Blackhawks pull off shootout win over Stars
CHICAGO -- Artemi Panarin scored the tiebreaking goal in the shootout, and the Chicago Blackhawks outlasted the Dallas Stars for a 3-2 win on Thursday night.
Patrick Kane scored in regulation and again in the shootout as the Blackhawks increased their point streak to seven games. Marian Hossa also scored for Chicago (48-20-6).
Ales Hemsky scored both of the Stars' goals in regulation. Tyler Seguin scored during the shootout round, but Jamie Benn and Hemsky were denied in their shootout attempts for Dallas (29-33-11).
Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford made 42 saves on 44 shots in regulation and overtime.
Stars goaltender Keri Lehtonen turned aside 24 of 26 shots before the shootout round.
Hossa put Chicago on top 2-1 with 11:23 remaining in the third period. Center Nick Schmaltz fed a quick pass to Hossa, who steadied the puck and fired a slap shot past Lehtonen for his second goal in as many games.
Dallas responded to even the score with 5:09 to go in regulation. Defenseman Eda Lindell flipped a shot toward the net, and the puck deflected to Hemsky to the left of the crease before Crawford could recover. Hemsky capitalized for his second goal of the game and the third goal of his injury-shortened season.
Chicago opened the scoring on a wrist shot by Kane with 11:47 to go in the first period. The shot marked Kane's team-leading 33rd goal of the season and his 13th goal in the past 14 games.
Dallas evened the score at 1 on Hemsky's first goal of the game with 7:34 remaining in the second period. Center Cody Eakin parked near the crease as Hemsky unleashed a wrist shot above Crawford's right shoulder.
NOTES: Stars C Jason Spezza missed his second consecutive game because of a back injury. Spezza is third on the team with 42 points (12 goals, 30 assists) in 59 games this season. ... Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews increased his point streak to seven games with an assist in the first period. ... Stars D Stephen Johns was a healthy scratch for the second game in a row. ... Chicago announced Thursday that it signed C Tanner Kero to a two-year extension through the 2018-19 season. Kero, 24, has five goals and seven assists in 39 games. ... Blackhawks fans greeted Hall of Fame goaltender Eddie Belfour with a standing ovation during a pregame tribute. Belfour skated on to the ice in full uniform and pads as part of the team's "One More Shift" promotion.