NHL Roundup: Big third period lifts Stars over Ducks
Jamie Benn's power-play goal with 5:37 to play on a redirected shot by John Klingberg was the difference as the Dallas Stars came from behind to beat the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 on Friday at the American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas.
Dallas cemented its hold on the first wild card into the playoffs from the Western Conference and remained in fourth place in the Central Division. The Stars have won just two of their past five, with three of those games, and two of the losses, coming in overtime.
Ryan Getzlaf got the Ducks on the board with 2:44 to play in the first period when he skated down the right wing and wired a wrist shot over the blocker of Dallas goaltender Kari Lehtonen. Corey Perry and Rikard Rakell got assists on the goal.
After a scoreless second period, Dallas tied the match with 11:10 to play in the third period on a power-play goal by Devin Shore, who deflected a pass by Tyler Seguin past Anaheim netminder Ryan Miller. Benn was granted an assist on the tally.
Wild 5, Canucks 2
Eric Staal's second-period goal stood up as the winner as visiting Minnesota downed Vancouver.
Staal broke a 2-2 tie at 15:38 of the middle frame as he got a piece of teammate Mikael Granlund's shot while tangling with Canucks defenseman Troy Stecher.
The marker was the 17th in 18 games for the 33-year-old Staal, who is challenging for the NHL goal-scoring lead with 37, three behind leader Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.
Flames 2, Senators 1
Sam Bennett and Matt Stajan gave their team much-needed secondary scoring and rookie goalie David Rittich again surrendered only one goal as visiting Calgary beat Ottawa.
Rittich made 29 saves at Canadian Tire Centre to claim his second consecutive win with a strong outing. He stopped 25 of 26 shots in a 5-1 win at Buffalo on Wednesday.
His team provided just enough offense and then hung on for the victory, which pulled the Flames within one point of a playoff spot in the Western Conference standings.
Blue Jackets 3, Red Wings 2
Defenseman Seth Jones scored twice as Columbus edged visiting Detroit at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Jones notched his second career two-goal game when he tallied twice in a span of 6 1/2 minutes in the second period.
The big night by Jones gave him 13 goals, surpassing his career high set last season.
--Field Level Media
