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Kane leads charge as Blackhawks roll over Stars

Nov 21, 2008 - 5:44 AM By John Tranchina PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DALLAS (Ticker) -- Apparently, several changes did not help the Dallas Stars.

Patrick Kane scored twice and rookie Kris Versteeg added a goal and two assists as the Chicago Blackhawks cruised to a 6-3 victory Thursday over the Stars, who had made multiple personnel moves over the previous few days in an effort to change their fortunes.

"We're really coming on all cylinders," Versteeg said. "The guys are really buying into the systems and guys are working hard and getting into the plays. ... The guys are playing great road games and we've just got to keep it rolling."

Defenseman Brian Campbell and Ben Eager each netted a goal and set up another, Martin Havlat also scored and Troy Brouwer notched a pair of assists for the Blackhawks, who recorded just their second victory in 13 visits to Dallas.

"It was a big win," Havlat said. "The team was working hard and happy to get the second win in two games on the road. It was great to win here. The Blackhawks, in their last 11 or 12 games here, they only won once. It's been a big win to get it here."

Nikolai Khabibulin turned aside 31 shots for Chicago, which won its second consecutive game after losing three straight.

"He's been real good," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "Certainly, he looked big and comfortable in the net. He's been rock solid for us all year."

Mike Modano registered a goal and an assist while captain Brenden Morrow and James Neal also scored for the Stars, who have dropped six of their last eight.

"We all have to be at the top of our game every night. Otherwise, you get what happened tonight," Dallas coach Dave Tippett said. "We have shown glimpses, but we just can't sustain it for one reason or another. We start chasing games and don't push all the way through."

Dallas failed to win consecutive games for the first time this season and continued to struggle after a trip to the Western Conference finals last spring prompted predictions of another deep playoff run this season.

But after trading veteran Philippe Boucher to the Pittsburgh Penguins for fellow defenseman Darryl Sydor on Sunday and losing rookie forward B.J. Crombeen to the St. Louis Blues via waivers, the Stars still gave up at least four goals for the fifth time in seven home games.

"It has been a tough climb," Stars center Brad Richards said. "You get one thing working and you want to get them all working. We're frustrated right now with what's going on. We don't like what's going on."

With Dallas ahead, 1-0, Kane scored with 37 seconds left in the first period and Eager tallied 6:44 into the second to put Chicago ahead. But Modano scored with the man advantage 76 seconds later to even the game at 2-2.

Campbell restored the Blackhawks' lead 78 seconds afterward, firing a long slap shot past screened goaltender Marty Turco during a power play for his fourth goal of the season.

Neal, who was recalled from the minors on Tuesday, notched his third goal of the season with 3:54 left in the second. After Khabibulin stopped initial attempts by Richards and Sean Avery, Neal grabbed the second rebound and popped it over the Russian netminder.

But Chicago jumped back in front for good with 30 seconds to go in the session, as Versteeg capped the five-goal period with his seventh tally of the season.

"I wasn't trying to be fancy or anything like that," Versteeg said. "I kind of saw a lane to the net, and I was just trying to take the puck hard to the net and make a play with it."

Havlat has been impressed with Versteeg's contributions thus far.

"He's having a great first year," Havlat said. "He's showing everybody that he's very skilled, and hopefully he's going to keep going. He's playing great. It's nice to watch him, and it's fun to play with him, too."

Havlat netted his sixth goal at 6:40 of the third, beating Turco with a sharp wrist shot from the right faceoff circle, and Kane added an empty-netter with 16 seconds remaining to secure the victory.