NHL

Klingberg Gets Winner, Stars Beat Flames 2-1 For 3-2 Series Lead

dallas stars

John Klingberg didn't have the decisive goal taken away this time.

The Dallas defenseman scored his first goal since the NHL's restart early in the third period, and the Stars held on for a 2-1 win over the Calgary Flames in a crucial Game 5 of their Western Conference playoff series Tuesday.

Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin teamed up for the first goal as the Stars took a 3-2 lead in the first-round series. They can reach the second round for the second straight year with a victory in Game 6 on Thursday. It's been 19 years since the Stars won playoff series in consecutive seasons.

Klingberg's go-ahead goal came two days after he was initially credited with the overtime goal in a 5-4 win that evened the series. But his hard shot grazed Alexander Radulov's stick, and the Russian was eventually credited with the winner.

Anton Khudobin made 28 stops, including a glove save on a good look for Erik Gustafsson in the final two minutes before the Flames called timeout and pulled Cam Talbot.

Calgary spent most of the remaining 1:52 in the offensive zone with the 6-on-5 advantage, then had a two-man edge for the final 21 seconds when Andrew Cogliano was called for slashing.

But the Flames couldn't get a shot past Khudobin. In Game 4, Calgary gave up the tying goal when Joe Pavelski completed a hat trick with 11.9 seconds left in regulation.

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Elias Lindholm had a good chance to get the Flames even midway through the third, but his shot was deflected wide by Khudobin, who lost his stick after stabbing at the puck with it.

Benn put the Stars in front 1-0 in the first period when he tipped in a pass from Seguin in the slot going full speed, just barely before plowing into the net and knocking it loose as he tumbled to the ice.

Mikael Backlund pulled Calgary even with his fourth goal of the playoffs, an unassisted tally when he beat Khudobin with a slap shot in the final minute of the first period.

Roope Hintz hit the crossbar shortly after Backlund's goal, and the Stars had several good chances again at the end of the second period.

The Flames controlled the pace in the second period, but had just seven shots to show for it -- the same number from Dallas' dominant first period.

NOTES: Talbot had 30 saves. ... Stars D Stephen Johns and Flames LW Matthew Tkachuk were out again, as was Stars G Ben Bishop, who has been unfit to play the past three games. ... There were no penalties in a scoreless second period.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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