After getting up 2-0 in the first period, the Dallas Stars gave up three unanswered goals but managed to comeback and win 4-3 in a shootout.

The Stars jumped out to a quick lead in a game that featured a little bit of everything. Just 2:33 into the game when Curtis McKenzie scored his third goal of the season, assisted by Jason Demers and Shawn Horcoff. He put it through the five hole of Dan Ellis, who started in place of the injured Roberto Luongo. Ten minutes later, in the moment many people were looking forward to, McKenzie threw down the gloves with Dmitry Kulikov, who threw the hit that knocked out Tyler Seguin earlier this season. Both were given five minute majors. Just 17 seconds later Shawn Horcoff scored an unassisted goal, his ninth of the year. 

But as the old hockey saying goes, a two goal lead is the worst in hockey.

Before the period was over, Brandon Pirri scored his 13th goal of the season with three minutes left. he was assisted by Vincent Trocheck to pull Florida within 2-1. Kulikov tied it up with a shorthanded goal for his third goal of the season. Dallas turned the puck over on neutral ice, then took it the rest of the way and put it past Kari Lehtonen’s glove. Just over four minutes later, Jonathan Huberdeau scored his tenth goal of the year, assisted by Nick Bjugstad and Dmitry Kulikov. After two periods, Florida led 3-2.

In the third, Alex Goligoski tied it up with his third goal of the season, assisted by John Klingberg. His goal was the last in regulation. From there neither offense could get a puck into the back of the net.

In the shootout Jhonas Enroth stopped all three shots after replacing Kari Lehtonen midway through the second period. Finally in the third shot for the Stars Colton Sceviour ended the game on a backhand shot that he put over Ellis’ stick to win the game.

Dallas still remains eight points out of the the last wild card spot, held by the Jets. Florida was missing Jaromir Jagr, Willie Mitchell, and Erik Gudbranson with the flu, and still sits at 9th in the east with 70 points, two behind Boston but they have played two more games than the Bruins and now are just two points ahead of 10th seeded Philadelphia. Dallas will go to Tampa Bay Saturday night while the Panthers will host the Islanders on the same night.