The first goal Marty Turco gave up was as ugly as they come. Mike Modano's second looked picture perfect for the surging Dallas Stars.
Dallas's slow start is a thing of the past, and the Pacific Division-leading Stars (13-7-4) are showing signs of being the good team they were expected to be.
Modano scored his second goal of the game 35 seconds into overtime, Turco made 23 saves, and Dallas beat the New York Islanders, 3-2, last night in Uniondale, N.Y., the Stars' sixth straight win.
Modano knocked in a rebound from the slot of Stephane Robidas's shot to give the Stars their first win over the Islanders since March 23, 2001.
"We couldn't have drawn up the game-winner any better," Modano said. "That's the best overtime we've played in a long time."
Jeff Halpern had given Dallas a 2-1 lead in the third period, but that was erased with 2:38 left in regulation when Miroslav Satan tied it for New York with a power-play goal.
Turco made just his second start in six games as Mike Smith has staked his claim to Dallas's No. 1 goalie spot. Turco earned his second straight victory following an 0-1-2 stretch in which he surrendered 14 goals.
The Stars have outscored opponents, 20-7, during their winning streak and have earned points in eight straight games (6-0-2).
Turco got out with a win despite a goal he surely would like back.
With the Islanders playing short-handed, Richard Park raced alone after a loose puck that slid toward the Dallas end. Turco, never shy about leaving his crease, skated out toward the charging Park but didn't get to the puck in time. Park corralled it above the right circle, moved around Turco, and stared at an empty net. Park controlled the puck at the goal line, worked away from Sergei Zubov, who tried to cover for Turco, and tucked in a backhander at 9:07.
New York hasn't scored more than two goals in nine consecutive games, going 4-4-1 in that span, and has an NHL-low 51 goals.
Sabres 3, Capitals 1 - Jochen Hecht had two goals and an assist to lead visiting Buffalo to its season-high fifth straight victory. Hecht scored Buffalo's first two goals, with the second snapping a 1-1 tie in the second period. He then assisted on Jason Pominville's insurance goal later in the period at the end of a 2-on-1 breakaway.
Oilers 3, Blue Jackets 1 - Andrew Cogliano scored the tiebreaking goal in the third period, Dwayne Roloson stopped 36 shots, and host Edmonton earned its second straight victory.
