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Stars beat by Red Wings for 3rd loss in a row
DALLAS (AP) -- Pavel Datsyuk and the Detroit Red Wings love to play in Dallas.
The veteran forward scored a power-play goal at 2:33 of overtime and the Red Wings defeated the Stars 3-2 on Monday night for their third straight victory.
Datsyuk corralled a loose puck and beat goalie Antti Niemi while Mattias Janmark was off for hooking. Detroit moved into third place in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of Boston.
The Red Wings have won their last seven games in Dallas. Datsyuk has 49 points (19 goals, 30 assists) in 41 career games against the Stars.
This time, he had help from rookie Andreas Athanasiou and goalie Jimmy Howard. Athanasiou scored twice and Howard made 39 saves in place of injured starter Petr Mrazek.
"We need to get points, lots of points, to make the playoffs," Datsyuk said. "More importantly, Jimmy played well in net and our team played together."
Howard won for the first time since Dec. 3. He was 0-5-4 since his previous victory.
"I felt like it was coming for a while," Howard said. "I'm just happy that I was able to go out there and get two points for the guys."
Dallas' Vernon Fiddler put in his own rebound to tie the score with 1:31 to play in the third period. The Stars had an extra skater on after pulling Niemi. Fiddler also assisted on Colton Sceviour's second-period goal.
"I thought (Howard) made some great saves," Dallas coach Lindy Ruff said. "A couple one-timers that he got across on Tyler (Seguin)."
Athanasiou gave Detroit one-goal leads in the second and third.
On his second goal, he skated past Dallas defenseman Johnny Oduya, moved the puck to his backhand and skated in front to shoot over Niemi.
In Athanasiou's 17 previous NHL games, he had only two goals.
"When you get a little more opportunity, every game and every shift, I get to kind of build up a little more and get more confidence out there," Athanasiou said. "I think it's just growing with every shift and every game."
He impressed the 37-year-old Datsyuk, who has 311 career goals.
"He doesn't have speed, he has lightning," Datsyuk said. "I had the same speed but now I can't skate like that."
Before the game-winner, Detroit had failed to score on its last 20 power plays over seven games.
"I don't care how old (Datsyuk) is, he's an elite player in the league, one of the best in the league still today," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said. "He's unbelievably competitive, he wins pucks and he plays such a complete game."
By earning one point for the overtime loss, the Stars tied Chicago atop the Central Division.
"We might have played our best game in a long time," Ruff said, "but just missed too many great opportunities."
The Red Wings haven't lost in Dallas since Oct. 14, 2010.
Both teams scored in the second period. Detroit's Gustav Nyquist took a shot from the slot and the puck was deflected. It rebounded into the right faceoff circle, where Athanasiou sent a wrist shot past Niemi.
Sceviour tied it 1-all at 17:32. Fiddler passed across the goal mouth, and the puck bounced off Sceviour's right shin into the net. A video replay confirmed that he did not kick the puck.
Athanasiou scored again at 6:38 of the third period.
NOTES: Mrazek was scratched because of a groin injury. Blashill said he expects Mrazek to be able to play Wednesday at home against Chicago. ... The Red Wings brought up Jared Coreau from Grand Rapids of the AHL to back up Howard. ... Sceviour has scored three of his eight goals in the last three games. ... Fiddler played in his 800th game. ... Dallas is 4-6-1 at home in 2016 after going 16-4-0 during the 2015 portion of the schedule.
