DALLAS — Esa Lindell was surprised when he heard the announcement that he’d scored his first NHL goal midway through the second period Friday night.
“The first one was obviously (Radek) Faksa’s goal,” the Dallas rookie defenceman said about Faksa’s deflection. Lindell received an assist instead.
Six and a half minutes later, another shot by Lindell went into the net, and he was credited with the winning goal in the Stars’ 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night.
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After the game, Lindell wasn’t so sure even that goal would remain his, because teammate Patrick Eaves was in front of the net when the shot beat goalie Ryan Miller.
“It feels good if it was my goal,” Lindell said. “That might change. Now it feels good. It’s been a long time since I scored.”
Playing in his 17th game for Dallas, Lindell at first was credited with the goal at 9:32 of the second period that tied it at 1. A scoring change gave the goal to Faksa.
“I felt a little bit bad, but I need the goal too, you know?” Faksa said about his second goal of the season. “I’m happy that he got the other one out there.”
Lindell impressed Stars coach Lindy Ruff.
“The release on both the goals, I don’t think he scores unless the release is that quick. Esa did a real nice job,” Ruff said.
The Canucks’ Jayson Megna scored his first goal of the season at 5:01 of the first period.
Bo Horvat set up Megna’s goal by passing behind Dallas defenceman Dan Hamhuis to lead Megna into the right faceoff circle. He skated across the front of the net and put a short backhand past Niemi.
“Just got a really nice pass from Bo there,” Megna said. “Kind of caught the D in an awkward position there and was able to get around him (Niemi) and drive the net.”
After that, Dallas’ Antti Niemi shut down Vancouver and finished with 30 saves, 14 in the third period. The Canucks had a power play for the final 1:57, and skated 6-on-4 after Miller was pulled with 1:19 remaining.
“When they started to pinch and got all five guys involved, we needed a couple big saves and we got them,” Ruff said.
The Canucks had the best scoring chance in a fast-paced third period when Niemi stopped Alexandre Burrows’ close-range shot at 6:36.
“We had some chances, especially late there,” Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins said. “(Niemi) made a couple good saves, but it’s frustrating when you can’t get one in that last bit.”
Miller made 26 saves.
Vancouver’s Luca Sbisa and the Stars’ Antoine Roussel received major penalties for fighting at 11:12 of the first period. They had each other’s helmets off when the linesmen stepped in to escort them to the penalty box.
NOTES: Megna was playing in only his fifth NHL game this season, after spending time with Utica of AHL and on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. On Friday, he took the place of LW Sven Baertschi, who was scratched after blocking a shot with a toe in Wednesday’s game. … The Stars assigned D Stephen Johns to Texas of the AHL. … Dallas F Jiri Hudler missed his 13th game because of an illness, but he had joined his teammates for an optional skate on Thursday. … Vancouver’s last win in Dallas was on Feb. 21, 2013. The Stars have won six straight home games vs. the Canucks. … Dallas had been 0-7-3 when the opponents scored first.
UP NEXT
Canucks: They’ll finish a three-game trip Sunday at Colorado.
Stars: Begin a four-game trip Tuesday at St. Louis.
