Jamie Benn overtime goal lifts Stars to win

DALLAS -- Jamie Benn scored 1:23 into overtime to give the Dallas Stars a 3-2 win against the Minnesota Wild at American Airlines Center on Monday.
It was the Stars' first overtime win this season (1-5) and their first since a 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators on Feb. 15, 2015.
"I thought our execution was better, just hanging on to the puck," Dallas coach Lindy Ruff said. "We spent a lot of time on (overtime strategy) through the video and things that we think we can do better. … I even went through a quick review before the overtime started again, just to emphasize points."

WATCH: All Wild vs. Stars highlights
Stars goalie Antti Niemi made 27 saves for his first win since Nov. 3.
Benn scored after Tyler Seguin hit Minnesota forward Mikael Granlund in the Dallas zone. Seguin retrieved the loose puck at center ice and passed it to Jordie Benn, who skated into the Wild zone and returned it to Seguin. Jamie Benn took a pass from Seguin in the left faceoff circle and beat goalie Darcy Kuemper with a wrist shot to the short side over his shoulder.
Kuemper said he didn't think Jamie Benn was going to shoot.
"Most guys would have (passed)," Kuemper said. "I was trying to play in between, and when you're in between, that's what happens."

Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak scored at 7:19 of the second period to give the Stars a 1-0 lead. Kuemper made the save on Jason Spezza's backhand shot on the rush, but Oleksiak got to the rebound and scored on a backhand for his first goal in 55 games.
"I was just kind of whacking away," Oleksiak said. "I think that's my first career backhand goal. It was nice to get that one and contribute."
Patrick Eaves extended his point streak to six games with an assist on the goal.
Minnesota (9-7-2) tied the game at 1-1 with 2:38 left in the second when Nino Niederreiter scored on the power play off a pass from Mikael Granlund. Mikko Koivu got the 400th assist of his NHL career on the goal.
Dallas (8-7-5) regained the lead at 2-1 when Brett Ritchie scored his fifth of the season 1:01 into the third period. Julius Honka got an assist in his first NHL game when he carried the puck along the boards and centered it to Ritchie.
Wild forward Erik Haula tied it 2-2 at 4:01 of the third after a scramble in the crease. Jason Pominville's shot hit the left and the right post before Haula finished off the play for his second goal of the season.
Kuemper made 29 saves.

Goal of the game

Honka, the No. 14 pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, set up Ritchie's goal with a pass from below the goal line. After Radek Faksa won a faceoff in the right circle, Honka carried the puck along the wall to the corner and passed to Ritchie, who was crashing the net along with Antoine Roussel. "Feels good. Obviously first point. It was just another play in the game," Honka said. "I want to enjoy the moment and just live in the moment."

Save of the game

Niemi turned away Koivu's shot from the bottom of the right faceoff circle with his blocker while moving to his right with 3:41 left in the second period.

Highlight of the game

Jamie Benn scored the Stars' first overtime goal of the season thanks to Seguin's effort. Seguin knocked down Granlund in the Stars zone, and then caught up to the puck in the neutral zone to create a rush the other way before setting up Benn for his shot past Kuemper.

Unsung moment of the game

The Wild had a 2-on-1 in overtime, but Honka held his position and forced Eric Staal to make an aerial pass to Charlie Coyle, who didn't get off a shot. "Put [Coyle] in a tough spot because it was about an 8-foot pass," Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said. "We had our opportunity, a 2-on-1 in overtime, and we don't take advantage of it. They take advantage of their 3-on-2."

They said it

"At the end of the day, we are fortunate to get a point out of this game. We weren't playing the way we should've played. I felt like we were a little sloppy, making too many mistakes. At the end of the day, we found a way to be in the game and go to overtime. That is the one positive thing." -- Wild forward Nino Niederreiter
"I thought they played very well. I don't think we gave up a chance in the first period. I think our puck movement, our play coming through the neutral zone, was probably as good as it's been all year. I really liked what they all did. It was simple and effective. They got back, they moved it quick, they found their outlets, they made some plays into the middle of the ice. We generated some chances that we haven't generated in a long time."-- Stars coach Lindy Ruff on their defense

Need to know

Dallas defenseman John Klingberg was a healthy scratch after missing a meeting Monday morning. … Stars defenseman Johnny Oduya was placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury before Honka was recalled from Texas of the American Hockey League. … Minnesota was 1-for-3 on the power play, and Dallas was 0-for-2.

What's next

Wild: Home against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday (7 p.m. ET; FS-N, FS-WI, SNP, SN360, NHL.TV)
Stars: At the Nashville Predators on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; FS-SW+, FS-TN, TVAS, NHL.TV)