Stars Shutout Ducks

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Dallas Stars put a dent in the Anaheim Ducks’ dominating season at home, winning 2-0 at the Honda Center on Saturday night.

The Ducks lead the NHL with 85 points (40-12-5), thanks in good measure to a 20-3-2 record at home. But all three of those losses have come in their past five games at home.

The Stars were an unlikely visitor to steal two points in Anaheim. They had gone winless in their previous five road games and 1-5-2 in their previous eight.

After an early flurry of chances by the Ducks went unrewarded, though, the Stars took over and carried the action for most of the night. They outshot the Ducks 9-6 in the first period and then spent more than five minutes of the second period on the power play, their aggressive play having forced the Ducks into taking penalties.

Just over five minutes into the second period, the Stars capitalized on the pressure when center Rich Peverley sent center Cody Eakin up the ice along the right side with a breakout pass. Ducks left winger

Patrick Maroon was slow to pinch Eakin off along the boards and he got behind him.

Eakin broke in on Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller, who made the initial save but left the rebound in front where Stars defenseman Trevor Daley swept it past him for his fourth goal of the season and a Dallas lead.

Hiller was forced to make 11 saves in the period, many under pressure, to keep the score 1-0.

The Ducks turned the pressure on Stars backup goalie Dan Ellis in the third period, keeping the puck in the Dallas zone and outshooting the Stars 8-2 in the first 11 minutes of the period.

The Ducks have outscored their opponents 100-52 at home this season but were unable to put a puck past Ellis, making just his 13th appearance of the season.

Ellis, who spent two seasons with the Ducks, turned aside all 26 shots he faced, survived three Anaheim power plays and posted his first shutout in exactly one year. Ellis also shut out the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 1, 2013, while playing for the Carolina Hurricanes.

It was the first shutout against the Ducks this season. Left winger Jamie Benn added an empty-net goal for the Stars in the final minute.