Dallas Stars 3, Montreal Canadiens 0

Stars put out one of their best efforts this season in huge win.

The Dallas Stars finally got a complete 60-minute effort Tuesday night in Montreal, defeating a lackluster Canadiens team 3-0. The win snapped a two-game losing streak and improved Dallas to 30-26-4, one point behind the Calgary Flames for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Canadiens fell to 24-27-10.

Photo not provided by the Montreal Canadiens, Dallas Stars

Nothing like a little Canadien medicine for what's ailing the Stars.

Needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, Dallas stormed out of the gate in the first period, outworking Montreal in all phases of the ice and outshooting the home team 16-6.

Dallas was finally rewarded for its dominant period at 14:12, when rookie Ryan Garbutt, just recently called up from the minors, scored his first NHL goal on a sweet feed from Jake Dowell behind the net. Garbutt's goal would eventually stand as the game-winner.

After a second period marked by penalties against Dallas — Dallas's penalty killers went 4-for-4 during the period on the kill — the Stars finally got some breathing room when Trevor Daley skated around the net, drew extra coverage, and got the puck to a wide-open Mike Ribeiro, who easily potted his 13th of the season. It was Ribeiro's first game in Montreal since he was traded in 2006. Mark Fistric, Dallas' most physical defenseman, also got his first point of the season with the secondary assist on the play.

Dallas got its third and final goal on a double-error by Montreal goalie Carey Price, whose pass out of the zone was intercepted by Tomas Vincour. Vincour made a nifty backhand pass to Tom Wandell, whose shot from distance escaped Price for his fourth goal and the 3-0 lead.

Price was stellar throughout despite the third goal, keeping the Canadiens in the game in a lopsided first period, and stopped 33 of the 36 shots he faced. Dallas netminder Kari Lehtonen made all 31 saves, many of which were from extremely close distance, for his 21st win and the shutout.

Dallas' next game is Thursday night in Chicago, where they will face the suddenly-resurgent 32-21-7 Blackhawks.