Stars 2, Flyers 1
PHILADELPHIA -- The hot-starting Dallas Stars continued their surge by holding off the Philadelphia Flyers for a 2-1 win Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center.
Dallas (5-1-0) won its fourth consecutive game thanks to goals from the usual leaders, center Tyler Seguin and left winger Jamie Benn, while goalie Antti Niemi was strong in net.
The Stars, who came in leading the NHL in goals per game (3.80), have scored 15 over their four-game winning streak.
Philadelphia (2-2-1) lost for the first time at home after winning two straight followed by a five-day layoff. The Flyers hadn't allowed a goal on home ice before welcoming Dallas to town.
Center Sean Couturier potted the Flyers' only goal on an awkward deflection in traffic during the third period. The Stars sealed the win with a pivotal two-minute penalty kill in the final seven minutes.
Niemi (2-1-0) stopped 34 shots in his first game action since Oct. 10, when he was roughed up for six goals in the Stars' lone loss of the season.
The Flyers saw the return of goalie Steve Mason, who was out for the team's two-game winning streak while dealing with a personal family matter. Mason (0-2-1) was tested early and made 30 saves, but he received little support. In his three starts, Philadelphia has scored four goals.
In the waning moments of the first period, Dallas struck.
Flyers defenseman Brandon Manning misplayed a bouncing puck in his own zone, leading to Seguin putting a high shot past Mason with 52 seconds remaining before the first intermission.
Dallas started applying pressure late in the period, but Mason never broke until the defensive breakdown led to Seguin's fourth goal of the season. Benn and defenseman John Klingberg were credited with assists.
The Stars, who outshot the Flyers 14-7 in the first, carried the firepower over into the second, scoring on Benn's snap shot just 11 seconds into the period. Seguin and defenseman Alex Goligoski assisted on the play.
Benn has at least one point in every game this season and a goal in five of the six.
Seguin, fresh off a two-goal, two-assist effort, compiled two points to give him 10 points through Dallas' first six games.
The Flyers ended up going 0-for-4 on the power play.
NOTES: Flyers G Steve Mason made his first start in 10 days after missing two straight games because of a personal matter. Backup G Michal Neuvirth posted two shutouts starting in Mason's absence. ... Stars G Antti Niemi got the start over G Kari Lehtonen. Niemi, who hadn't played since Oct. 10, started Dallas' first two games of the season and Lehtonen started the next three. Lehtonen had a 1-10-3 record in 14 career games against the Flyers. ... C R.J. Umberger, D Luke Schenn and C Vincent Lecavalier were healthy scratches for the Flyers. Lecavalier has yet to play in a game this season. ... D Jamie Oleksiak and D Patrik Nemeth were healthy scratches for the Stars for the sixth straight game. Oleksiak appeared in 36 games last season and Nemeth played in 22.