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Dallas scores four in the third, surges past Kings

Apr 10, 2013 - 6:17 AM Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Ray Whitney scored twice in a big third period that led the Dallas Stars to a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

Vernon Fiddler also had two goals and added an assist, while Alex Goligoski scored once for the Stars, who struck four times in the final frame en route to their third straight victory.

Dallas starting goaltender Kari Lehtonen left the game in the first period with a lower-body injury after allowing one goal on eight shots. Richard Bachman stopped all 22 shots in relief.

"Solid. Real solid," said Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan on the play of Bachman. "You could see his rebound control and his confidence. He's out in his crease. He hasn't played for a while, so it's a good one for him."

It was a big two points for Dallas, as the team now has 41 on the season and sits two back of Detroit for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Drew Doughty had the lone goal of the game for the Kings, who have dropped their past two. Jonathan Quick allowed all five goals on 31 shots in the loss.

"We turned the puck over pretty regularly tonight," said Kings coach Darryl Sutter. "Eventually they got us."

The Kings sit in fourth place in the Western Conference, one point ahead of San Jose.

The score was tied at 1-1 after two periods, but Dallas took the lead just 52 seconds into the third after Alex Chiasson fed the puck from the left circle to the slot, where Whitney wristed it over the glove of Quick.

A little over seven minutes later, the Stars made it a 3-1 contest after a bad clear was picked up at the right point and Stephane Robidas' slap shot was tipped in by Fiddler.

Loui Eriksson set up Whitney with a turnaround pass from the right side for an easy goal with 8:54 to play, and Fiddler put the exclamation point on the win three-plus minutes later with his third of the year.

Doughty got the Kings' only goal of the game just 1:13 in on the power play, but Dallas countered 10 minutes later with Goligoski's second of the season.

Game Notes

The team announced after the game that Lehtonen will be re-evaluated on Wednesday ... Los Angeles went 1-for-5 on the power play, while Dallas was 0-for-4 ... Dallas plays in Nashville on Friday ... Los Angeles hosts Colorado on Thursday ... The Stars have taken three of four from the Kings this season and the teams will meet one more time, on April 21 in Los Angeles.