Tyler Seguin has hat trick in Stars’ 6-4 win over Flames

DALLAS (AP) – Tyler Seguin has found his way without Jamie Benn.

Seguin scored two of his three goals in the third period and the Dallas Stars rallied to beat the Calgary Flames 6-4 on Friday night.

“I liked my start to the year, then we kind of switched lines to balance things out,” Seguin said. “I’ve been trying to figure out that role a little bit. Obviously, being so used to playing with a guy like Jamie Benn and (Alexander) Radulov, just ’cause they’re experienced guys and such offensive thinkers.”

Seguin broke a tie with an unassisted goal, the 200th goal of his career, with 5:57 to play and added an empty-net goal with a minute to go. The hat trick was the eighth of his career and second with Dallas, but his first in 163 games.

Benn has skated on the same line with Seguin for most of his four-plus seasons with the Stars. Seguin is still together with Radulov, who assisted on the final goal and scored one himself.

“We all know that he’s a world-class goal scorer and we need him,” Radulov said. “Today he was outstanding, and he was flying, and he did everything right and he got the hat trick, so it’s good for us.”

Mattias Janmark, the third line mate in the new alignment, set up Seguin’s first goal in the second period with a shot that the veteran redirected past Calgary goalie Mike Smith.

“The last few games I haven’t been getting to the net,” Seguin said. “That was a play where I was happy to get to the net there.”

Stars coach Ken Hitchcock explained his reasoning for the line change.

“I felt like if I could put together a line with Seguin on it, he should score more. I felt like at the end of the day he could end up being a significant point producer. He did that today, but that was the goal from Day 1,”

After a turnover by Calgary’s Michael Stone, Seguin took the puck down the slot and sent a wrist into the upper right corner of the net for the winner, breaking a 4-4 tie.

“I thought we played a pretty good game right until the 10-minute mark of the third,” Flames coach Glen Gulutzan said. “Thought the guys did an excellent job in a 5-on-3 (penalty kill), and all of a sudden, we self-inflicted ourselves. We had pucks under perfect control, made a bad pass, made another bad pass and it ends up in your net.”

Sean Monahan’s second goal of the game gave Calgary a 4-3 lead 6 minutes into the third period.

Dallas’ Gemel Smith tied it at 4 at 12:12 with his second goal of the season after Dallas had squandered the 5-on-3 power play.

“Depth was huge in tonight’s game,” Seguin said. “There was goals from nearly anybody., I think the biggest goal of the night was probably Smitty’s. A guy you’re not really looking to score that big goal, but he always comes up and makes big plays.”

Antoine Roussel also scored for Dallas, and Ben Bishop made 34 saves. Johnny Gaudreau had a goal and two assists, and Michael Ferland also scored for Calgary. Mike Smith stopped 36 shots.

NOTES: Before the game, the Stars honored Jere Lehtinen, who played 14 seasons for Dallas, by retiring his No. 26. He joins Neal Broten (7), Bill Goldsworthy (8), Mike Modano (9) and Bill Masterton (19). Lehtinen three times won the NHL’s Selke Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward. He now is general manager of the Finnish National Team. … Monahan’s first goal was his seventh on the power play, tied for the most in the league. … Stars D Stephen Johns (upper-body injury) left during the second period. … Dallas had the NHL’s top power play until the 1-for-20 slump in the last six games. . The Stars have won their last four games at home, where they’re 9-2.

UP NEXT

Flames: Complete a six-game trip on Saturday night at Colorado.

Stars: Begin a two-game trip on Tuesday night at Vegas.

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Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin (91) celebrates his third goal of the night with Jamie Benn (14) during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. The Stars won 6-4. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin skates the ice after he scored his third goal of the night, during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. The Stars won 6-4. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Stars right wing Alexander Radulov celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Calgary Flames right wing Kris Versteeg (10) skates with the puck against Dallas Stars center Martin Hanzal (10) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Dallas Stars left wing Antoine Roussel (21) tries to score against Calgary Flames goalie Mike Smith (41) as Michael Frolik (67) and TJ Brodie (7) watch during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. Roussel was called for a penalty on the play. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Calgary Flames left wing Micheal Ferland (79) tries to score against Dallas Stars goalie Ben Bishop (30) and defenseman Dan Hamhuis (2) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Calgary Flames center Freddie Hamilton (25) skates with the puck against Dallas Stars center Mattias Janmark (13) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/LM Otero)