It looked like it was going to be one of those nights for the Dallas Stars as the Florida Panthers took an early 3-0 lead in the second period at the American Airlines Center on Monday night.
After a painfully slow start for Dallas, though, something sparked in the Stars’ first two lines and the momentum of the game began to change in their favor.
Winger Valeri Nichushkin and center Jason Spezza scored 53 seconds apart in the second period to cut the lead to 3-2. Tyler Seguin picked up an assist on Nichushkin’s goal, his first point of the evening.
Seguin then turned things up a notch, scoring the remaining three goals for the Stars on just five shots on net. His first goal tied the game 3-3 in the second period. His two third-period goals both came on the power play, beating veteran goaltender Roberto Luongo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD2a7lXIFUw
Lehtonen finished with 13 saves while playing just under 42 minutes. Former Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Anders Lindback took over for the starter and stopped seven shots. Lindback allowed Colby Robak’s goal that put the Panthers ahead 4-3. Just over 10 minutes later, Robak watched from the penalty box as Seguin scored his third goal, winning the game for Dallas.
At just 22 years old, Seguin is expected to be the leading scorer for the Stars again in the upcoming season. Seguin totaled 84 poitns on 37 goals and 47 assists last season. Seguin wasn’t the only player to notch a hat trick Monday night. Minnesota’s Jason Pominville also potted three goals. Those came a day after Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter scored three of his own against the Anaheim Ducks on Sunday night.
Thumbnail photo via Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports Images
