Casey DeSmith, Stars hold off Utah Hockey Club

Casey DeSmith made 24 saves in his first start since Dec. 2, helping the Dallas Stars snap a two-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club on Monday night in Salt Lake City.

DeSmith’s previous start also came at Utah, where he made 36 saves in a 2-1 win. Jake Oettinger started the next eight games, with DeSmith playing 18 minutes in relief on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Colin Blackwell, Roope Hintz and Jamie Benn scored for Dallas, which maintained its streak of never losing three straight games in regulation in two and a half seasons under coach Peter DeBoer.

Kevin Stenlund and Barrett Hayton scored and Karel Vejmelka made 27 saves for Utah, ending its eight-game point streak (6-0-2).

After a turnover in the neutral zone that triggered a two-on-one break, the Stars took a 1-0 lead at 11:02 of the first period. Blackwell had the opportunity to pass to Sam Steel on his left side, but chose to shoot the puck and beat Vejmelka.

Utah tied the score at 1-1 at 12:41 of the first.

Michael Carcone dropped a pass to Ian Cole, who delivered a one-timer just as he crossed the blue line. Stenlund deflected the puck past DeSmith as he battled for position with Hintz.

The Stars took a 2-1 lead at 12:39 of the second minute.

Mavrik Bourque and Hintz got behind the Utah defense on a dump-in, and Bourque passed the puck from close range back to Hintz, who scored the goal.

The Stars made it 3-1 at 17:50 of the second minute when Wyatt Johnson put the puck behind the net and found Benn in the front slot for a one-timer.

After ending a 21-game goal drought with a 5-4 shootout loss to the visiting Anaheim Ducks on Sunday, Hayton scored for the second straight game. He redirected a wrist shot from Nick Schmaltz across the left circle to cut the deficit to 3-2 at 11:39 of the third period.

–Field level media