this morning at the morning skate, and it carried over," Montgomery said. "If it wasn't for Landon Bow, it would have been a bad, bad loss."

Bow was thrust into action because of a minor injury to Anton Kudobin, and he took advantage, stopping 23 of 25 shots. Bow is expected to battle with Colton Point for the job of No. 1 goalie with the Texas Stars, and he will return to Cedar Park before the start of the regular season.

"I'm really happy for him," Montgomery said. "I told him, 'You're ready for this, go out and enjoy this.' And he had a great game. Everybody in front of him did not."

Tweet from @DallasStars: STARS GOAL!! Comeau nets one to make it 2-1 with just over a minute to go. #GoStars pic.twitter.com/bkaOAgn7tB

The Stars rallied and finished with an 18-12 advantage in shots on goal in the second and third periods. However, they didn't show the urgency that Montgomery was seeking. Bow kept the score 1-0 until Jaden Schwartz scored on a rebound in the third period. Dallas then pulled the goalie with 2:18 remaining and Blake Comeau cut the deficit to 2-1.

Both Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin had scoring chances to tie the game after that, but Vladimir Tarasenko tallied into an empty net with seven seconds remaining for the final score.

"It's different traveling the same day and playing a game, but that's shouldn't be an excuse," said Stars defenseman John Klingberg. "I think every game it's been getting better. Maybe a setback today. We've got some stuff to work on, but it could be good to break it down on video and talk about it. So I think no panic at all."

Video: Jason Spezza says there's still work for Stars to do

In fact, the Stars could use the performance as motivation for the final preseason game Sunday at home against Colorado. Dallas will follow that with the regular-season opener on Thursday against the Coyotes at American Airlines Center.

"It's hard to replicate a regular-season game, but I think today will be a good learning lesson," said center Jason Spezza of the 4-1-1 Stars. "We hadn't lost in regulation yet, so this will probably be a good spark."

Montgomery is on board with that plan.

"It's good that we have Sunday night left," the coach said. "Players just have to look at themselves in the mirror. We weren't mentally prepared to play tonight."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

1. Bow steps up, looks good in first full preseason game

Video: Blues spoil solid night for Stars goalie Landon Bow

Bow was supposed to ride the pine and eat popcorn these final two preseason games and then take the drive down to Cedar Park to start his "real" season.

Instead, the 23-year-old goalie was tossed into the lineup Friday to cover for regular backup Khudobin. And "cover" is a good word for it. The Stars, were outshot 14-4 in the opening period, and Bow stopped them all. He eventually allowed two goals on 25 shots in a 3-1 loss to St. Louis, but he was clearly the star of the game for Dallas.

"He was phenomenal," Spezza said. "He's been great all camp. You can tell he has really worked hard on his game. He kept us in the game early, and when a guy works that hard, you have to nod your head to him."

Bow said he actually was happy he was under so much early duress.

"It was good the way it started for me," he said. "I was pretty nervous going into it, but getting a lot of shots, you really don't have time to think, and I think that was really good for me."

Bow made a skate save on Alex Pietrangelo on a breakaway, poke checked a wide-open Tarasenko, and stopped Schwartz on a penalty shot. He was spectacular at times.

Asked if was surreal making big stops against big players, Bow said: "Looking back, I'll say that. But when you're in the moment, you can't really get caught up in who is against you. You start oogling them too much, that's when bad things happen."

Bow said he's excited to return to Cedar Park and get ready for the AHL season.

"I feel really good," he said. "I feel real confident, I'm seeing the puck well and just enjoying it a lot. I've just got to carry this momentum over down there."

2. More strategies unveiled

The Stars have worked on 3-on-3 overtime in the preseason, have tried to score an empty-net goal with a high-volume shot strategy, and on Friday pulled the goalie for the first time under Montgomery with 2:18 remaining in the game.

The move worked, as Comeau scored with 1:57 remaining to cut the deficit to 2-1. Then, both Benn and Seguin had scoring chances before the Blues scored into an empty net.

"I think all coaches think differently of when you want to pull the goalie, but I thought we got some good chances there," said Klingberg.

Montgomery said he has had all sorts of strategies to pull the goalie when he coached in college and said he has even done it in the second period when a good opportunity presented itself.

"If you're behind and you're gaining scoring chances and puck possession, I think you wait until the appropriate time in the last two minutes," Montgomery said. "But if your team's flat and you're losing by three in the second period, I'm not against pulling the goalie then. Because you need to change the momentum of the game.

"If your team's not doing anything and you're flat, you need to put urgency in their game, and that's the best way to do it is by pulling the goaltender."

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club.

Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika.