A six-game December homestand, the longest of the season, represented a prime opportunity for the Stars to gain a little rhythm and cut into some of the ground they conceded to the top teams in the West earlier this year.

Colin Blackwell cut the lead to 4-3 at 17:44 on a backdoor tap-in with DeSmith pulled for the extra attacker. Nylander scored his second of the game, his 20th of the season, with an empty-net goal at 18:17 for the 5-3 final.