Stars shutout Wild 4-0
The Dallas Stars defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-0 Friday night at the American Airlines Center. Dallas jumps to fourth place in the Western Conference with the win, now three points behind Pacific Division-leading San Jose (who play at Dallas this Tuesday). With the 4-0 win against the Wild, the Stars are now on an eight-game point streak (6-0-2 record). The Stars have tied their season-high for consecutive games with a point (also Jan 2-20, 7-0-1).
The Dallas Stars have beaten the Minnesota Wild in 14-consecutive home games dating back to the 2002-03 season. Minnesota has not won a game in Dallas since March 21, 2003 (a span of 7 years, 11 months, and 19 days). Dallas has a 3-0-0 record against the Wild this season. This is now the seventh consecutive season that the Stars have been able to win at least three games in the season series against Minnesota.
Trevor Daley, Tom Wandell, and Mike Ribeiro each scored a goal in a span of 1 minute, 31 seconds near the end of the second period to give the Stars a 4-0 lead and break open a tight 1-0 game.
Jamie Benn recorded his 19th goal of the season and now has a six-game goal streak (six goals), which is the longest active goal streak in the NHL and is tied for the longest goal streak this season. Benn is one of three players in the NHL to record goals in six straight games this season (Grabner – NYI and Cleary – DET).
Kari Lehtonen earned his first shutout as a Dallas Star (14 saves), and his first overall since March 10, 2009 vs. Colorado (35 saves that night). It was Lehtonen’s 15th career shutout.
Trevor Daley scored his sixth goal of the season. He now has a career-high 26 points this season.
Nicklas Grossman recorded his ninth assist of the season on Jamie Benn’s goal in the first period. Grossman, who had missed the previous 11 games due to injury, logged 16:46 TOI and three hits in his return to action.
Mike Ribeiro notched a goal and an assist, giving him points in each of the last three games (3g, 3a). It marked his 13th multi-point game of the season.
Jamie Langenbrunner earned two assists, his third multi-point game since returning to the Stars in January.
Loui Eriksson’s assist gives him points in six of the last eight games (4g, 3a).
Dallas hosts the LA Kings on Sunday at 2 pm.
