DALLAS (AP) — Roope Hintz scored two goals in a span of about two minutes to pull Dallas even in the second, and Vladislav Namestnikov got the game-winner soon after to give the playoff-contending Stars a much-needed 3-2 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night.
Not only did the Stars overcome an early two-goal deficit, they rebounded from losing all three games on their trip to Canada that was made even more miserable
With three games left in the regular season, all at home, the Stars have 93 points and a four-point lead over Vegas for the second wild card in Western Conference. The Golden Knights have four games remaining, including a home game Sunday against San Jose before playing in Dallas on Tuesday night.
Hintz was on his rear in the crease when he stuck out his stick to knock in the puck to get Dallas within 2-1 with just over 13 minutes left in the second period. Then, the Stars were on the power play and Hintz was charging toward the net when he got a pass from Jason Robertson and had nice puck control to get around defenseman Adam Larsson for the tying goal.
Hintz has five goals in the last three games and 37 overall. Robertson assisted on both of Hintz's scores and has 37 assists to go with his team-high 38 goals.
Namestnikov got his 15th goal on a pass from behind the net from Denis Gurianov.
Jake Oettinger stopped 30 of 32 shots, and the Stars goaltender also got a secondary assist on the tying goal with his pass to Robertson.
Chris Driedger had 28 saves for the Kraken. Seattle took a 1-0 lead on Riley Sheahan’s goal, which came only seconds after the Kraken’s power play ended. Sheahan was between Oettinger and a defender when he reached around the goalie to knock in a blocked puck.
Yanni Gourde’s 100th career goal made it 2-0, when he held up his stick to deflect an in-air puck into the net.
The Stars, who left their Calgary hotel early Friday morning and didn't get home until well after midnight after having to change planes and go through customs a second time, thought they had a goal less than three minutes into the game.
But Joe Pavelski’s shot into an open net was wiped out after Seattle won a coach’s challenge for goalie interference.
NOTES
Pavelski, the 37-year-old Stars center, had his 500th career assist — a secondary helper on the first goal. He has assists in four consecutive games and his 78 points (27 goals, 51 assists) are one shy of his career high of 79 set in 2013-14 with San Jose. ... Seattle rookie Matty Beniers failed to have a point for the first time in his six NHL games. He is the only rookie this season to begin his NHL career with a point in four or more consecutive games.
UP NEXT
Kraken: At Vancouver on Tuesday night. The Canucks still have a chance to make the playoffs.
Stars: Host a potential playoff clincher Tuesday night against Vegas if the Golden Knights lose in regulation Sunday.
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