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Morrow helps Stars overcome Naslund, beat Canucks

Feb 6, 2008 - 6:24 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- It was only fitting that Brenden Morrow supplied the game-winner in the shootout.

The 28-year-old captain scored a goal and set up another in regulation before netting the decisive tally in the sixth round of the bonus format to lift the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.

Marty Turco made 22 saves and All-Star Mike Ribeiro added two assists for the Stars, who expanded their lead in the Pacific Division to four points.

Captain Markus Naslund scored both goals - and the only tally in the shootout - for Vancouver, which has lost four in a row.

After observing how Roberto Luongo stopped Niklas Hagman earlier in the shootout, Morrow skated in and unleashed a wrist shot that beat the netminder to the stick side, giving the Stars the advantage.

"I think I watched Hags and it looked like (Luongo) went down. (He) was crouching down kind of low, so I knew I wanted to go high," Morrow said of his shot selection. "I just trust that I'm going to hit the net better on that side than on the other, so it was as simple as that - just make sure I hit the net."

"When the guy puts it off the bar, there's not much you can do," Luongo said. "It was a great shot."

Turco then stopped Taylor Pyatt to secure Dallas' fourth consecutive victory.

"That was huge," Ribeiro said of Morrow's overall performance. "We need our line to create offense and play physical, and Brenden was a great example. He had a goal and an assist, winning goal in the shootout, he's the best example we can have here. Work ethic - we follow him."

The shootout did not get off to a good start for either goaltender.

In the opening round, Jussi Jokinen fired a wrist shot past the stick side of Luongo and in off the goalpost to give the Stars an early edge in the bonus format. Naslund followed by launching a quick shot between the pads of Turco to even things.

Luongo and Turco then refused to allow another goal for the next four rounds, setting the stage for Morrow's heroics. Trevor Linden, who entered 6-for-9 in shootouts, had a chance to win it in the third round but rang his shot off the goalpost.

After Naslund gave Vancouver a 1-0 lead with 7:10 left in the opening session, Morrow even the contest less than four minutes later with his team-leading 23rd goal of the season with 3:20 remaining.

"You have two teams playing tight to the vest, and that falls right into what Morrow does," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "He creates space at the net, and this was a game Brenden should thrive in, and he did."

Jere Lehtinen gave the Stars a 2-1 edge at 7:11 of the second, but Naslund answered with 73 seconds left in the period.

Luongo stopped 32 shots for Vancouver.

"He played a strong game, I don't know many saves he made in the shootout," Naslund said of Luongo. "I wish we could have gotten him the win."

"We need him to be our top player," Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said of Luongo. "I'm sure he'd like to have the second goal back. Other than that, he played a phenomenal game."