Miller scores twice, Hurricanes hand Stars 6th straight loss

RALEIGH, N.C. -- K'Andre Miller had two goals and an assist, and the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Dallas Stars 6-3 at Lenovo Center on Tuesday.

Andrei Svechnikov had four assists, Nikolaj Ehlers had three assists, and Shayne Gostisbehere scored for the Hurricanes (26-14-3), who have won two in a row. Brandon Bussi made 20 saves.

Seth Jarvis scored his team-leading 20th goal and added an assist in his return to the lineup after missing eight games with an upper-body injury.

“It’s bounces, things go your way a little bit,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It helps to have top-end guys back in your lineup. And also for your goalie to be your best player helps, too.”

Jason Robertson had a goal and two assists, and Mikko Rantanen had a goal and an assist for the Stars (25-10-8), who have lost six straight (0-3-3).

Jake Oettinger allowed five goals on 15 shots before being replaced in the second period by Casey DeSmith, who made 16 saves in relief.

“We put a lot of emphasis on this game and we just didn’t execute," Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan said. "What gets you out of the situation we’re in, our slump, is defense and discipline. We’re not there yet, but we’re going to have to figure it out soon.

“We’ve all got to regroup here and recognize what it takes to get out of these things, and it’s not trying to outscore your mistakes.”

The Hurricanes took a 1-0 lead at 7:19 of the first period. Svechnikov took Sebastian Aho’s pass from the right boards and fed the puck to Miller, who scored on a snap shot from low in the left face-off circle.

“Our team played great tonight,” Miller said. “‘Svech’ in particular made some great plays, especially on my two goals, finding me. Working the puck in the O-zone, breaking down the D-zone coverage, I think we did a great job tonight.”

Robertson tied it 1-1 at 11:53 while on the power play on a Carolina own goal. Robertson's chance in front was initially stopped by Bussi, who tried to freeze the puck while on his back, but as he rolled over the puck was moved into the net off the sleeve of his jersey.

Gostisbehere scored a power-play goal on a one-timer from inside the blue line to give the Hurricanes a 2-1 lead at 13:32.

“We’re giving too many chances to our opponents right now,” Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen said. “We have to be harder in the D-zone. When we get to the offensive zone, it’s fine. We’re working and everything, but we have to work harder in the D-zone and try to get opponents away from the puck and make them defend more. That’s what’s missing right now.”

Logan Stankoven pushed the lead to 3-1 at 18:56 when he stickhandled past Rantanen in the high slot before scoring on a snap shot that deflected off Dallas defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin and over Oettinger into the net. Stankoven has scored in two straight games after scoring one goal in his previous 26.

“It’s a long season, so you’re going to have ups and downs,” Stankoven said. “I’m only 22, so I’m still trying to learn this league and figure out how to be the best version of myself.”

Miller made it 4-1 at 5:17 of the second period, one-timing a pass from Svechnikov blocker side on Oettinger. He had not scored since getting two goals in a 6-3 season-opening win against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 9.

“I think your chances come and go as the season progresses,” Miller said. “I think just sticking with it, knowing that playing good hockey, the bounces are going to come.”

Jarvis scored on the power play to extend the lead to 5-1 at 6:59. Oettinger misplayed Svechnikov’s dump-in behind the net, and the puck came to Jarvis, who scored on a sharp-angled shot from the right of the net that chased Oettinger from the game.

“One of the best players on the team,” Svechnikov said. “Play just opens up with him. We always need him.

“Obviously, a big win for us. We played from the first minute and all the way down. Just go, go, go. I think that was our mentality.”

Rantanen cut the deficit to 5-2 just 36 seconds into the third period. After a Hurricanes turnover in the offensive zone, Robertson fed a pass to Rantanen, who skated to the net while holding off Miller and slid a backhand under Bussi's left pad.

William Carrier made it 6-2 at 8:18, burying a rebound in front off a shot from Ehlers.

Wyatt Johnston scored a power-play goal for the 6-3 final at 18:11.

NOTES: Bussi earned his 15th career win in his 18th game (15-2-1), requiring the fewest games in NHL history to hit the mark. He did it in one fewer game than Ilya Samsonov, Andrew Hammond, Frederik Andersen, Brent Johnson and Ken Dryden (all 19 games).