Seguin delivers winner in OT as Stars down Bruins

Tyler Seguin made sure the Dallas Stars started their four-game road trip heading in the right direction. Seguin's highlight-reel goal 2:59 into overtime lifted the Stars to a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Monday afternoon.
After Stars defenseman John Klingberg drew a penalty in overtime, and the Stars on a delayed penalty for about a minute, Klingberg set up Seguin at the left boards. The Dallas center then weaved his way through all three Boston defenders on the ice and then outwaited Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin before putting the puck in the net from close range.

WATCH: [All Stars vs. Bruins highlights]
"The whole time I wanted to pass. I was just looking for the right play, and I just kept holding it," Seguin said. "Then the goalie even did a two-pad stack, I shot it, and happy it went in."
The goal was Seguin's team-leading 22nd on the season, but Stars coach Ken Hitchcock sees much more than goals from Seguin, who saw a lot of time matched up against Boston's top line of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak.
"I think he's made himself a very good player," Hitchcock said. "He's accountable in every situation. He's matured. I think he's a guy you don't even worry about anymore. Everybody talked about can you make him a [No. 1 center]? Well, quite frankly, he's a one. He's playing like a one."
Stephen Johns and Alexander Radulov also scored for the Stars, and Kari Lehtonen made 30 saves in his first start since Dec. 15.

"It was fun," Lehtonen said. "I haven't played in a bit, so there was more excitement for sure. I just tried to stay calm and work 60 minutes. It was fun."
The Stars led 2-0 in the game before Boston rallied to tie and force the overtime. The win moved the Stars (25-17-3) back into the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference and within two points of third place in the Central Division.
The overtime loss extended the Bruins' points streak to 13 games (9-0-4). Zdeno Chara and Ryan Spooner scored for Boston (24-10-8) which hasn't lost in regulation since Dec. 14.
"The positive in this game is that we were down two and were able to scratch back against a very good defensive team," said Boston coach Bruce Cassidy.
"It's one thing to do it against a club that gives up a lot, but this is a good defensive team."
The Stars came out buzzing in the first period, recording 12 of the first 13 shots of the game. Boston registered the next nine shots on goal, including 5-on-2 power plays, but when the first period ended it was a 0-0 game.

Boston had the edge early in the second, but the Stars scored on their first shot to take a 1-0 lead. After springing Remi Elie on the rush with a nifty one-handed backhand pass, Johns joined the rush, took a return pass from Elie and scored from the left circle at the 3:49 mark.
"We talked about our D being a little active and jumping into rushes," Johns said. "I knew I was kind of fading to the left and the goalie would be sliding to his right, so I just tried to throw it to the far side, and it went in."
The Stars made it a 2-0 game at 8:15 of the second when Jamie Benn put a shot on net on an offensive zone faceoff, Radulov scooped up the rebound and beat Khudobin with a backhand shot.
Boston went on a third power play late in the second, the Stars killed it, but Boston kept up the pressure and Bruins defenseman Chara scored on a slap shot from the top of the left circle to make it a 2-1 game at the 16:28 mark.
Lehtonen came up big early in the third, making a diving save on a shot by Boston defenseman Matt Grzelcyk 4:10 into the period. The Stars killed off a fourth Boston power play in the third, but the Bruins tied it at even strength at the 11:21 mark when a Spooner blast from the point rebounded off Stars defenseman Esa Lindell and into the net.
The game stayed tied until Seguin's overtime heroics gave Dallas the 3-2 win.

Notes: Spezza scratched

What's Next

The Stars continue their road trip on Tuesday in Detroit, taking on the Red Wings for the second and final time this season. The Red Wings, coming off a 4-0 win in Chicago on Sunday, are 5-2-0 in their past seven games. The Stars won the first game between the two teams, 4-2, in Dallas on Oct. 10.

Stars Lineup

Jamie Benn - Tyler Seguin - Alexander Radulov
Mattias Janmark - Martin Hanzal - Devin Shore
Antoine Roussel - Radek Faksa - Tyler Pitlick
Remi Elie - Gemel Smith - Brett Ritchie
Esa Lindell - John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis - Greg Pateryn
Stephen Johns - Julius Honka
Kari Lehtonen
Ben Bishop
Scratched: Jason Spezza, Dillon Heatherington
Injured:Marc Methot (knee)

This story was not subject to approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club. Mark Stepneski is an independent writer whose posts on DallasStars.com reflect his own opinions and do not represent official statements from the Dallas Stars. You can follow Mark on Twitter at @StarsInsideEdge.