Brenden Morrow’s overtime goal completed a 4-3 comeback victory for the Dallas Stars over Los Angeles on Monday, helping the visitors edge further ahead of the Kings in the tussle for Western Conference playoff spots.
The teams entered the contest separated by a single point, but the Stars (36-23-7) moved two clear of the Kings (36-25-5) and tied the Calgary Flames for fifth-place in the West thanks to a dramatic finish.
Mike Ribeiro dropped the puck off for Morrow, who snared his 26th goal of the season just 38 seconds into overtime to give Dallas its fifth win in six games.
Photo: Reuters
Dallas headed into the third period 2-1 down, but pulled off a come-from-behind victory after trailing in the third for the ninth time this season.
Los Angeles defenseman Willie Mitchell opened the scoring at 8:39 in the first period and each team traded goals until Dallas’ Jamie Benn tied it 3-3 at 5:20 in the third.
The Kings, who remain eighth in the West, also got goals from Justin Williams and Kyle Clifford who put the home team on top 3-2 early in the third.
Ribeiro and Trevor Daley netted goals for the Stars.
CAPITALS 2, LIGHTNING 1
In Tampa, Florida, Alex Ovechkin assisted on Washington’s only goal in regulation, then scored in the opening round of the shootout to give the first-place Capitals a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday.
Alexander Semin came up big for the Caps for the second straight night, tying the game 1-1 with 5:32 remaining in the third period.
Goalie Braden Holtby replaced Michal Neuvirth after the opening period and stopped 21 shots before stopping Dominic Moore, Adam Hall and Vincent Lecavalier in the shootout to give Washington its fifth straight win.
Sean Bergenheim scored Tampa Bay’s goal on a first-period power play, redirecting a shot past Neuvirth.
BLUES 5, BLUE JACKETS 4, SO
At St Louis, Andy McDonald scored two goals and added another in a shootout as St Louis edged Columbus.
Ben Bishop allowed one goal on 20 shots after relieving Ty Conklin midway through the first period with St Louis trailing 3-1.
The Blues scored three times on four shots against Steve Mason in the shootout with Alex Steen getting the deciding tally.
Jakub Voracek had a goal and assist for Columbus, and Rick Nash had two assists.
Patrik Berglund added a goal and an assist for the Blues, who totaled four goals the previous four games. David Backes had two assists, ending a five-game point drought.
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