Stars 4, Sharks 3
DALLAS -- Thanks to a shootout goal by rookie Alex Chiasson, the Dallas Stars handed the San Jose Sharks their first loss, 4-3 at American Airlines Center on Thursday.
Chiasson, Dallas' third shooter, beat San Jose goaltender Antti Niemi over his left shoulder for the lone goal of the shootout.
Cody Eakin had a goal and an assist for Dallas, which also got two assists from Ray Whitney.
San Jose took an early 1-0 lead just nine seconds in when Tyler Kennedy beat Stars goaltender Dan Ellis top shelf with a 60-foot wrister from the right faceoff circle.
But Dallas answered at 16:44 when Tyler Seguin netted his third of the season, scoring off a rebound for the equalizer. Niemi made a pad save on a shot from distance by Dallas' Stephane Robidas but Seguin beat San Jose's Jason Demers to the puck by a split second to tap in the carom to make it 1-1.
The Sharks pulled ahead again when Matthew Nieto scored his second of the season, beating Ellis on the glove side with a 40-foot slap shot from the high slot with 1:08 remaining before the first intermission to recapture the lead for San Jose.
Just 1:53 into the middle frame, Dallas pulled things level at 2, this time it was Trevor Daley who flicked in a rebound for the equalizer. Eakin's initial shot was deflected by the Sharks' Matt Irwin and after the puck deflected off San Jose's Brad Stuart in front of the visiting net, Daley scored to tie it with a 25-foot wrister.
But the Sharks retook the lead at 12:31 when Patrick Marleau scored on a wraparound to make it 3-2, a play which was initially ruled no goal but after a quick review, the goal was awarded to Marleau. Just 27 seconds later, Dallas answered, this time it was Eakin who scored off a rebound after the initial shot by Chiasson was denied by Niemi.
After a scoreless third period, this one headed to overtime and, despite the Sharks being on the power play for the final 1:02 of the extra frame, Dallas was able to force the shootout.
NOTES: Kennedy's goal was the fastest allowed by the Stars in franchise history and the second-quickest goal in Sharks history. Former San Jose LW Stephane Matteau holds the team record, scoring eight seconds into a 5-2 loss at St. Louis on Jan. 11, 2000. ... Stars RW Valeri Nichushkin returned to the lineup after coach Lindy Ruff rested him Tuesday at Colorado. ... C Joe Thornton appeared in his 600th game as a Shark. ... Ellis started his third consecutive game for the Stars, but Kari Lehtonen, out with a lower-body injury, could return this weekend. ... Sharks D Brad Stuart saw his first action since Oct. 8. He returned from a three-game suspension and replaced injured D Dan Boyle in a pairing with D Jason Demers. ... The announced attendance was 14,898.
