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Couture scores game-winner in San Jose's victory over Stars

Dec 17, 2010 - 5:52 AM Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Logan Couture's power-play goal at the 1:20 mark of overtime sent San Jose past Dallas, 4-3, at American Airlines Center.

With Stars forward Mike Ribeiro off for a high-sticking double minor, the Sharks won a left-circle draw and the puck came back to Dan Boyle, who shifted from the left to right point. He dished back to Couture, who let fly from between the bottom of the circles for the winner.

"Our special teams tonight were below par," said Sharks head coach Todd McLellan. "He found a way to get the winner and he's done that a number of times for us. When you have a player like that on your team, you have to be thankful."

Devin Setoguchi scored twice and Torrey Mitchell also tallied for the Sharks, who had lost two in a row coming in.

Joe Pavelski added two assists and Antero Niittymaki won after stopping just 15 shots.

Loui Eriksson, Brenden Morrow and Tom Wandell lit the lamp for the Stars, who have dropped four of six overall.

Kari Lehtonen made his return to the net after missing four games with a back injury, but lost despite stopping 39 shots.

Setoguchi put the Sharks on the board just after the midway point of the first period, as he was alone on the left side to one-time a Pavelski pass to the near post.

Morrow evened the game via the power play with 50.2 seconds left in the opening period on a slick shot from the right circle.

Eriksson gave Dallas a 2-1 edge at 9:26 of the second, but Mitchell drew San Jose equal just 37 seconds later on a quick wrister under the crossbar.

Wallin gave the visitors a one-goal edge at 11:49 when he ripped a shot past Lehtonen to the left post.

Dallas pulled even at the 7:56 mark of the third period. Steve Ott provided a screen in front of Niittymaki and Wandell skated around the net and whipped a quick shot home to the far side.

James Neal appeared to have put the Stars up with 4:26 remaining, but his wide-open chance from the left wing hit the outside of the post.

"I think we got three or four times more penalties than they did, and they couldn't put it away," said Lehtonen of San Jose's seven power-plays to two for Dallas. "The penalty killers did a great job. When you look at that and the shot column, you can say it was good that we got one point."

Game Notes

This was San Jose's fourth win in the last 11 meetings with Dallas...Setoguchi posted his first multi-goal effort of the season and first since March 28 against Colorado...Stephane Robidas notched two helpers for the Stars in defeat.