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 After winning just four of their first 14 games en route to missing
the playoffs, they knew a slow start was out of the question this
season.
Following a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday
night at Wells Fargo Center, the Stars already have five wins
through their first six.
"Our whole last year was based on how bad our start was," Dallas
center Tyler Seguin said. "We were climbing out of a hole."
Different story this time around.
Dallas (5-1-0) won its fourth consecutive game thanks to goals from
the usual leaders, Seguin and left winger Jamie Benn, while goalie
Antti Niemi was strong in net. The Stars, who came in leading the
NHL in goals per game (3.80), scored 15 over their four-game winning
streak.
"I feel good -- put that behind us and move on," Dallas coach Lindy
Ruff said. "I think we can play better. We're still a work in
progress. We're trying to sort out playing with a lead."
Philadelphia (2-2-1) lost for the first time at home after winning
two straight followed by a five-day layoff.
"Schedule is what it is," Flyers coach Dave Hakstol said. "We just
couldn't find our legs early on."
The Flyers hadn't allowed a goal on home ice before welcoming Dallas
to town.
Center Sean Couturier potted the Flyers' only goal on an awkward
deflection in traffic during the third period. The Stars sealed the
win with a pivotal two-minute penalty kill in the final seven
minutes.
"It took us some time to find our energy," Hakstol said. "We had our
moments, our spurts, but they had sustained pushes before we got
going in the third."
Niemi (2-1-0) stopped 34 shots in his first game action since Oct.
10, when he was roughed up for six goals in the Stars' lone loss of
the season.
"I thought he played great," Ruff said. "Especially against their
power play, their power play has been together so long. He made a
couple of second-opportunity saves that kept us where we were at and
that's what you need from your goaltender."
The Flyers saw the return of goalie Steve Mason, who was out for the
team's two-game winning streak while dealing with a personal family
matter. Mason (0-2-1) was tested early and made 30 saves, but he
received little support. In his three starts, Philadelphia scored
four goals.
"He made some real good saves," Hakstol said.
In the waning moments of the first period, Dallas struck.
Flyers defenseman Brandon Manning misplayed a bouncing puck in his
own zone, leading to Seguin putting a high shot past Mason with 52
seconds remaining before the first intermission.
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Dallas started applying pressure late in the period, but Mason never
broke until the defensive breakdown led to Seguin's fourth goal of
the season. Benn and defenseman John Klingberg were credited with
assists.
"It was just bouncing like crazy," Seguin said, "and once it came
close to me, I just tried to whack it."
The Stars, who outshot the Flyers 14-7 in the first, carried the
firepower over into the second, scoring on Benn's snap shot just 11
seconds in. Seguin and defenseman Alex Goligoski assisted on the
play.
Benn has at least one point in every game this season and a goal in
five of the six.
"He's been good," Ruff said. "I've him seen him where he's been
better, that might be scary, but I've seen him where he's been
better."
Seguin, fresh off a four-point game, compiled two points to give him
10 through Dallas' first six games.
"(Benn) and (Seguin) were both difference-makers," Ruff said.
"This is a building where you've got to be able to push back and I
thought we had some real good push back."
That was evident on the critical penalty kill late in the third to
shut the door. The Flyers ended up going 0-for-4 on the power play.
"We're finding ways to win," Ruff said. "Just have to keep working."
NOTES: Flyers G Steve Mason made his first start in 10 days after
missing two straight games because of a personal matter. Backup G
Michal Neuvirth posted two shutouts starting in Mason's absence. ...
Stars G Antti Niemi got the start over G Kari Lehtonen. Niemi, who
hadn't played since Oct. 10, started Dallas' first two games of the
season and Lehtonen started the next three. Lehtonen had a 1-10-3
record in 14 career games against the Flyers. ... C R.J. Umberger, D
Luke Schenn and C Vincent Lecavalier were healthy scratches for the
Flyers. Lecavalier has yet to play in a game this season. ... D
Jamie Oleksiak and D Patrik Nemeth were healthy scratches for the
Stars for the sixth straight game. Oleksiak appeared in 36 games
last season and Nemeth played in 22.
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