DALLAS _ The Dallas Stars asked for more offense. They asked for a more productive power play. They got both Monday night against Arizona. But so did the Coyotes.
The Stars extended their win streak to a seasonlong five games with a 5-4 win over Arizona, weathering an explosive third period in which the two teams combined for six goals, culminating with Tyler Seguin's game-winner with 7:32 left in the third period.
Dallas maintained their position in third place in the Central Division and pulled eight points clear of Vancouver for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
After trailing 2-1 entering the third period, the Stars built a 4-2 lead by scoring three goals in 1:11. John Klingberg buried one on the power play. Radek Faksa scored on a deflection on the power play. Mattias Janmark scored for the second straight game. The Stars found their scoring and appeared to be easily on their way to another win.
Then they blinked.
Ben Bishop misplayed a puck behind the net, leaving Vinnie Hinostroza open in front to score. Then the Coyotes slid a puck to the net-front, where an open Alex Galchenyuk tied the game at four. Arizona scored both their third-period goals in 1:01.
The elite goaltending and stellar defense that has carried the Stars to the middle of the playoff race disappeared. Instead, it was their offense _ ranked third-worst in the NHL _ that picked them up on Monday night. During the first four games of the win streak, the Stars allowed four goals. Arizona matched that on Monday alone.
As has been the case in the last two-plus weeks, the Stars found a way to win by rallying in the third period. They did so against Minnesota and at Nashville, and did so again against Arizona.
Earlier this season, Stars coach Jim Montgomery talked about the Stars getting more complacent after wins and win streaks. They struggled with success, he said. Was that a concern with a four-game win streak entering Monday night against the Coyotes?
"It's something that worries you every day," Montgomery said. "As a coach, it worries you all the time, but you start to get a lot of belief and trust in our players right now because they are playing consistently hard."
