Johnston scores 2nd goal in OT, Stars rally to defeat Flames

Wyatt Johnston scored his second goal of the game at 3:39 of overtime, helping the Dallas Stars rally to a 4-3 win against the Calgary Flames at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Tuesday.

Johnston ended it with his 43rd goal this season, a quick backhand off a pass from Jason Robertson during a four-minute power play after Ryan Strome was given a double-minor for high-sticking Robertson 48 seconds into overtime.   

“I think you’re always learning in this League,” Johnston said. “So, I think every day, we’re going to keep learning different things about ourselves and just keep trying to improve, keep trying to improve.”

Robertson had a goal and an assist, and Justin Hryckowian scored for the Stars (46-20-12), who have won two of three after losing six of their previous seven (1-4-2). Jake Oettinger made 17 saves. 

Dallas is two points ahead of the Minnesota Wild for second in the Central Division entering a matchup against the Wild on Thursday (9 p.m. ET; HULU, ESPN+). 

“I don’t think there will be a lack of focus for the Minnesota game,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said, “but the dig-in part was encouraging as we go into the Minnesota game because it makes you aware of what your mindset needs to be going into that game.” 

Joel Farabee, Yegor Sharangovich and Zayne Parekh scored for the Flames (32-36-9), who have lost three of four (1-2-1). Adam Klapka had two assists, and Devin Cooley made 21 saves. 

Calgary is 10 points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference with five games to play. 

“I liked our game tonight,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said. “There was a lot of our game where I thought we played hard. We did a good job away from the pucks, thought we had some lengthy shifts in the offensive zone. ... At the end of the night, again, you’re taking penalties against a very good power play. That’s tough.” 

Hryckowian put the Stars up 1-0 at 4:30 of the second period. Thomas Harley's wrist shot from above the left face-off circle bounced off the end boards in front to Hryckowian, who chipped the puck past a lunging Cooley just inside the right post.

Farabee tied it 1-1 at 12:38 with a backhand on a rebound off a shot from Klapka. 

Sharangovich put Calgary ahead 2-1 at 18:52 when his snap shot from the high slot deflected off Dallas defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin in front and through the five-hole of Oettinger. 

Parekh made it 3-1 with a power-play goal just 26 seconds into the third period with a wrist shot from the left circle off a cross-ice pass from Matt Coronato. 

The Stars then tied the game with two goals in a 3:35 span. 

“I think my whole career, this building’s just been a momentum building,” Farabee said. “They can heat it up pretty good when they get going. So, I thought it was, honestly, five minutes that we shot ourselves in the foot. We let them hang around and they have a lot of skill.” 

Johnston answered 50 seconds later, cutting it to 3-2 at 1:16. Mikko Rantanen wrapped a shot around the right post and Johnston cleaned up the loose puck with a shot in the crease.

Robertson evened it 3-3 at 4:51, extending his stick with one had to tap a backhand pass from Matt Duchene through Cooley’s five-hole for his 41st goal. 

“It wasn’t a great game for us,” Duchene said. “We were (stuck on) eight shots halfway through the game on, you know, a team that works hard, but they’re a bottom-three team. They did some good things, but we were just not good enough. In the third, we finally started to play.” 

NOTES: The Stars came back from down multiple goals in the third period to win for the second time this season. They trailed 3-1 in the third of a 4-3 shootout win against the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 4. ... Robertson (91 points; 41 goals, 49 assists) reached 90 points for the second time in the NHL (109 points in 2022-23). He is tied for the most 90-point seasons in Stars/Minnesota North Stars history with Neal Broten, Dino Ciccarelli, Mike Modano and Bobby Smith. ... Dallas defenseman Tyler Myers returned after missing three games with an undisclosed injury. He had one assist and one shot on goal in 14:30 of ice time. ... The Stars dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen. ... Flames defenseman Kevin Bahl played 1:15 on two shifts before leaving with a lower-body injury in the first period. No update was provided.