Stars score four in third, rally past Coyotes

GLENDALE, Ariz. --The Dallas Stars scored four straight goals in the third period to rally past the Arizona Coyotes, 4-2 at Gila River Arena on Sunday.

Jamie Benn had a goal and an assist, Roope Hintz scored the tiebreaking goal, and Anton Khudobin made 33 saves for the Stars (22-14-4), who also rallied for a 3-2 shootout win against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
"It was a character win, a good group effort. It wasn't really going our way in the first two periods and Khudobin] kept us in it," said Benn, whose line double shifted in the third period. "We found a way to play 20 good minutes."
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Conor Garland had a goal and an assist for the Coyotes (21-16-4), who have lost three straight games, four of their past five overall, and five of their past six at home. Antti Raanta made 21 saves.
"We had a great first period, and I thought we had a good second as well. It's just that they brought it in the third and we couldn't hang on," Coyotes forward Brad Richardson said.

Benn cut it to 2-1 at 2:18 of the third, kicking the puck following Tyler Seguin's redirection to his backhand and scoring into an open net in front.
Alexander Radulov tied it 2-2 at 10:46 on a one-timer short side from the left circle after receiving a drop pass by Andrej Sekera from behind the net.
"It's not an easy game, it's a battle game, a hard game," Khudobin said. "We found a way, we got a huge two points, and we found a huge team effort."
Hintz gave Dallas a 3-2 lead at 15:51. Denis Gurianov attempted to throw the puck to the net from a sharp angle along the right boards, but his shot deflected off the stick of Richardson to Hintz, who scored into an open net.
"There were three plays (by) three individuals and blown coverages," Coyotes coach Rick Tocchet said. "We leave [Benn] in front. Radulov, you've got to protect the house on that play. And the third goes back door, you're just sleeping. Three plays."
Mattias Janmark, who left the game briefly in the first period following a hit by Taylor Hall, scored an empty-net goal at 18:24 for the 4-2 final.
Hall scored his second goal in six games since being acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils on Dec. 16 to give Arizona a 1-0 lead at 8:42 of the first.
Garland, who was promoted to Hall's line after a 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, extended the lead to 2-0 at 18:02 with a sharp angle shot off the pads of Khudobin.
"There was some talk (in the room) after that, we got outshot pretty bad (22-5 in the first period) and a 2-0 lead by them," Benn said. "We needed a kick in the butt, and we found a way to come back and get two points."
Coyotes forward Derek Stepan (concussion protocol) left the game at 2:43 of the second period following a hit behind the net by Stars defenseman Jamie Oleksiak, who was assessed an interference penalty on the play.
Dallas' next game is the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic against the Nashville Predators at Cotton Bowl Stadium on Jan. 1.
"We've got two days to get ready for it and kind of take it in and enjoy it," Benn said. "But at the same time, it'll be big points on the line against a division rival."

They said it

"The second and third period is how we want to play the game, the first period wasn't. It's that simple. [The players] picked up their emotion, they picked up their passion, and that carried the play. The biggest thing out of the game is we responded and played to our expectations." -- Stars coach Rick Bowness
"We couldn't find a way to lock it down. I think you kind of see as the second half (of the season) kicks in, the intensity ratchets up with big games and that playoff feel, and that's just how it is in this League. You've got to be ready for it." -- Coyotes forward Brad Richardson

Need to know

Radulov has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in his past eight games. … Seguin has nine points (five goals, four assists) in his past eight games. … Coyotes forward Vinnie Hinostroza and defenseman Jordan Oesterle were healthy scratches. … Arizona is 8-10-1 at home and has lost three in a row in regulation for the first time this season.

What's next

Stars:2020 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic against the Nashville Predators at Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas (2 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVAS)
Coyotes:Host the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; FS-A, FS-A PLUS, FS-MW, NHL.TV)