DALLAS — Defenseman Nicklas Grossman scored a rare goal with 2:37 left in overtime and the Dallas Stars stretched their home winning streak over the Minnesota Wild to 10 games with a 3-2 victory Saturday night.
Grossman took a pass from Loui Eriksson and fired a shot from beyond the right circle past a screened Niklas Backstrom. It was Grossman’s second goal in 138 career games.
Steve Ott scored twice, and Marty Turco stopped 28 shots for Dallas.
Linemates Mike Robeiro and Eriksson assisted on both of Ott’s goals to help the Stars win their second straight at home after they matched a franchise record for futility with six consecutive home defeats.
Mikko Koivu and Andrew Brunette scored, and Backstrom made 26 saves for the Wild, 2-4-4 in their last 10.
Dallas and Minnesota are among seven teams fighting for the final two Western Conference playoff spots. The Stars have 74 points, two more than the Wild.
Each team had prime scoring chances in the third period. Dallas’ James Neal hit the post with a rebound 1:11 into the third period, and Turco stopped Minnesota’s Peter Olevcky from point-blank range with 14:20 left in regulation.
Backstrom made a sharp glove save on Ott’s drive from the right circle with 3:49 to play in regulation.
Backstrom denied Dallas’ Mike Modano from the right circle with under 4 minutes left in overtime, and smothered Brendan Morrison’s deflection with 2:52 remaining in the extra session.
Dallas is 15-3-1 in its last 19 meetings with Minnesota.
The Stars got an early jump when Ott scored off Eriksson’s pass through the crease at 2:00 of the opening period.
Ott converted Ribeiro’s cross-ice pass 38 seconds into the second period for a 2-0 lead.
Koivu connected from the slot 18 seconds into a power play at 12:09 of the second period to pull Minnesota to 2-1, and 1:51 later Brunette’s deflection tied it.
Notes: Ribeiro has points in seven straight games, matching his
career high. … Turco has started 39 of the last 40 games. … Minnesota RW Marian Gaborik is practicing for the first time since sustaining a hip injury in December, but there’s no timetable for his return. Injuries have limited Gaborik to six games this season. … LW Derek Boogaard was back for the Wild after missing Thursday night’s 2-1 shootout loss at Colorado because of an illness. … Stars RW Jere Lehtinen (upper body) and LW Fabian Brunnstrom (shoulder) were among the scratches, but are close to returning.
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