Stars squeak past Jets
DALLAS -- Devin Shore had two assists and Antti Niemi stopped 28 of 30 shots to help the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday at American Airlines Center.
Brett Ritchie, Patrick Eaves and Tyler Seguin each had goals for Dallas (3-2-1).
Joel Armia and Mark Scheifele scored for Winnipeg (2-4-0).
Dallas struck first with 5:23 remaining in the first period when Ritchie scored off the rush from the slot to make it 1-0. After receiving a pass from Curtis McKenzie, Ritchie sent a wrist shot through the five-hole of Jets goaltender Michael Hutchinson, who stopped 23 of 26 shots, for his second goal of the season.
Seconds earlier, Niemi had denied Shawn Matthias at the near post, leading to the start of the Dallas rush. Niemi had also turned away Matthias earlier in the period.
Midway through the first period, Jets forward Drew Stafford sustained an upper-body injury and did not return to the ice.
The Stars doubled their lead 5:02 into the second period when Eaves scored a power-play goal from the high slot. Eaves one-timed a slap shot into the far side of the Dallas net, but Jets coach Paul Maurice challenged the goal, saying Hutchinson had been interfered with.
Stars defenseman John Klingberg had pushed Josh Morrissey on top of Hutchinson, but after a short review, the goal stood.
Dallas was on the power play after Toby Enstrom was whistled for tripping Gemel Smith, playing his second NHL game, 4:15 into the middle frame. It was Eaves' 100th career goal.
Stars rookie forward Justin Dowling, who was making his NHL debut, was credited with the secondary assist on the Eaves tally.
In the waning seconds of the second period, Dallas captain Jamie Benn capitalized on a turnover near the Jets blue line to create a breakaway. However, Hutchinson denied Benn with a pad save.
Winnipeg made it 2-1 heading into the second intermission when Armia capitalized on a Niemi miscue with five seconds remaining in the second period. Niemi mishit an attempt to clear the puck off the boards behind the Dallas goal and Armia collected the puck and skated around the far post before slipping the puck over the line.
Seguin's third goal of the season 7:27 into the final period gave Dallas some breathing room and it's first two-goal lead of the evening. Seguin beat Hutchinson top shelf on his short side with a well-placed wrist shot from the right circle to make it 3-1.
Hutchinson headed to the bench with 1:04 remaining and Scheifele made it a one-goal game when he scored off a rebound with nine seconds remaining. However, the Jets couldn't find the equalizer to force overtime.
NOTES: The Jets scratched LW Kyle Connor, C Bryan Little (lower body) and D Paul Postma. ... The Stars scratched D Stephen Johns, D Jamie Oleksiak and C Jason Spezza (undisclosed). ... Jets G Michael Hutchinson started his third game of the season. ... Stars C Justin Dowling, who skated on the fourth line, made his NHL debut. Dowling is the second Dallas player to debut this season. ... Winnipeg started a run of three consecutive games against Central Division foes. ... Stars G Antti Niemi started his third game of the season and first contest since Oct. 15. ... Winnipeg and Dallas also meet Thursday night at MTS Centre. ... Stars RW Patrick Eaves returned to the ice after missing Saturday's game with a lower-body injury. ... Jets RW Drew Stafford played for Stars coach Lindy Ruff in Buffalo between 2006 and 2013. ... Dallas concluded a three-game homestand.