VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Jere Lehtinen had the go-ahead goal and an assist as the Dallas Stars extended their unbeaten streak to nine games Sunday and damaged Vancouver's playoff chances with a 3-2 victory over the Canucks.
Former Canuck Greg Adams added an insurance tally in the third period for the Stars, who are 7-0-2 since March 1, their longest unbeaten streak since they went a franchise-record 12 games without a loss in 1981-82. Dallas is 20-6-3 since the All-Star break and leads second-place Detroit by nine points in the Central Division.
"In this league, it's not just your 'A' game that matters. Your 'B' game has to be almost as good," Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said. "You won't be on every night, but the NHL is so competitive now that you can't drop much when you're not. I think that's what happened in Vancouver this year. They played us well all year, but maybe they had a drop and didn't get points when they weren't playing well."
Trevor Linden and David Roberts scored for Vancouver, which had its four-game unbeaten streak snapped. The Canucks fell five points behind Chicago for the final Western Conference playoff berth with only five games remaining.
"It's not over," Vancouver coach Tom Renney insisted. "We didn't get the job done today, but we're not done. We've got a few days to work on some things. We just have to see what happens. Certainly, we need some help at this stage, there's no doubt about that."
Lehtinen's goal with 3:15 to go in the second period put Dallas ahead 2-1. Vancouver had trouble getting back and Lehtinen used defenseman Steve Staios as a screen in beating goaltender Kirk McLean to the glove side with a wrist shot from the slot. It was his third goal in two games.
Adams made it 3-1 just over six minutes into the third period. McLean was able to stop his wraparound at the left goalpost, but Adams poked home the rebound for his 19th goal.
"I don't know, that's what I do -- take it to the net and see what happens. I just brought it in front and banged away," said Linden.
"I didn't even know he was there," said McLean, who was Adams' roommate when he was on the Canucks. "The puck was on the other side of the net and there was a pass across. He started on his way out, (Dave) Babych went to go get him. It just kind of dribbled in. He just kind of threw his stick out there. That's the kind of stuff Greg's always been doing. It was just one of those unfortunate bounces for us."
Adams also said he's baffled by Vancouver's struggles.
"I know so many guys over there, I can't figure out why they are where they are," he said. "They sure haven't been easy for us. Like today, they give us all we can handle. It's weird looking at their lineup, but sometimes things just don't come together as a team."
The Canucks answered with a power-play goal by Roberts with 8:14 remaining. Goalie Arturs Irbe stopped Jyrki Lumme's point shot, but Roberts chipped a bouncing puck over Irbe's right shoulder for his 10th goal of the season and first since Feb. 4.
Dallas actually had the better chances the rest of the way. McLean stopped Joe Nieuwendyk on a breakaway with 7:40 left and made a stick save on Benoit Hogue at the end of a two-on-one with 3:30 to go.
Bill Huard's goal midway through the first period gave the Stars a 1-0 lead, but Trevor Linden tied it at 16:55 with his second in as many games.
Irbe made only 18 saves, but extended his personal unbeaten
streak to seven games (5-0-2). The Stars improved to 18-10 in
one-goal games.
Jon's 3 stars:
1. Mike Modano
2. Markus Naslund
3. Jere Lehtinen
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