ESA LINDELL

Joe Pavelski scored twice and got the game-winner on the first power-play goal in the series for Dallas as the Stars beat the Calgary Flames 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers celebrates teammate Brett Connolly's goal against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on February 11, 2020. DALLAS – Jonathan Huberdeau scored twice in the first period and the Florida Panthers beat the Dallas Stars 4-1 after losing standout defenseman Aaron Ekblad to a serious leg injury. Ekblad was taken off on a stretcher midway through the second period after getting tangled up in the corner with Stars defenseman Esa Lindell following a hit from Lindell. Rookie Jason Robertson scored and Jake Oettinger had 19 saves for the Stars, who went 1-2-2 during a five-game homestand. He scored the winning goal in overtime Saturday night against the Stars.

Esa Lindell of the Dallas Stars defends against Eetu Luostarinen of the Florida Panthers in front of Goaltender Anton Khudobin at the BB&T Center on February 22, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. SUNRISE, Fla. – Anton Khudobin made 43 saves for his second shutout of the season to leading the Dallas Stars to a 3-0 victory over the Florida Panthers. The Stars ended their six-game winless streak with the win. Defensemen John Klingberg, Esa Lindell and Joel Kiviranta scored for the Stars who are 1-3-3 in their last seven. Dallas hadn’t won since beating Columbus on the road 6-3 on Feb. 2.

... That was a special moment.”Joe Pavelski had two goals and two assists and Alexander Radulov also scored twice for the Stars, who had a scoreless first period. Five of Dallas’ goals came in the second, including three on the power play and an unassisted short-handed wrist shot by Esa Lindell. Pavelski and Kiviranta added power-play goals in the third period, those against Pekka Rinne, who entered after Saros allowed five goals on 20 shots. CAPTAIN HURTStars captain Jamie Benn was injured when his right leg buckled awkwardly after a collision with Viktor Arvidsson in the second period. Three of the shots game in the first period, including a wraparound attempt into Khudobin’s pads and a hard second shot on the rebound.

This is a Stanley Cup matchup for all of those who like their games to be a bit defensive. “In today’s NHL you need that for your team to be successful,” Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh said Friday. “We're not surprised,” Stars defenseman John Klingberg said. ... He’s doing it all right now.”The Stars signed 14-year veteran Andrej Sekera as a free agent last summer, and he is finally in his first Stanley Cup Final with his fifth team. “Everyone is obviously very hungry to go all of the way,” said Hedman, part of Tampa Bay's loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Final five years ago.