Seguin scores in shootout and Stars beat Canucks 3-2
DALLAS (AP) Antti Niemi bounced back Friday night.
After his poorest game this season, Niemi stopped all three Vancouver shootout attempts after making 34 saves and the Dallas Stars beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2.
Niemi allowed five goals on 17 shots in a 7-4 loss to Ottawa on Tuesday night.
''I just wanted to bounce back from the Ottawa game,'' he said.
He did that with the help of Tyler Seguin's goal on the first shot of the shootout, two power-play goals and a penalty-killing unit that stopped six of Vancouver's seven power plays.
Seguin sent the puck between Vancouver goalie Ryan Miller's legs for the only score on six shots in the shootout.
''I thought (Niemi) was excellent,'' Dallas coach Lindy Ruff said, ''and made some big saves.''
On the Canucks' last shootout attempt by Chris Higgins, Niemi deflected the puck wide left of the net.
There wouldn't have been a shootout if Niemi hadn't made a sprawling stop of a shot by Vancouver's Dan Hamhuis after he intercepted a long pass by the goalie.
''I didn't panic. I was just hoping for the best,'' Niemi said.
The Stars were 2 for 5 on their power plays, with Jamie Benn tipping in his league-leading 17th goal in the first period and Jason Spezza beating Miller high in the second.
Henrik Sedin tied the game on the power play with 4:10 left. Daniel Sedin, who scored in the second period for the Canucks, assisted with a pass across the goal mouth.
''Five-on-five, I thought we deserved another point,'' Henrik Sedin said. ''Special teams, I thought we didn't deserve anything.''
Benn was upset with himself for drawing the tripping penalty that resulted in the game-tying power play.
''We took too many penalties,'' he said. ''Myself, I took two, which you can't do against a team like that. They're going to eventually capitalize.''
The Stars' captain had chances to end the game in overtime. Dallas outshot Vancouver 6-2 in the extra period, but couldn't score a winning goal even on a power play. Miller finished with 23 saves.
The Stars won in their first shootout this season. Vancouver is 1-1 in shootouts.
Coach Willie Desjardins saw positives for the Canucks, who are 3-6-3 in their last 12 games.
''The power play got the last (goal), penalty kill had a big kill in overtime,'' Desjardins said. ''We finished on a positive note in both those. Maybe we don't get the win in the end, but there's no quit.''
Patrick Sharp had two assists for Dallas, the only NHL team that hasn't lost two straight games this season.
On Dallas' first power play, Seguin's one-timer from above the left faceoff circle went in off Benn's left ankle.
Vancouver tied the game after Jannik Hansen stole a pass from John Klingberg and passed across the slot to Daniel Sedin, whose wrist shot beat Niemi.
Dallas regained the lead when Spezza took a pass from Klingberg, skated down into the right circle and lifted a slap shot over Miller to a narrow opening in the upper-right corner of the net.
''I got to be more assertive on that play,'' Miller said. ''It's my responsibility, the short side.''
NOTES: Daniel Sedin's goal was the 15th of his career against Dallas. He and Benn extended their points streaks to seven games. Benn has seven goals and five assists during that time, and Daniel Sedin has six and six. ... The line of the Sedin twins and Hansen has totaled 39 points in the last nine games. ... Vancouver RW Adam Cracknell played in his 100th NHL game. ... In 10 career games against the Canucks, Seguin has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists). ... Miller played in his 20th game, tied for the most this season by an NHL goalie. ... The Stars have won nine in a row over Vancouver since Feb. 21, 2013 and are 2-0 this season.
