The Dallas Stars scored three second-period goals en route to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at United Center.
Chicago has now dropped four straight games and is 0-5-1 in its last six home games. The Hawks (24-22-8) fell eight points behind Minnesota for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. They also trail Los Angeles by seven points and Colorado and Anaheim by six.
With the Stars’ fourth overall straight win they swept the four-game regular-season series against Chicago for the first time since the 2005-06 season. Dallas holds the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference and are only one point back of St. Louis for third place in the Central Division.
Tyler Pitlick scored the game-winning goal with 4.5 seconds remaining in the second period to cap Dallas’ three-goal period against Anton Forsberg. Tyler Seguin evened the score at 1-1 with his first goal of the night and former Chicago prospect Stephen Johns gave the Stars the lead with two goals in 59 seconds.
Seguin’s goal was the result of a turnover by Anthony Duclair in the offensive end that led to a 2-on-1, with Seguin tapping in a pass from Alexander Radulov.
On the Seguin goal, Duclair turns the puck to allow the Stars to go the other way. Keith had to decide whether to play Radulov or protect the net. Looks like he thought Murphy was going to be there with Seguin. pic.twitter.com/IyfsqYtTVn
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 9, 2018
Artem Anisimov answered with a power play goal off a Brent Seabrook rebound to knot the score at 2-2 with 7:12 remaining in the second frame. It is the third straight game the Hawks have scored on the man advantage.
Another look at Anisimov’s goal. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/ou8uakLv1c
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) February 9, 2018
Pitlick then gave the Stars the lead for good when he capitalized on a Duncan Keith turnover and his shot from the point beat Forsberg for a 3-2 advantage.
Keith opts not to dump the puck and the Stars get it and score in transition. pic.twitter.com/XxSccYnLGX
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) February 9, 2018
Seguin added his second goal with 57.9 seconds remaining in the game on an empty-netter.
Chicago’s Jonathan Toews scored the game’s opening goal to end his 11-game scoring drought in the first period. Seabrook banked a long pass off the boards to set up the captain for his 15th goal this season. Seabrook had two assists in the game, his first such effort since opening night.
Toews gets his first goal in 11 games as he finds the short side on Ben Bishop. It’s 1-0 Chicago. pic.twitter.com/F9SxBATzZt
— Dylan Nadwodny (@dnadders) February 9, 2018
Dallas’ Ben Bishop stopped 37 shots in net, while Forsberg made 26 saves.
Joel Quenneville on shot quantity vs. shot quality. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/MTzIKoYSbf
— Eric Lear (@BHTVeric) February 9, 2018
The Hawks visit Minnesota on Saturday.
3 stars
1. Seguin (DAL) – 2 goals
2. Bishop (DAL) – Stopped 37 of 39 shots
3. Seabrook (CHI) – 2 assists