• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Lehtonen, Stars blank Ducks

Mar 11, 2012 - 7:10 AM Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Kari Lehtonen posted 21 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Dallas Stars posted a 2-0 win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Brenden Morrow scored the game-winner early in the second while Michael Ryder added an empty-net goal for the Stars, who have won five straight and nine of their last 10 games.

"[The Ducks] have really skilled guys and we were able to contain them from getting good chances and that made it easier for me," said Lehtonen.

The Stars' only loss in 10 games came in a shootout to Pittsburgh on Feb. 29 and the late-season surge has allowed them to move into the top spot in the Pacific Division with 81 points, three more than second-place Phoenix.

Jonas Hiller was touched for one goal on 22 shots for the Ducks, who have dropped five of their past seven and remain on the outside looking in for a playoff spot.

"It's getting down to it now. We have to be ready to play," said Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf.

After a scoreless first period that saw Hiller stop six shots and Lehtonen turn aside eight, the Stars took the lead on the power play 2:37 into the second.

Dallas was skating on a 5-on-3 after Sheldon Brookbank was called for roughing and Francois Beauchemin was whistled for hooking. Steve Ott passed it from the top of the right circle to the bottom of the circle where Jamie Benn fed it over to the left and Morrow pushed it in. The goal was a 5-on-4 power play as it came one second after Brookbank's infraction expired.

That was it for the scoring until late in the third with Hiller pulled as Ryder put the puck in the empty net with 46 seconds left to seal the win.

Game Notes

Lehtonen notched the 20th shutout of his career...Dallas plays in Minnesota on Tuesday...Anaheim plays in Colorado on Monday...Dallas has won five of six from Anaheim this season.