DALLAS _ All Barry Trotz asked of his team before heading into the NHL's Christmas break was a focused, 60-minute effort. The Islanders coach knew it would be easy to look ahead, especially after an eight-day, four-game road trip.
"When you have two, three days in between games when you're on the road, it seems like forever," Trotz said. "This is a tough game for every player. Everybody is looking forward to the break. I am, too. Just give me everything you've got for 60 minutes."
The Islanders were rewarded for a solid effort with a 3-1 win over the Stars on Sunday night at American Airlines Center to bounce back from Thursday night's sloppy 4-2 loss at Vegas. They finished the road trip 3-1-0.
Top defense prospect Devon Toews made his NHL debut _ getting the rookie hazing treatment during pregame warmups by being forced to skate a lap alone as his teammates hung back. And the team was short a forward after Cal Clutterbuck (lower body) was hurt in the first period. The Islanders will reconvene for practice on Thursday, which is when an update on Clutterbuck is expected.
Robin Lehner made 19 saves for the Islanders (18-13-4). Anton Khudobin stopped 25 shots for the Stars (18-16-3).
Captain Anders Lee knocked in the go-ahead goal on a rebound of defenseman Nick Leddy's blue-line shot off the left post for a power-play winner at 8:50 of the third period. Leo Komarov added an empty-netter at 19:00.
Lehner made 36 saves in Tuesday night's 3-1 win at Arizona, his first victory since Oct. 30 despite now only allowing one goal in four of his last five starts. Lehner suffered back spasms and exited after two periods in the 6-3 win at Pittsburgh on Oct. 30 and also dealt with an unspecified tweak earlier this month.
"Ever since I got hurt, it was kind of unfortunate," he said. "I think I started the season well. If you look at the last four games I've played, I've let in six goals. I think I've been really good the last four, five games but, sometimes, that's what happens. You kind of go through it."
Lehner probably could have done a better job on the Stars' goal, though he was not helped out by his teammates. Tyler Pitlick split Josh Ho-Sang and Valtteri Filppula in the left circle _ neither pursued the puck _ and skated to the crease as defenseman Adam Pelech guarded Jason Spezza. Pitlick, with Lehner on his knees, lifted a puck that went under the goalie's glove at 6:20 of the second period.
The Islanders tied it at 1 at 14:10 of the second period when Casey Cizikas, skating away from the crease, backhanded a shot from below the left circle that bounced off the top of the net and then off Khudobin's back with Lee swatting the puck in from behind the crease. A quick review confirmed the goal, Cizikas' ninth of the season to match his career high.
The Islanders lost Clutterbuck at 13:17 of the first period in an awkward collision with the Stars' Martin Hanzal, who also exited the game. Clutterbuck, having trouble putting weight on his left skate, was helped to the bench.
