Final
Stars clip Sabres; Ruff wins 600th against former team
Mar 4, 2014 - 5:58 AM Dallas, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Alex Chiasson's power-play marker midway through the third period provided the winning margin in Dallas' 3-2 decision over Buffalo at American Airlines Center.Jordie Benn and Alex Goligoski also tallied for the Stars, who produced Lindy Ruff's 600th win as an NHL coach with their fifth victory in their last seven outings.
"We stuck with it tonight," said Goligoski. "It was one of those games where we couldn't get results. But we just kept throwing shots on net and it worked out."
Ruff was the bench boss in Buffalo from 1997-2013, amassing a 571-432-84 record with 78 ties, and leading the franchise to four Eastern Conference playoff titles and a Stanley Cup Finals berth in 1999.
Monday's win upped his Dallas record to 29-22-10.
Ray Whitney added a pair of assists to back 21 saves from Kari Lehtonen.
Tyler Ennis struck twice for the Sabres, whose three-game win streak came to a halt. Jhonas Enroth stopped 36 shots in defeat.
"We need better starts. We got in a hole early," Ennis said. "They took it to us. We took penalties and they really dominated us in the first period. Enroth played great, but we need a better start."
Chiasson cruised through the low slot and managed to deflect a blistering Jamie Benn point drive past Enroth with 9:35 left in regulation and Dallas led, 3-2.
Buffalo's attempt at equalizing was complicated by a bench minor taken with just over two minutes on the clock, as Enroth wasn't called to the bench for an extra skater until 15 seconds remained.
Ennis gave the visitors a 1-0 lead with 2:43 left in the opening period, firing home off a 2-on-1 break with Drew Stafford.
Jordie Benn evened the score on his successful chance from the left point just 90 seconds into the middle frame, and Dallas assumed a 2-1 edge with 5.1 seconds before intermission after Goligoski flipped home a loose puck from atop the crease.
Ennis made it a 2-2 game with 3:23 gone in the third on a fluke play. He was alone at the right post to tap home the carom of a Jamie McBain shot that was tipped to the end glass by Matt Moulson.
Game Notes
Ruff joined Scotty Bowman, Al Arbour, Dick Irvin, Pat Quinn, Mike Keenan, Joel Quenneville, Ron Wilson, Bryan Murray, Jacques Lemaire, Jacques Martin and Ken Hitchcock in the 600-win club ... Goligoski recorded his first goal in 48 games, dating back to Apr. 21, 2013 against Los Angeles.
- BUFFALO: 2
DALLAS: 3
Final
Mar 3 10:39 PM - BUFFALO: 1
DALLAS: 1
End of 2nd
Mar 3 9:38 PM - Dallas Goal - Alex Goligoski (3), from Shawn Horcoff and Ryan Garbutt at 19:54.
Sabres 1, Stars 2 2nd - 0:06Mar 3 9:37 PM - BUFFALO: 1
DALLAS: 0
End of 1st
Mar 3 8:42 PM - BUFFALO: 0
DALLAS: 0
1st Period - 20:00
Mar 3 8:09 PM
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