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Richards, Dallas continue home dominance over Hurricanes

Dec 11, 2010 - 7:18 AM Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Brad Richards scored the lone goal in the shootout while netminder Andrew Raycroft turned in a superb effort to help Dallas squeeze out another home win, a 2-1 decision over Carolina.

Raycroft made 22 saves, including a glove stop on Joe Corvo in overtime, in the Stars' fourth consecutive home win. They are 9-0-1 in their last 10 games in Dallas.

Cam Ward stopped 28 shots and stood on his head in overtime, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Hurricanes from losing for the fourth time in five games. The Carolina/Hartford franchise is winless in its last 10 visits to Dallas.

"The thing about the shootout is it's a flip of a coin," Ward said. "It can go good, it can go bad. It's been a while since we won a shootout, but we got a point."

The game was knotted at 1-1 after Dallas' James Neal scored 9:39 into the first period, and Carolina's Jiri Tlusty tallied nine minutes into the second.

Ward made seven saves in the third period while Raycroft stopped five, and both goaltenders were severely tested in overtime.

Dallas applied most of the early pressure, inundating Ward with dangerous chances. With under four minutes to play, Ward stopped a Mike Ribeiro shot but decided to merely swat the puck away, leaving a prime rebound in the open. Ribeiro was still around and tried to stuff it in, but the puck bounced off the left post.

Moments later, Neal tried a wraparound that Ward stopped, and the goaltender had to quickly adjust to block Richards' rebound blast.

Carolina had its best chance in the final minute, when a neutral zone turnover led to an odd-man rush. Corvo received a cross-ice pass on the right side and prepared to shoot, but by the time he got the puck on the tape, Raycroft slid over and was in position to snag the high shot.

"He played great," Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas said of Raycroft. "He's been really good every time he stepped in net. I think we all feel really confident. He's calm, and he's playing the puck really well."

Ward made six saves overall in overtime, while Raycroft stopped four shots.

Richards was the third skater in the shootout and got Ward to bite as he slowly approached the net. Richards' shot appeared to carom off Ward's pad before going in.

Raycroft then closed his pads on a shot by Jeff Skinner and stopped Eric Staal's wrister to secure the victory.

Game Notes

Raycroft started his second consecutive game in place of Kari Lehtonen, who is out with back problems...The teams combined to go 0-for-9 on power-play chances...Neal's goal was his 12th of the season.