DALLAS _ The Stars didn't officially eliminate themselves from the playoffs Friday, but they might have done the job emotionally.
Dallas blew a two-goal lead in the third period and lost to the Boston Bruins, 3-2, when David Pastrnak scored with 11.1 seconds remaining in regulation. The meltdown means the Stars' losing streak reaches seven games (0-5-2) and they fall to 38-29-8 (84 points). With St. Louis picking up two points and Anaheim one, Dallas falls further behind in the race of a playoff spot with just seven games remaining.
They needed that win, and for much of the night, they looked like they were going to get it.
The Stars entered the third period with a two-goal lead thanks to a grinding shift in the first period that led to a goal by Esa Lindell and a skilled short-handed effort from Jamie Benn that added a goal in the second period. After Tyler Seguin made a hustling play to keep a puck alive in the defensive zone on the penalty kill, Benn took off on a breakaway. Benn made a couple of moves and then slipped a backhand past Tuukka Rask with 38 seconds left in the second period.
That had a sold-out American Airlines Center rocking, as fans were energized by the dream of a miracle run at the postseason. Who would have anticipated the irony of the third period.
Just when everything seemed to be going the Stars' way, the bottom fell out. Dallas made several mistakes exiting its own zone early in the period and Boston jumped on the opportunity. Patrnak put a shot on a goal and the puck deflected off of the knee pad of Brad Marchand as he was battling for position with Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen.
That cut the lead in half just 1:17 into the third period and created tension right off the bat. The Stars had a couple of opportunities to regain a two-goal lead and looked like they might be able to add on with a power play at 9:10 of the third period.
However, a hard rim went off the skate of Tyler Seguin and straight to Marchand. He started a short-handed rush, and Tim Schaller finished off the run with a backhand shot over a sprawled out Lehtonen to tie the game.
Both teams went back and forth, and the game seemed destined for overtime. However, Dallas made another mistake in its own end, and Marchand ended up with the puck once again. He made a slick pass to Pastrnak, who drove around Lehtonen and tucked in the game-winner as the clock was ticking down.
The Bruins move to 46-17-10 (102 points) and continue to pick up points, despite being in a stretch where they are playing eight of nine games on the road.
Dallas plays host to Vancouver on Sunday, but time might be running out on a playoff berth.
The Stars have made the playoffs just twice since the start of the 2008-09 season.
