Print

DALLAS (AP) -- It was almost a nearly perfect homecoming for Philadelphia Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock.

But Hitchcock's former team, the Dallas Stars, completed a rally from a two-goal deficit when Pierre Turgeon scored a power-play goal with 16:42 left in regulation to claim a 2-2 tie on Monday night.

Kim Johnsson's second-period goal gave the Flyers a 2-0 advantage in Hitchcock's first game in Dallas since he was fired by the Stars on Jan 25, 2002. The Stars won the Stanley Cup with Hitchcock behind the bench in 1999.

But Sergei Zubov answered with a second-period power-play goal, then Turgeon deflected Richard Matvichuk's shot from the point with the man advantage to draw the Stars even.

"It was a hyped-up game because Hitch was coming in and his team plays extremely hard," Matvichuk said. "With the success we had with him and the fact that they're an elite team, this was a measuring stick game for us."

Hitchcock remains a popular figure in Dallas. He was cheered when he was introduced before the game and he later heard cheers again when he was shown on the big video screen.

"This is a special place for me," Hitchcock said. "When you can be a part of what we built here ... we didn't only build a team, we built hockey in Texas. But I'm happy where I'm coaching now. I've moved on and I'm having fun with this group."

Marty Turco had 26 saves for the Stars, 6-1-2 in their last nine to begin to climb back up the Western Conference standings.

"This gives us confidence," Turgeon said. "A month ago, maybe even a couple of weeks ago, I don't know if we come back from two goals down."

The Stars' special teams had a big night. In addition to the two power-play goals, Dallas killed both Philadelphia advantages, giving the Stars 40 consecutive penalty kills.

Mike Comrie scored his first goal for the Flyers, and Robert Esche stopped 20 shots for Philadelphia. The Flyers are 2-2-3-3 in their last 10.

Philadelphia was making the fourth stop on a season-high, eight-game road trip.

The Stars and Flyers have tied in seven of their last 11 meetings. Dallas is 3-1-7 against Philadelphia during the span.

Comrie, acquired in a trade with Edmonton on Dec. 16 that ended his contract dispute with the Oilers, played his second game with the Flyers. Comrie was alone in front of the Dallas net when he fired the rebound of Eric Desjardins' shot past Turco at 15:22 of the first period.

Johnsson made it 2-0 at 10:25 of the second period on a shot from the left circle that went in off Turco's glove.

Zubov scored from the point while the Stars had a man advantage at 16:04 of the second period to cut the deficit to 2-1.

"We were looking for something to give us a lift, and that was it," Stars coach Dave Tippett said of Zubov's goal. "We weren't as sharp as we wanted to be early, but as the game went on, we got more determined. We made a couple of crisp plays and put the puck in the net."