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Neal, Eriksson power Stars past Blue Jackets

Feb 1, 2009 - 3:55 AM By Dave Holstein PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- For the second straight game, the Dallas Stars scored three early goals and chased the starting goaltender.

Rookie James Neal recorded two goals and an assist and Loui Eriksson both scored and set up a goal as the Stars posted a 7-3 triumph over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

Brian Sutherby, Steve Ott and defenseman Trevor Daley also tallied and blue-liner Andrew Hutchinson netted his first goal of the season for Dallas, which won its fourth contest in a row.

Mike Modano notched two assists and Marty Turco finished with 35 saves for the Stars.

"We were opportunistic early," Dallas coach Dave Tippett said. "We had the early lead and the game was probably played even. Neal's goal to push the lead to four was a huge goal. After that, anytime they had any kind of push, we were able to rebuff it and get one back on the board and push the game along."

"Even when they kept scoring, you didn't see too much panic in our game," Turco said. "I felt like we were in control for most of the game - and that's the way we like it."

Kristian Huselius, defenseman Fedor Tyutin and Jared Boll scored for Columbus, which saw its modest two-game winning streak come to an end.

"We were totally soft in our own zone today," Columbus coach Ken Hitchcock said. "We haven't been soft in our own zone, but we were today. They pulled it off the boards on us way too many times. A lot of guys didn't battle at the level that they normally battle at."

On Thursday, the Stars scored three early goals and chased Detroit Red Wings starter Chris Osgood after the first period en route to a 4-2 victory.

On Saturday, Dallas once again scored three early goals and chased Blue Jackets rookie netminder Steve Mason after the first 10 minutes. Mason gave up three goals on his first eight shots and was replaced by Wade Dubielewicz, who finished with 19 saves for Columbus, which is now 10-3-0 in its last 13 games at Nationwide Arena.

"Mason was pulled because of his performance and to change the tempo of the game." Hitchcock said. "Wade had a tough night. He hasn't played in a long time."

Neal opened the scoring after settling a rebound and beating Mason between his pads at 5:58 of the first period.

Eriksson and Sutherby also scored first-period goals for the Stars, who opened up a 3-0 lead at the 10:43 mark.

Claimed off waivers from the New York Islanders on January 17, Dubielewicz made his first appearance for Columbus. He had appeared in 37 career NHL games - all with the Islanders - compiling a 16-13-2 record.

"It was disappointing," Dubielewicz said. "When it comes down to it, I wasn't good enough tonight."

Columbus pulled to within two after Kristian Huselius scored late in the first period. Huselius collected a loose puck and then put a backhand over Turco with 2:28 remaining.

"I was trying to get something going there," Huselius said. "It was a goal that kind of jump-started us there, but it didn't last too long."

The Blue Jackets pulled to within one when Tyutin netted a power-play goal early in the second period. The Russian scored just six seconds after Columbus failed to score with a two man advantage. His one-timer from the point beat Turco high stickside.

"We made it 3-2 and we had a lot of momentum," Hitchcock said. "That fourth goal was a real killer. That hurt us."

Neal scored his second goal of the game and Ott also tallied later in the second period, regaining a three-goal lead for Dallas.

"It was a good play by those two guys," Neal said. "There was a rebound in front and I managed to knock one in."

"They pushed pretty hard the first 10 minutes of the second period," Tippett said. "Once Neal scored, we pushed it right the other way. I thought that dictated the game, the second 10 minutes of the second period."

Boll scored his third goal of the season early in the third when he redirected the puck past Turco from the top of the crease.

Daley and Hutchinson completed the scoring for the Stars with goals in the third for the final margin.