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Purcell leads Lightning past Stars

Jan 21, 2012 - 5:15 AM Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Teddy Purcell netted two goals, including the game-winner in the third period, as the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Dallas Stars, 2-1, at American Airlines Center.

Purcell scored early in the first period, then again early the third, and Martin St. Louis chipped in with two assists for the Lightning, who have won back-to-back games after dropping seven straight. Mathieu Garon was stellar in goal, stopping 27-of-28 shots in the victory.

"Right from the first shift, you could see he was battling hard and he gets the result from his work ethic," Lightning coach Guy Boucher said of Purcell.

Tom Wandell scored and Kari Lehtonen gave up both tallies on 22 shots in defeat for the Stars, who have lost four consecutive games -- all by a one goal margin.

Tampa Bay's winning goal came at 3:36 of the final stanza when Purcell picked up the puck in the defensive zone and raced up the right wing, cut into the slot and backhanded it past Lehtonen.

The Stars pulled Lehtonen with a minute to go in regulation, and got some good shots on net, but they could not beat Garon and the Lightning held on for the win.

Tampa Bay opened the scoring at 18:48 of the first period with some great work in the offensive zone. Holding the puck in the right corner, St. Louis warded off a pair of Stars checkers, peeked over his shoulder and found Purcell all alone in the slot and the rugged forward slipped the puck through the legs of Lehtonen.

After a scoreless second stanza, Dallas finally got on the board 1:22 into the final period when Wandell led the rush through the neutral zone and dished to Loui Eriksson on the right wing. Wandell went to the net and got the puck back before chipping it into the net. The play was reviewed as it appeared that Wandell kicked it in, but the goal stood.

"It just wasn't good enough," Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas said. "We need points badly, we've gotten one point in our last four games. We needed to win desperately in our own building, but it wasn't good enough."

Game Notes

It was Purcell's second career two-goal game....Dallas dropped to 19-8-3 all- time against the Tampa Bay...Dallas failed to score on four power-play chances, while the Lightning went 0-for-3 with the man advantage...The Stars will look to snap their losing streak against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, while the Lightning will visit the Phoenix Coyotes, also on Saturday...The Lightning snapped a six-game road losing streak.