Chicago scored only one goal again on Saturday in its third straight loss. Stars connected three times in the third to erase Blackhawks 1-0 lead and improve to 3-0 against Hawks this season.
Blackhawks top defenseman Seth Jones returned to a game for the first time since Dec. 10 after missing 15 games with a shoulder injury.
Connor Bedard, the NHL's top rookie scorer, was back for a hockey game in the United Center — albeit as a spectator — for the first time since suffering a broken jaw at New Jersey on Jan. 5 and undergoing surgery.
The 18-year-old center didn't look too mangled or puffy-faced as he walked down the lower-level talent corridor after leaving Chicago's dressing room. Bedard was followed closely by Blackhawks security boss Brian Higgins as he slipped past the Stars room and acknowledged players in the hall.
But the good vibes didn't lead to more goals or a better outcome for the Blackhawks. Despite another strong effort and structure — and dominating Dallas in the second period — Chicago fell to the Stars 3-1.
Just Not Scoring
The Blackhawks managed only one goal again, on a rebound by Boris Katchouk late in the second period, in its third straight loss. Chicago should have had more, as it outshot Dallas 19-9 in the middle frame with ample prime chances.
"Playing that well, I feel bad for the guys," coach Luke Richardson said. "You know, we just couldn't get that finish, again. We're stuck with that one goal a game and its just not getting us any ground.
"Any time we have kind of one little hiccup or turnover, it seems to be in the net."
And the Blackhawks couldn't beat a gimpy goalie.
Scott Wedgewood left the game at 8:49 of the second period after suffering a lower-body injury. Dallas coach Pete DeBoer said Wedgewood played "seven or eight minutes" with the condition before it tightened up too much.
Wedgewood stopped all 14 shots he faced before Jake Oettinger took over. Chicago got only one of 22 shots past him.
Katchouk pushed in a rebound after Oettinger stopped Zach Sanford on a breakaway with a pad save.
Stars Win It Late
The Stars scored three times in the third to improve to 3-0 against the Blackhawks this season. Matt Duchene fired in a screened power-play goal that ticked in off Petr Mrazek at 2:32 to tie it at 1.
Mason Marchment put Dallas ahead 2-1 with 5:06 to go, firing a low shot between Mrazek's pads to finish a 2-on-1 break with rookie defenseman Alex Vlasic back.
It was Marchment's fourth goal this season against Chicago. His late father, defenseman Bryan Marchment, played for the Hawks.
Jones, who played 21:10 in his first game back, got caught out of position when Marchment and a loose puck bounded past him to set up the 2-on-1. Then Joe Pavelski iced it with an emtpy-netter with 23 seconds left. See Jones in the video.