Hurricanes rally with 5-goal third period, beating the Stars 6-4

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Martin Necas scored on the power play with 2:07 remaining as the Carolina Hurricanes rallied past the Dallas Stars 6-4 on Monday night behind a five-goal third period.

Shayne Gostisbehere, Brent Burns and Sebastian Aho also scored in the third for Carolina before Andrei Svechnikov added an empty-netter with 15 seconds left.

Spencer Martin, in just his fourth start of the season, made 15 saves as Carolina notched its eighth straight win at home.

Tyler Seguin, Thomas Harley, Mason Marchment and Miro Heiskanen had goals for Dallas.

The Hurricanes led 4-3 after Gostisbehere converted the team’s first power-play chance at 8:09 of the third. Heiskanen tied it with 5:14 left, setting the stage for a wild finish.

Seguin scored just 18 seconds into the game, converting off a giveaway in the Carolina zone.

Seth Jarvis, back after missing seven games with an upper-body injury, pulled the Hurricanes even at 6:36 of the first with a short-handed goal.

Stars: While Dallas boasts one of the NHL’s top penalty-kill units, they failed to come through twice in the third period while squandering a two-goal cushion.

Hurricanes: Injuries to Frederik Andersen (knee surgery) and Pyotr Kochetkov (concussion protocol) have raised concerns about Carolina’s goalie depth. With two more opponents on the docket this week in the Rangers and Panthers, that area will continue to be tested.

The Hurricanes came out with renewed energy in the third. Aho’s goal 1:10 into the period sparked life into a team that had struggled to beat goalie Jake Oettinger early on.

The Stars fell to 7-2 on the season when leading after one period.

The Stars conclude a three-game road trip on Wednesday against Chicago, while the Hurricanes host the Rangers.

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Dallas Stars' Thomas Harley (55) gathers in the puck as Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) stops the shot of Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Dallas Stars' Sam Steel (18) clears the puck past Carolina Hurricanes' Dmitry Orlov (7) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Dallas Stars' Mason Marchment (27) has his shot go wide of the net behind Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Spencer Martin (41) with Hurricanes' Dmitry Orlov (7) nearby during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) blocks a shot by Carolina Hurricanes' Jack Drury (18) with Stars' Logan Stankoven (11) nearby during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis (24) chases the puck past Dallas Stars' Esa Lindell (23) and goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) watches as the puck goes wide of Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) with Miro Heiskanen (4) nearby during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho (20) controls the puck in front of Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) and Miro Heiskanen (4) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Monday, Nov. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

BOSTON (AP) — Kristaps Porzingis was a spectator for the first month of the NBA season following offseason ankle surgery.

It didn’t take him long during his season debut against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night to remind his Boston Celtics teammates what they’ve been missing.

Late in the second half, the Clippers were on offense when Kris Dunn drove the baseline and went up for a dunk attempt. He was met at the rim by the outstretched arms of the 7-foot-2 Latvian, who sent it back to the floor with a two-handed block.

A few trips later, Porzingis showed off that length on the offensive end, catching an alley-oop from teammate Jaylen Brown that garnered roaring approval from the TD Garden crowd.

“It was a good beginning. Good first game back,” Porzingis said.

He finished with 16 points, six rebounds and two blocks over 23 minutes in Boston’s 126-94 win over the Clippers.

It was Porzingis’ first game action since undergoing left ankle surgery in June to fix a tear in the tissue that holds the ankle tendons in place. The issue limited him to seven playoff games during the Celtics’ NBA championship run last season.

He said he actually started to feel game ready about a month ago.

“I was always asking the medical staff to do more,” Porzingis said. "But we were really smart and completed all of the stages to get to this point.”

Porzingis' teammates got him involved early, going to him on each of their first two possessions. Porzingis fired up a 3 from the wing on Boston’s offensive touch, then drained one from the top of the key on the Celtics’ next trip up the floor.

He played nearly seven minutes of the first quarter, relieved at the 5:12 mark by Neemias Queta.

Boston is 15-3 this season, but has missed his presence on the inside, with teams routinely outscoring the defending champions in the paint.

Mazzulla acknowledged that how Porzingis plays on the offensive end, particularly how he operates sometimes out of the high and low post, will force some adjustment from how the team has played this season without him on the floor. But he was most pleased with what he added on the defensive end, where he helped everyone rally around the ball.

“We had 11 blocks tonight. It helps," Mazzulla said.

The original window for Porzingis' return following surgery was five to six months. But Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said before the season that they didn't want to hold to a specific timeline because of the uniqueness of the injury.

“We got here maybe a month early," Porzingis said. “Honestly, I felt better than I expected.”

Porzingis injured his ankle in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks and missed the next two games. He returned for Game 5, contributing five points and one rebound in 16 minutes as the Celtics beat Dallas 106-88 to clinch their record 18th title.

“To have big fella back, it makes us complete,” Celtics teammate Payton Pritchard said.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Injured Boston Celtics' center Kristaps Porzingis claps for his teammates in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)