Uniondale, NY (Sports Network) – Mike Ribeiro scored the game-winner in the third round of the shootout, as the Dallas Stars snuck past the New York Islanders, 5-4, at Nassau Coliseum.
Ribeiro, who had two assists, pretended as if he was going to the right before moving the puck to the left at the last minute. He was able to chip the puck into an empty half of the net to give the Stars their second win in as many nights. The goal came after the Isles’ Matt Moulson missed the net on his attempt.
Brenden Morrow had two goals for Dallas, which got one goal apiece from Stephane Robidas and Jamie Benn. Kari Lehtonen made 43 saves for the victors.
Doug Weight had a goal and two assists for the Islanders, who posted a 34-37-11 record last season. James Wisniewski finished with a goal and an assist for New York, which also got goals from Moulson and Blake Comeau.
Rick DiPietro, who has played just 13 games over the past two seasons due to injuries, turned aside 18-of-22 shots.
The Islanders lost forward John Tavares to a mild concussion in the first period. He will be re-evaluated on Monday.
Trailing 4-2, Comeau lit the lamp at the 8:45 mark of the third to make it a one-goal game. Comeau’s one-timer from the point beat Lehtonen, who was without his stick due to a scramble in front moments before.
New York went on the power play with 3:43 remaining due to Robidas’ delay of game penalty. Frans Nielsen fired a shot from the slot that Lehtonen failed to fully control. Moulson found the loose puck and his backhander made it a 4-4 game at the 17:21 mark.
Robidas was whistled for the same penalty 32 seconds after Moulson’s goal. The Islanders failed to do anything on the power play this time around, sending the game into overtime. Each goaltender made one save during a scoreless OT period.
Benn put the Stars on the board with a power-play goal at the 9:52 mark of the first period. Brad Richards’ slap shot from the point set up a rebound in front for Benn.
Robidas gave Dallas a 2-0 lead just over two minutes later. Richards slid a pass to the point for Robidas, who completed the play with a one-timer.
Wisniewski’s power-play goal got the Islanders on the board at the 6:21 mark of the second stanza. Weight got the assist for setting up Wisniewski’s one- timer from the left point.
Morrow lit the lamp at the 13:45 mark to put the Stars ahead by two goals again. Ribeiro collected the puck at center ice and skated down the left side of the ice. He then slid a perfect cross-ice pass to Morrow, whose snap shot beat DiPietro.
New York was able to score before intermission to cut the deficit to 3-2. Weight’s wrister from the right circle deflected off a Dallas player and snuck past Lehtonen with 4:36 left.
Morrow’s second goal of the night gave Dallas a 4-2 lead at the 7:12 mark of the third period. Ribeiro’s shot from along the right boards deflected off the stick of Morrow and past DiPietro.