DALLAS (AP) – Oliver Bjorkstrand scored twice 78 seconds apart early in the third period and the Columbus Blue Jackets stopped a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night.
Bjorkstrand’s seventh and eighth goals of the season came after Devin Shore tipped in a shot from John Klingberg to break a scoreless tie for Dallas in the first minute of the third.
The Stars’ four-game home winning streak ended in a matchup of teams with identical records going into the halfway point of the season, the 41st game.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Seth Jones (3) skates with the puck against Dallas Stars center Tyler Pitlick (18) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 21 shots for his 200th career victory.
On the tying goal, Bjorkstrand won a puck battle with Stephen Johns at the blue line and skated in on Ben Bishop, beating the Dallas goalie and ending his five-period scoreless streak. Bishop had 24 saves.
A little more than a minute later, Bjorkstrand skated up the same side and beat Bishop inside the post. Seth Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones playing against his hometown team, assisted on the go-ahead goal.
The Stars went ahead when Tyler Seguin got his stick caught up with Boone Jenner but managed to get the puck across the ice to Klingberg. The defenseman’s wrist shot was tipped by Shore and trickled past Bobrovsky.
There was only one penalty in the first two periods, a hooking call against Dallas captain Jamie Benn. But the best scoring chance on it was short-handed for the Stars when Dan Hamhuis had a shot stopped in transition.
Hamhuis had another great chance from much closer stopped by the pad of Bobrovsky, whose sprawling right skate knocked the net loose just as he covered the puck.
NOTES: Stars C Remi Elie was sidelined by the flu. … Stars D Marc Methot could be close to a return after missing 36 games with a knee injury. Dallas coach Ken Hitchcock said Methot would go through a full practice Wednesday and might play Thursday. … Blue Jackets C Artemi Panarin tied the club record for points and assists in a month, getting 18 and 13 in December.
UP NEXT
Blue Jackets: At the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.
Stars: Host the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in fourth game of a six-game homestand, part of a stretch with nine of 10 at home.
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Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) defends the goal against Dallas Stars center Mattias Janmark (13) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) knocks Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Sonny Milano (22) to the ice during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
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