In Dallas, the Chicago Blackhawks trailed the Stars, 3-0, in the second period.
The Blackhawks have been listless most of the season, but as the trade deadline nears, 3 March, it seems some are gearing up to get out of Chicago.
On Wednesday night, Max Domi started the Chicago rally in the second period to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Patrick Kane then scored twice to send the game to the third period, tied at 3-3.
“All of a sudden, you get going and you start feeling good, feeling confident,” Kane said. “I was the beneficiary of a few plays tonight and even the last couple of games too, so I think things are just clicking.”
In the third, Domi hit for the winner in an improbable 4-3 win to the Blackhawks.
“We’re getting more bounces that we didn’t get early on in the year,” Domi said of the recent chemistry with Kane. “I know that sounds like whatever, but it’s true. When [Kane] is feeling it, he’s burying the puck like that, it’s fun to watch, fun to play with. It puts energy into our group, and I think everyone really feeds off that. He’s leading with his play right now, and it shows.”
Kane has 10 points on seven goals in his last four games, no, he isn’t looking to get out of town.
“I’ve said it all year, these guys don’t quit,” Chicago coach Luke Richardson. “We got some penalties against us, and then they scored on the power play. We were down in the game and we’re tired. It’s easy to fold the tent, pack it in, but these guys, they are resilient.
“I think they like playing with each other. Once we got a little sniff and we got that first goal, I think they started to believe again and started working for each other.”
Jaxson Stauber made 29 saves in the Blackhawks win.
Chicago improved to 20-32-5 on their fourth straight win.
“It’s definitely a punch in the gut,” Stars forward Jason Robertson said. “Every team is good in this league, so not taking any credit [away] from Chicago. One of those games where you make those little mistakes going east-west and gave up three 2-on-1 goals today, and that can’t happen, especially when we’re in this little rut to begin with.
“It’s unacceptable and I’m sure everyone in here is going to regroup and get back to what (Dallas coach) Pete [DeBoer] wants us to do.”
Dallas took a 1-0 lead in the first period on a goal from Tyler Seguin.
Jamie Benn pushed the lead to 2-0 79 seconds later.
“Where do you start? You build a 3-0 lead, just got to be a smarter team,” DeBoer said. “I think we are a smarter team than that, but obviously weren’t tonight. Their power-play goal [to make it 3-1] gives them a little momentum, and you’ve got to be smart enough to kind of stop the bleeding there. Instead, we compound it with some turnovers and give them life that you don’t need to give them.”
Jason Robertson scored in the middle stanza to extend the advantage to 3-0 for Dallas.
Dallas dropped to 30-16-12.
The Stars have hit a funk of late, losing five straight, 0-3-2, and going 2-3-5 in their last 10.
“We had a good start, and then we I guess sat back a little too much,” said Benn. “They’ve got nothing to lose over there. They’re playing freewheeling hockey and had a good second period there. I don’t really think it was anything they did special; I think just mistakes by our group cost us.”
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Jake Oettinger made 19 saves in the Stars loss.
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