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Robidas, Ribeiro help Stars edge Ducks in Selanne's homecoming

Feb 16, 2008 - 8:14 AM By Joel Bergman PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- The Dallas Stars scored three power-play goals and spoiled the homecoming of Teemu Selanne with a 4-2 triumph over the Anaheim Ducks on Friday.

It was the eighth win in nine games for the Stars, who stretched their lead over the Ducks in the Pacific Division to six points by ending Anaheim's five-game winning streak.

The Honda Center faithful welcomed back Selanne as soon as the "Finnish Flash" stepped onto the ice for the first time two minutes into the contest.

"I heard it. It's nice that the fans appreciate it," Selanne said. "We have great fans, and I hope that we give them a better game on Sunday."

Selanne, who missed the Ducks' first 57 games this seasons while contemplating retirement, made his first appearance in Anaheim after playing five games during the team's recently completed nine-game road trip.

Defenseman Stephane Robidas scored twice and added an assist while All-Star Mike Ribeiro netted a goal and set up two others for Dallas, which went 3-for-5 on the power play.

Stars coach Dave Tippett stated that Robidas got more power-play time because of injuries to defensemen Philippe Boucher and Sergei Zubov.

"Robie got more opportunities on the power play and got two good shots tonight," Tippett said. "We had opportunities on the power play, and we capitalized on it.

"We took two or three penalties that gave them some momentum, but as soon as we killed those off, we came out and had two or three good shifts. It was just a tight game and we found a way to win." Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle felt his team should have shown better restraint.

"We gave them two 5-on-3 goals and one (5-on-4) power play," he said. "We've got to have better discipline in those areas. We lost the special-teams battle, and that was the difference in the hockey game."

Chris Kunitz scored both goals for the Ducks, giving his team an early lead at 3:51 of the first period with his 17th of the season.

All-Star Corey Perry checked Matt Niskanen off the puck while the rookie defenseman was skating out from behind his own net. Perry gained possession low in the right faceoff circle and rifled a cross-ice pass to Kunitz just outside the crease.

Kunitz swept the puck past goaltender Marty Turco near the left goalpost.

Just 32 seconds later, fisticuffs broke out between Kunitz and the Stars' Steve Ott, to the delight of the Anaheim crowd.

Kunitz proclaimed he was standing up for teammate Corey Perry.

"You're just trying to go with the spur of the moment and trying to protect your player," Kunitz said. "Obviously, Corey Perry has been scoring a lot for us. Anytime he's out there, it gives our team a better chance to win, so you want to protect him."

Another bout took place with just over five minutes left in the period, with Dallas' Krys Barch and Anaheim's Travis Moen squaring off.

The fights seemed to wake up the Stars, who tied the game at 1-1 while on a two-man advantage at 16:42. Ribeiro took a pass from Robidas in the right circle and one-timed it between the right post and netminder Jean-Sebastien Giguere's left leg.

The Stars took a 2-1 lead at 4:56 of the second period on another power-play tally.

Ribeiro held the puck in the right circle and fed Robidas just inside the blue line. The defenseman wound up and fired a slap shot, using Jere Lehtinen as a screen to beat Giguere to the glove side for his fifth goal of the season.

"It was a good screen," Robidas said. "On the (first) one, it was Lehtinen in front, and he made a good screen. I don't think the goalie could see the puck. It's pretty hard to beat the goalie with a clean shot from that far."

Late in the second, the Ducks found themselves in penalty trouble again as Moen and blue-liner Francois Beauchemin picked up cross-checking penalties 32 seconds apart.

About 25 seconds into the 5-on-3 advantage, Mike Modano sent the puck to Robidas at the blue line. He took a step and fired the puck into a crowd before it hit the inside of Giguere's pads and trickled into the net for a 3-1 bulge.

"Brenden (Morrow) was in front and screening the goalie," Robidas said. "We've got guys who are willing to pay the price and go to the front of the net, and I just try to shoot it. Fortunately, it went in."

"They put a lot of traffic in front," said Giguere, who finished with 17 saves. "That should be a reminder to us to keep it simple - just shoot the puck at the net."

The Ducks did not go quietly, however, halving the deficit at 11:18 of the third on Kunitz's second goal of the game.

All-Star Ryan Getzlaf took control of the puck behind the net and made a quick pass to Kunitz, who beat Turco to the glove side with a one-timer from the right circle.

"I just put it in front of the net," Kunitz said. "I think it may have hit a defenseman's leg and changed direction."

Despite heavy pressure on Turco and the Stars' defense in the final eight minutes, the Ducks could not break through, and Ott sealed the victory with an empty-netter in the closing seconds.

Turco stopped 20 shots en route to his 200th career win.

"I think milestones such as this are really hard to reflect on until my dog days are over, and then I'll probably appreciate it a little bit more," Turco said. "It does feel good, no doubt, to see 200 beside your name, but I'm a guy that wants a lot more than that."