Faksa's shorthanded goal pushes Stars past Islanders
DALLAS — Radek Faksa's shorthanded goal midway through the second period gave the Dallas Stars a 3-2 win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
Marian Studenic and Tyler Seguin also scored for the Stars, who moved into the Western Conference's second wild-card spot. They're a point ahead of Vegas and one point behind Nashville. Jake Oettinger made 19 saves.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Brock Nelson scored for the Islanders, who trail Washington by 11 points for the East's final wild-card spot with 13 games to play. Semyon Varlamov stopped 37 shots on goal.
The tip in the crease by Faksa, the Stars' checking line center, was saved but caromed off Pageau's right blade behind Varlamov into the net at 10:29. It was an unlikely goal from Dallas' special teams, which have gone 1 for 18 on power plays in the last seven games and 0 for 8 in the last three games.
Studenic scored the first goal 7:29 into the game and his first in seven games since being acquired off waivers from New Jersey on Feb. 24. He converted a rebound from the left circle for his second goal of the season and fourth in three NHL seasons. New York unsuccessfully challenged for goalie interference against Jamie Benn.
Pageau tied the score at 1 at 11:47 of the first period with a quick encore to his Sunday hat trick at New Jersey. He raced from the Isles' blue line up right wing and ripped a wrister over Oettinger's right shoulder.
Seguin put Dallas back ahead 46.6 seconds before the first period ended, redirecting Joel Hanley's shot from the left point for his 20th of the season.
Nelson's career-best 33rd goal 31 seconds into the second period tied the score 2-2. He slid a wrist shot between Oettinger's pads from the slot on the rush. Nelson had a hat trick in the Islanders' 4-2 home win over the Stars on March 19.
Noah Dobson had two assists for the Islanders for a career-high 40 points.
UP NEXT
Islanders: At Carolina on Friday for their fourth of five consecutive road games.
Stars: Hosts Toronto on Thursday in the middle game of a three-game homestand.