Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - James Neal scored the game-winning goal with a little over two minutes left in overtime to lift the Dallas Stars past the Toronto Maple Leafs, 4-3, at American Airlines Center.
Dallas Stars Escape With 4-3 OT Win Over Toronto
Stephane Robidas' slapper from the right point bounced off the pad of Jonas Gustavsson. Neal was right there to chip-in the rebound for Dallas, which has won four in a row versus Toronto.
Neal added an assist for the Stars, who have won two straight and three of four. Brad Richards had a pair of goals, while Mike Ribeiro added a goal and an assist. Marty Turco stopped 33-of-36 shots for the victors.
Nikolai Kulemin had a pair of goals for the Maple Leafs, who were coming off their first win of the season on Monday. Lee Stempniak lit the lamp, while Gustavsson turned aside 32-of-36 shots for Toronto, which hasn't beaten the Stars since October 22, 2003.
With the score tied 1-1, Richards scored on the power play just 1:52 into the third to give Dallas a one-goal edge. The Stars got set up in the Toronto zone before Ribeiro passed to Richards, whose one-timer from the left circle found the back of the net.
Stempniak’s power-play goal at 7:42 tied the contest at 2-2 but Kulemin’s tip- in off a rebound with 6:49 left gave the Maple Leafs a 3-2 edge.
However, Ribeiro deadlocked the tilt with 2:45 remaining. Jamie Benn's shot from the right point deflected off the stick of Ribeiro and past Gustavsson.
After a scoreless first period, Richards scored with 4:47 left in the second to give the Stars a 1-0 edge. Neal’s shot set up a rebound for Richards, who skated around the net and chipped a shot off a defender and into the net.
Kulemin’s first goal of the year with three minutes to go tied things up. Kulemin gathered a rebound and made his way behind the net before his wrap- around deflected off Turco and into the net.
Jason Blake had three assists for the Leafs...Dallas was without forward Steve Ott, who was suspended for two games on Tuesday for an attempt hip check on St. Louis' Carlo Colaiacovo...This was the only meeting between Dallas and Toronto this season...The Stars host Florida on Friday, while the Maple Leafs travel to Buffalo on Friday.
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