In the first match of a four-game road trip that will take them through their once-per-season visits to Florida and Pennsylvania, the Dallas Stars downed the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning, 5-3, at Amalie Arena on Thursday. The victory improved the Stars' early season record to 3-1-0.
Team captain Jamie Benn led the way with a goal, an assist, and a big hit that unfortunately forced top Tampa defenseman Victor Hedman to leave the game in the second period. Dallas also got goals from Jason Spezza, Tyler Seguin, Cody Eakin and Jason Demers. Ales Hemsky collected his fourth and fifth assists of the season.
Winning goaltender Kari Lehtonen turned back 30 of 33 shots to take third-star honors. The Bolts put on a charge in the third period to draw within one goal but Spezza's mid-period goal restored a multi-goal advantage. Tampa's Ben Bishop turned back just 17 off 22 Dallas offerings.
For Tampa, Steven Stamkos notched his third and fourth goals of the campaign. Vladislav Namestnikov got his first goal of the year.
The Stars lost forward Curtis McKenzie in the second period after he was boarded by Tampa defenseman Nikita Nesterov, who received a major penalty, game misconduct and is awaiting a suspension hearing. McKenzie, who was recalled on Wednesday to step into the lineup for the injured Patrick Eaves, was hospitalized as a result of the play. He was discharged on Friday but will be placed on injured reserve.
The road trip continues on Saturday with a game in Sunrise against the Florida Panthers. From there, the Stars head to Pennsylvania to play the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.