NEW YORK (AP) — Jamie Benn scored on a power play 2:17 into overtime, leading the Dallas Stars to a thrilling 5-4 victory over the struggling New York Rangers on Tuesday night.
The Stars staged an impressive comeback after falling behind by three goals early in the game. Dallas defenseman Thomas Harley was a standout performer, contributing a goal and two assists. Harley’s crucial snap shot leveled the score at 4-4 at 17:21 of the third period, capitalizing on a costly turnover by Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller in his own zone.
Benn’s game-winning goal, his 11th of the season, came while Artemi Panarin was serving a penalty for hooking. The Stars’ captain deflected a centering pass from Jason Robertson past Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick to secure the win. Harley also played a key role in the goal, providing an assist.
Vincent Trocheck briefly put the Rangers ahead 4-3 with a power-play goal midway through the final period. Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere each scored twice for New York, but it wasn’t enough to fend off the resilient Stars.
Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger made 21 saves in a solid performance, denying Quick his 400th career win. Oettinger’s record improved to 20-9-1, making him the third goaltender this season to reach the milestone of 20 wins.
The Rangers, who have struggled recently with a 6-16-1 record in their last 23 games, failed to build on their previous win against Chicago on Sunday. New York has not managed to string together consecutive victories since mid-November.
Despite trailing 3-0 early in the game, the Stars fought back and equalized with goals from Matt Duchene, Evgenii Dadonov, and Robertson. Robertson’s second-period backhand strike, which tied the game at 3-3, proved to be a pivotal moment in the contest.
Dallas started their five-game road trip on a positive note, seeking revenge for a 3-1 loss to the Rangers at home on December 20. The victory marked a strong start to their upcoming matches.
The Stars will look to build on their momentum when they face the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Rangers will aim to bounce back as they host the New Jersey Devils in their next game.
For more NHL coverage, visit AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl.
