The Dallas Stars returned to the Metroplex to get quacking while welcoming the Anaheim Ducks with good old Southern hospitality. Thomas Harley scored just 38 seconds into overtime to lift the Stars to a 4-3 win over the Ducks at the American Airlines Center on Thursday night. Dallas improved to 29-13-6, while Anaheim fell to 16-30-2. Stars fans were relieved to hear beloved defenseman Miro Heiskanen was back on Thursday. Heiskanen has been out since early January due to a lower-body injury.
The Stars’ starting lineup featured Miro Heiskanen, Tyler Seguin, Mason Marchment, Matt Duchene, Thomas Harley, and Jake Oettinger. Oettinger made 18 saves for an overtime win. Meanwhile, Ducks goaltender John Gibson made a whopping 40 saves in a losing effort.
The Stars opened the first period on a high note. Matt Duchene lighted the lamp by firing a wrist shot into the Ducks’ net for an early 1-0 lead just 2:22 into the first. Mason Marchment and Tyler Seguin collected the assists on Duchene’s 16th of the season. Seguin’s assist wasn’t only his 20th of the season but also allowed him to move into sole possession of fifth place in all-time franchise points.
But the Stars’ lead didn’t last too long. Urho Vaakanainen scored his first goal of the season on a wrist shot that went in the Stars’ net to tie the game 1-1 at 15:10 of the first. Isac Lundestrom and Jakob Silfverberg collected the assists on Vaakanainen’s first of the season.
The Stars and Ducks were tied at one apiece at the end of the first. Dallas outshot Anaheim 18-12 after the opening 20 minutes.
The Ducks snatched a one-goal lead to open the second period. Troy Terry unleashed a snap shot to put the Ducks up 2-1 just 1:28 into the second. Adam Henrique collected the lone assist on Terry’s 12th of the season.
The Stars wasted no time tying the game back up. Craig Smith fired a wrist shot into the Ducks’ net to tie the game 2-2 at 6:44 of the second. Smith’s unassisted goal, his sixth of the season, was reviewed and declared a good one that crossed the goal line. The Stars and Ducks were tied at two apiece at the end of two periods. Dallas outshot Anaheim 25-13 through 40 minutes.
The Stars tried to eclipse a Ducks lead in the third period, but things didn’t go as planned in the opening minute. Jakob Silfverberg unleashed a snap shot to put the Ducks up 3-2 just 12 seconds into the third. Isac Lundestrom collected the lone assist on Silfverberg’s fifth of the season.
The Stars managed to get even once again. Miro Heiskanen fired a wrist shot into the Ducks’ net at 10:31 of the third to tie the game 3-3. Thomas Harley and Evgenii Dadonov collected the assists on Heiskanen’s fifth of the season. The game was tied at three after three as Dallas outshot Anaheim 43-20 after a full 60 minutes.
The game shifted into a 3-on-3 overtime period. Thomas Harley fired a wrist shot for the game-winning goal to lift the Stars to a 4-3 win over the Ducks in overtime. Joe Pavelski collected the lone assist on Harley’s tenth of the season. Harley snapped his 16-game goalless drought dating back to December 23, 2023.
Notes
Three Stars of the Game
1. Thomas Harley (2 points: 1 goal and 1 assist)
2. John Gibson (3.96 GAA and .909 SV%)
3. Miro Heiskanen (1 point: 1 goal)
Up Next
The Stars will wrap up their two-game homestand with a matinee against the Washington Capitals on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Central.
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