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Richards, Neal help Stars extend winning streak

Feb 4, 2009 - 6:13 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- The Dallas Stars apparently are not done making up for a shoddy first half of the season.

Brad Richards and rookie James Neal each scored a goal and set up another as the Stars extended their winning streak to five games by vanquishing the Calgary Flames, 3-1, on Tuesday.

Jere Lehtinen also tallied and Marty Turco turned aside 24 shots for Dallas, which has won five in a row for the first time since a seven-game run from January 29-February 11, 2008.

"It was a tight game. It was ugly at times," Richards said. "They're a straight-forward team. We knew both teams were going to play like that. Both goalies played well. We've played good everywhere as of late. I think as a team we've come together here in the last month."

Mike Cammalleri netted his team-leading 26th goal of the season and Miikka Kiprusoff made 29 saves for the Flames, who have dropped two straight contests following a three-game winning streak.

"Any way you look at it, we weren't good enough," Calgary's Todd Bertuzzi said. "Dallas plays pretty well at home. This game could have gone either way. We needed to find a way to eliminate the mistakes we made."

Just a few months removed from competing in the Western Conference finals, Dallas suffered a huge blow when captain Brenden Morrow went down with a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in late November.

The Stars then entered December with an 8-11-4 record and limped into the All-Star break with a 20-18-7 mark.

However, they have not missed a beat since, outscoring opponents, 20-7, during their current streak.

"Stuff's starting to roll for us and we're playing good hockey," Neal said. "Guys are playing good hockey and starting to put some good lines together. The team getting on a roll makes things easier."

Turco echoed his teammate's sentiment.

"It's been a great sight to see, doing whatever it takes to win games, blocking shots, clicking on the power play," Turco said. "It's been a lot of fun and we are still in a clump of teams fighting for position. One game at a time, no matter where we are in the standings.

"We are starting to see what we are capable of now and I think I'm coming around. I'm feeling good lately."

Cammalleri opened the scoring 6:52 into the first period, firing a wrist shot past Turco from the low slot with the man advantage.

Turco, who has been in goal for every game of Dallas' run, was impenetrable the rest of the way and improved to 11-4-1 in his last 16 appearances against Calgary.

"He's been great," Lehtinen said. "These wins in the last month and a half. I think the whole team is playing more confident, but he's been a big part."

Lehtinen forged a 1-1 tie with 44 seconds remaining in the session, tipping in defenseman Matt Niskanen's initial attempt while stationed on the doorstep.

Neal then netted what stood as the game-winner by lifting a backhander over Kiprusoff 4:21 into the second.

With 3:16 left in the game, Richards secured the victory by converting passes from Neal and Loui Eriksson with a backhanded shot to notch his 13th tally of the season.

"We played pretty solid, we had contributions throughout the lineup and it was good to see our power play get some goals," Dallas coach Dave Tippett said. "Kiprusoff was very good but I liked the way we stayed with it. We are playing well without the puck and we are doing the things that allow us to win.

"Our special teams have been good, Marty has been excellent and we are doing things right as a team. (Steve) Ott is really taking a strong leadership role on and off the ice and we have good chemistry right now."