• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Halpern's late goal the difference as Stars edge Kings

Oct 29, 2006 - 1:52 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- Jeff Halpern picked the ideal time to score his first goal of the season.

Halpern netted the go-ahead tally late in the third period as the Dallas Stars recorded a 3-2 triumph over the struggling Los Angeles Kings.

Defenseman Philippe Boucher had a goal and an assist, Matthew Barnaby added two assists and Stu Barnes also scored for Dallas (9-2-0), which was coming off a 4-3 defeat to Detroit on Friday.

Halpern netted the game-winner with 3:44 remaining after Niklas Hagman threw the puck at the net from the right faceoff circle. Kings goaltender Mathieu Garon left a rebound in the slot and Jere Lehtinen kicked the puck to a wide-open Halpern, who wristed it under the crossbar from the doorstep.

Mike Smith, who recorded a shutout in his NHL debut Sunday, made 32 saves to earn his second victory in as many career games.

Garon turned aside 25 shots and defenseman Rob Blake and Tom Kostopoulos scored for Los Angeles (3-8-2), which has lost five straight games.