When New York Islanders forward Anders Lee tied the game with 1.1 seconds remaining to force overtime, the Dallas Stars thought they had another collapse on their hands. But Cody Eakin scored 2:18 into overtime and Kari Lehtonen made 35 saves for Dallas in a 3-2 win at American Airlines Center on Tuesday.
Dallas has been outscored in the third period 81-53 this season. Even though the Stars blew another late lead, they ended a six-game losing streak. Eakin's goal, his 15th of the season, came from a wrist shot from the slot off the rush after receiving a pass from Dallas captain Jamie Benn, who stripped Islanders forward Ryan Strome of the puck at the Stars blue line. Brett Ritchie and Vernon Fiddler scored for Dallas (28-26-10). Josh Bailey scored for the Islanders (41-21-3), who forced overtime when Lee's wrist shot deflected in off the right skate of Dallas defenseman Jordie Benn. It was Lee's 21st goal of the season. New York had the extra attacker after goalie Jaroslav Halak left the ice with 1:26 remaining. Despite seeing the Stars surrender the lead, Dallas coach Lindy Ruff felt Benn still had a solid performance. Fiddler's goal, his eighth of the season, came 7:28 into the third period after a Ryan Garbutt slap shot from the right point sailed over the net. The ensuing carom fell right to Fiddler and he poked the puck in at the near post. The Stars trailed 1-0 heading into the third period. Bailey scored 15:25 into the game for New York. Ritchie tied the game 2:24 into the third with his fourth goal of the season, also coming off a rebound. It was his first goal in 12 games after starting his NHL career with three goals in his first six games. Dallas defenseman Trevor Daley sustained a lower-body injury 1:48 into the first period after he was kneed by Islanders left wing Matt Martin, who received a major penalty and a game misconduct. Ruff took exception with the play from Martin on Daley, who Ruff said will be out for weeks. New York coach Jack Capuano didn't agree with the call on Martin. The Islanders took the lead late in the first period when Bailey scored his 13th goal of the season from the slot. Strome sent a pass to Bailey, whose wrist shot deflected off Lehtonen's blocker before landing in the left side of the net. Lehtonen denied a wrist shot at close range from Islanders captain John Tavares with 1:26 remaining. Tavares had gotten around Jamie Benn with a spin move, but Lehtonen was there to make the save. Each team had chances to win earlier in overtime. Halak denied Dallas forward Ales Hemsky with a pad save at the near post after Boychuk turned the puck over in front of the Islanders net 1:33 into overtime. New York defenseman Thomas Hickey had his own chance to end the game 1:59 into overtime but his snap from the slot hit the right post. Right wing Tyler Kennedy, acquired by the Islanders from the San Jose Sharks on Monday, did not play because of an upper-body injury. Halak made 32 saves.
Stars Quotes
Kari Lehtonen: "It was huge. We've been working hard but not getting results lately. To get two points against a great team like that is always good."Cody Eakin: "The D-man fell there, (John Klingberg) made a nice pass up to (Jamie) Benn, and Benn made a great pass over to me and I just slapped it."
Lindy Ruff: "I thought Jordie Benn played his heart out tonight, and played as well as he's played all year, and to have the puck go off his skate, I shook my head. That's a suspension. It's another stupid hit that makes you just shake your head. We've already lost our best forward (Tyler Seguin) and now we've lost probably our best defenseman for a period of time on a play that just wasn't necessary."
Brett Ritchie: "I thought we played simple [in the third period]. We didn't give them much coming to the outside. (Lehtonen) came up with some big saves there. That's what we need to do in these third periods coming forward."
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