Tierney scores two power-play goals, Senators defeat Stars

OTTAWA -- Chris Tierney scored two power-play goals for the Ottawa Senators in a 3-2 win against the Dallas Stars at Canadian Tire Centre on Sunday.

Tierney's second and third goals of the season gave Ottawa a 3-1 lead in the second period.
"It's a nice way to start, for sure," Tierney said. "It's even nicer when we win] the first two out of three. Just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win. A couple good bounces there but that's what they say, you go to the net and you're going to get bounces."
Connor Brown had three assists, and
[Filip Gustavsson
made 32 saves in his season debut for the Senators (2-1-0).
"That was big boy hockey out there," Ottawa coach D.J. Smith said. "[The Stars] are a north-south, big, heavy team and they play physical, fast. And credit to our guys, we came out in the first (period) ready. They made a really good push, but I thought we made a lot of smart plays and got good goaltending."
Michael Raffl had a goal and an assist, and Radek Faksa had two assists for the Stars (1-2-0), who have lost their past two games. Anton Khudobin made 24 saves.
"I think everyone may have been thinking a bit too much the past few games," Dallas forward Tyler Seguin said. "Tonight, it was just back to the basics, especially our line. Just competing, establishing our cycles down low. (We) saw a bit more of that in the second and the third. It's something to build off."
Raffl one-timed a centering pass from Alexander Radulov at 4:34 of the first period to give the Stars a 1-0 lead.
Nicholas Paul spun off Stars defenseman Ryan Suter in the slot and scored with a backhand into the top right corner to tie it 1-1 at 5:24.
"I think we showed a lot of maturity for a young team," Brown said. "We came out with a good start and we responded well after their early goal, so that was important."

Shane Pinto's chip shot bounced off Tierney's chest for a power-play goal to make it 2-1 at 9:20 of the second period.
Tierney scored again on the power play when he redirected a cross-crease pass from Zach Sanford at 19:00 to give the Senators a 3-1 lead.
"The penalty kill, up until tonight, has been very good," Dallas coach Rick Bowness said. "You live with that first goal; it was fluky. It hits his skate, hits the body, goes in. There's nothing you can do about that. I didn't like the second one. The defenseman's netfront responsibility is to stop that pass."
Joe Pavelski scored from the edge of the crease at 14:17 of the third period for the 3-2 final.
"We've got some guys trying to find their game, guys frustrated with their game," Bowness said. "And we're going to just kind of have to play our way through it."
Smith expressed relief that the Senators won for the second time in three games this season; they needed 11 to get their second victory in 2020-21 (2-8-1).
"To get two wins in three games is good for us, especially going into a three-day break here," Smith said. "That day off and a couple of practices, it gives us some confidence. We're playing well at home. We're going to have to continue that."
NOTES:Smith confirmed that forward Brady Tkachuk, who signed a seven-year, $57.5 million contract Oct. 14 after missing training camp, will make his season debut Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. … Stars defenseman John Klingberg missed his second straight game because of a lower-body injury. … It was Khudobin's first regulation loss against the Senators (8-1-2). … Brown got his 100th NHL assist on Tierney's second goal. … It was Smith's 50th NHL win.