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Morrow, Zubov dazzle as Stars cruise by Bruins

Oct 6, 2007 - 5:45 AM By John Tranchina PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DALLAS (Ticker) -- When the Dallas Stars decided not to make any significant additions to their roster following last spring's third straight first-round playoff defeat, they made a statement that they believed the players already here could make the difference.

Captain Brenden Morrow and defenseman Sergei Zubov each recorded a goal and an assist as the Stars coasted to a convincing 4-1 triumph over the Boston Bruins in Friday's home opener.

Marty Turco made 24 saves to keep the Bruins winless in their last five season openers.

One of the team's few newcomers, 20-year-old rookie defenseman Matt Niskanen also added two assists for Dallas, while Joel Lundqvist and Niklas Hagman scored the other goals.

"There's a lot being said about our modest changes to our club, and we really don't look at it like it's a modest change at all because year-to-year, it's just different, even with the same guys, the same team," Turco said. "What happened last year knowing we were real close to getting out of that first round and possibly making some noise, but the dynamic has changed. I feel like there's no weaknesses at all."

Patrice Bergeron netted Boston's lone goal on a power play late in the second period to cut the deficit to 3-1. Stationed to the right of the net, Bergeron slammed home a beautiful cross-crease backhand pass that Peter Schaefer slid between his own legs.

Dallas dulled the immediate momentum Boston gained from that goal and then extended the lead to 4-1 with a power-play tally of their own 3:39 into the third period. Zubov drilled a slap shot from the blue line that squeezed through netminder Manny Fernandez just as Morrow cruised through the crease to create a screen.

"We wanted to come out and be aggressive, and we took advantage of the power play when we had it," Morrow said. "We earned a big win."

The Stars, who won their sixth straight home opener, were happy with a 60-minute, all-around solid effort after losing, 4-3, in Colorado on Wednesday, despite being limited to only 18 shots on goal by the Bruins.

"It's a great sign. Just in two games now, you're starting to see little character assessments," Turco said. "Coming from behind when we didn't have our best effort (Wednesday), which is going to happen, getting the early lead, sticking with it, everybody playing hard and a little more jump. We can see how beneficial it is for us to play 60 minutes and then stay with it."

The Stars got on the board first when Lundqvist notched his first of the season at 15:19 of the opening period. Lundqvist one-timed a bouncing pass from the high slot that whizzed over Fernandez's shoulder.

Niskanen, playing in just his second game, earned his first career point on the play as he fed Lundqvist the puck from the blue line.

"I thought (Niskanen) was very good again. He's got some poise," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "There were some hiccups in there that any young defenseman is going to have, but he's been a very solid player for us now. The first play to Lundqvist was just a good heads-up play. That's just the poise he has with the puck. That's instinct, and that's why he's a good player."

Dallas went ahead, 2-0, early in the second on Hagman's second goal in as many games, as he deked around Fernandez in the crease after receiving a nice pass from Jussi Jokinen.

"I thought (Fernandez) played OK," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "Sometimes it's not the amount of shots, because that's an easy way to criticize a goaltender. But it's the kind of goals, the kind of chances on missed coverage."

Julien was back behind the bench for the first time since being fired by the New Jersey Devils with three games left in the 2006-07 season.

Morrow made it 3-0 at 8:49, when he drilled a one-timer from the top of the right faceoff circle to beat Fernandez over the blocker. Zubov made the play possible by carrying the puck over the blue line and drawing three defenders before dishing off a perfect backhand pass that Morrow blasted in full stride.

"I think that's probably the farthest I've scored from, away from the net," Morrow said. "I didn't get all of it, and I actually had the same chance about three minutes later and I hit it where I wanted to hit the first one and I missed the net."

"A lot of positive things again," Tippett said. "Like the other night, there are some positive things to build on and there's also some things we have to work on still. I thought Turco had a bounce-back game, he looked solid for us. We had some people do some real good work again. We just have to continue to work on it."