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Rookies help Blues tune out Stars

Feb 27, 2009 - 5:29 AM DALLAS (Ticker) -- A pair rookies and their struggling offense kept the Dallas Stars from picking up an important win.

Rookies T.J. Oshie and Patrik Berglund scored just over two minutes apart in the third period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 3-1 triumph over the slumping Stars on Thursday.

Jay McClement also tallied and Chris Mason made 41 saves for the Blues, who have surrendered one goal in each of the last four games - posting a 3-0-1 record over that stretch.

"Tonight was a celebration of exceptional goaltending," St. Louis coach Andy Murray said. "They're all big games, and we were just trying to win a game."

"We knew they would come out hard," added Mason, who improved to 10-3-4 since January 19. "Everybody is in a race here so every game is important."

Marty Turco stopped 19 shots and Jere Lehtinen netted the lone goal for the Stars, who have lost three contests in a row - managing just two goals in that span.

"Our margin for error is very slim," Dallas coach Dave Tippett said. "All three goals we gave up tonight were plays that we had the puck on our stick in our own end with a chance to clear it and we didn't, and we're not scoring enough to overcome mistakes like that."

Oshie snapped a 1-1 tie at 6:50 of the final session after Berglund forced a turnover along the right wing boards. Berglund made a quick pass to Oshie, who skated in and lifted a wrist shot over Turco's shoulder on the near side.

"Oshie's goal was unbelievable," Mason said. "I don't think he had any room except the size of the puck, and he put it there. That was a heck of a shot and it certainly gave us a boost there in the third period."

The Blues extended the advantage to 3-1 at 8:59, when Berglund took a pass from David Perron at the left faceoff circle and unleashed a quick wrist shot past Turco. Berglund is now tied for third among NHL rookies with 17 goals this season.

"It all started with Mason," Oshie said. "He definitely made a lot of saves he probably shouldn't make. He's really what kept us in the game until we got our legs under us and started feeling better."

With the win, the Blues pulled within three points of the eighth-place Stars in the tight Western Conference playoff race.

Dallas opened the scoring at 6:16 of the first period. Mike Ribeiro threaded a pass to a streaking Lehtinen, who converted with a one-timer from the edge of the crease.

St. Louis answered with 6:54 left in the opening session as McClement capitalized on a turnover by Turco to score an unassisted goal.