by Mark Stepneski of Andrew's Stars Page

Stars barely squeak by the worst team in the NHL.

DALLAS — The Dallas Stars got off to a sluggish start Wednesday at the American Airlines Center against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but by the end of the night, they had registered a couple of positive firsts, winning consecutive games for the first time this season thanks to their first win in a game that went beyond regulation. Mike Ribeiro's nifty deflection goal tied the game with 2:45 remaining and then James Neal's goal with 2:03 left in overtime sealed the deal, giving the Stars a 4-3 victory over the Maple Leafs.

"I think it showed they can be resilient. I think it also shows you can stay with the game. Not every game is going to be a masterpiece," said Stars head coach Marc Crawford. "Even though they didn't have their best stuff, they had enough to find a push. I think that speaks volumes to the group."

Brad Richards scored two goals for the Stars and both Ribeiro and Neal had assists to go along with their goals. Marty Turco stopped 33 of 36 shots for Dallas and was excellent early when the Maple Leafs were dominating the shot clock.

"It was a great performance from Marty, he held us in," said Crawford.

The Stars needed Turco early in the game, when Toronto was holding a 14-2 advantage in shots early in the second period. By late in the game the Stars need a goal after Nikolai Kulemin's one-handed rebound goal put the Maple Leafs up 3-2 with 6:49 left in regulation.

"I think we showed a lot of intensity and push back once we did get behind," said Crawford. "That was pleasing to see."

The Stars got the equalizer when rookie Jamie Benn put a puck on net from the right point and Ribeiro deflected it from the slot into the top corner of the net.

"It was a little bit of a lucky goal. I just put my stick there, it deflected and went in," said Ribeiro, who had a goal and an assist in the game. "The most important thing is to get those two points even though we didn't play well."

That sent the game beyond regulation, where the Stars were 0-4 coming into the game with one loss in overtime and three in shootouts.

But this time instead of settling for the one point, they got the two when Stephane Robidas blasted a shot on net and Neal knocked the rebound past Toronto goalie Jonas Gustavsson.

“I was right there for the rebound and put it in," Neal said. "It crossed the line pretty slow, but I’ll take it.”

After playing 35 minutes of scoreless hockey, the two teams then mirrored each other in the goal scoring department. Brad Richards with 4:47 left in the second period, and Kulemin did the same for Toronto less than two minutes later. Richards and Lee Stempniak traded power play goals early in the third period to take the game to 2-2. That set the stage for Kulemin and Ribeiro to trade goals later in the period to send it to OT.

"I think we played really well through the third period and overtime, I think we dominated," said Ribeiro. "Richie’s line played a great game and Marty made the big saves at the right time, so it was a big team win.”

The Stars, who have won two games in a row for the first time this season, are now 6-2-4. They are also on a four-game points streak (3-0-1).

The Maple Leafs, who won their first game of the season Monday in Anaheim, dropped to 1-7-2 on the season.

"With five minutes left and up a goal, you have to find ways to close those games out," said Toronto forward Jason Blake, who had three assists. "It's a tough one to take, giving up a late goal. But you learn from that and move forward."

Next up for the Stars are the Florida Panthers, who will be at the American Airlines Center Friday evening.

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