Dallas Stars 4, San Jose Sharks 1

by Mark Stepneski of Andrew's Stars Page

For the second time in a week the Dallas Stars got the better of play against the San Jose Sharks and this time they got rewarded with two points. The Stars snapped a five-game losing streak with a solid 4-1 victory, handing the Sharks just their third home regulation loss of the season.

"We didn't get rewarded in the first game (a 1-0 loss in Dallas last Monday), but we got rewarded for it tonight," said Stars coach Dave Tippett. "We created a lot of chances, we capitalized on our chances, we defended hard when we had to and Marty Turco made some great saves when he had to. We competed really, really hard and that's the way it is going to have to be if we're going to be successful. We did that tonight and found a way to win."

The Stars outshot the Sharks 34-25 in the game and controlled play most of the night, limiting San Jose's chances and putting a lot of pressure on Sharks goalie Brian Boucher.

"It was just real strong from start to finish, all aspects," said Modano. "We were due for a strong performance. We couldn't go the other way any longer."

James Neal had two goals and Modano and Brian Sutherby both had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who moved into tenth place in the Western Conference and just one point out of a playoff spot with the win.

"It was huge," said Sutherby, who also had an assist in the game. "We went on a five-game skid and it couldn't have been at a worst time than right now. It was nice to get out on the road and beat a very good hockey team."

Sutherby's line, which featured Neal and Fabian Brunnstrom got the Stars the early lead in the game. Brunnstrom sent a pass from behind the net to Sutherby, whose shot was stopped by Boucher but Neal banged home the rebound 6:35 into the game to make it a 1-0 game. The goal snapped an eleven-game drought for Neal.

"You just have to stick with it and it will pay off," said Neal. "Everyone has got to step up. It doesn't matter if you're a rookie or a veteran."

San Jose bounced back to tie it 9:07 into the game when San Jose center Joe Thornton redirected a shot past Turco, who made 24 saves on the night, with the Sharks on the power play.

The turning point of the game came late in the first period and early in the second. Sharks center Joe Pavelski was given a major penalty for head butting during a scrum with nine seconds left in the first and that led to the Stars going on a 3:00 power play early in the second period.

"I was yanked down," Pavelski told the Associated Press. "(The penalty) kind of caught me by surprise. I don't think you can see it. Even if it is on video, you're not going to see anything hard by any means. It's one of those things, and I think the ref made more of a bigger deal of it than I think it was."

When Sharks defenseman Rob Blake took a cross-checking minor during the Pavelski major, the Stars got a full 2:00 five-on-three.

The Stars were able to score with just three seconds left on the two-man advantage when the Stars brought the puck up the ice after San Jose had cleared it and Mike Ribeiro sent a cross-ice pass from the left point to Modano, who scored from the right circle 4:24 into the second period to put the Stars up 2-1.

"That was a key point," said Tippett. "When you think you are going to get the kill and you don't, it sucks the wind out of you. That was a very big goal for us, a very big goal."

The Stars were able to extend the lead and seal with two goals in the third period. Sutherby scored off a backhand in front of the net after his line had been swarming around the Sharks net, and then Modano set up Neal on an odd-man rush and the Stars rookie notched his 20th goal off a snap shot that beat Boucher.

The Sharks, who lost their second straight game and for the third time in their last five, fell to 26-3-3 at home this season.

"Maybe they deserved to win the game in Dallas and they didn't," Sharks forward Ryane Clowe said. "Nabby (goalie Evgeni Nabokov) stole the game there. Tonight they played hard against us, and they deserved to win this one."

The Stars, who continue their road trip in Los Angeles on Thursday and in Anaheim on Friday, got the start they wanted and needed Tuesday in San Jose.

"We needed to get rewarded for some hard work," said Tippett. "We played some very good games over that five-game losing streak. We played three games I thought we had a real good chance to win, a couple we didn't play very well. But we needed something to give us that jolt of energy that our work would be compensated. Tonight's win is good compensation for that."

Notes: San Jose announced before the game that forwards Mike Grier (knee) and Jeremy Roenick (shoulder) will miss extended time the remainder of the season, but should be ready for the postseason.