Game Recap

NEW JERSEY 4, DALLAS 1 DALLAS (AP) - Jason Arnott, Petr Sykora and Patrik Elias are the kind of high-powered line that can erupt against any team. It only seems like they do it the most -- and the most spectacularly -- against the Dallas Stars. Just like they did in last season's Stanley Cup Finals and incredibly similar to what they did in a December game, the New Jersey Devils' top line dismantled Dallas with a first-period flurry en route to a 4-1 victory Wednesday night. Sykora had a goal and an assist and Elias two assists as New Jersey scored four times in the first 11:21. The last three goals came in a span of 1:11, knocking out goaltender Marty Turco and taking all the tension out of the Devils' first visit to Dallas since hoisting the Cup here in June. When the teams met Dec. 20, New Jersey scored four times in the first 10:59 with Arnott, Elias and Sykora each getting a goal and at least one assist. For the season, the trio has 42 goals and 107 assists. They had seven goals and 10 assists in the Devils' six-game victory over the Stars in last year's finals. "We've been ready to play like this every game," said Bobby Holik, who scored New Jersey's first goal. "This is how it was in the Cup and the two times against Dallas this season. We have a feeling as a team that we can play even better." Starting with the previous win over the Stars, the Devils are 11-1-3. New Jersey is 6-0-1 in its last seven road games and seven of its next eight are on the road, beginning Thursday night in St. Louis. Martin Brodeur made the early goals hold up by making 32 saves, 25 in the last two periods, as he extended his unbeaten streak to 14 straight. He has allowed one goal in his last six games against Dallas, including the finals. The Devils showed quickly why they're the NHL's highest-scoring team, cashing in on their fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh shots. The third shot barely missed, hitting the right post. Turco, a rookie, had given up just six goals on the last 185 shots he'd faced coming in. He had been 6-1-0 since replacing Ed Belfour midway through the first period of the earlier game against the Devils. Belfour replaced him this time and stopped all 12 shots he faced. "I think any team would love those shots they had. They were point-blank, prime real estate and they took advantage," Dallas defenseman Darryl Sydor said. "Marty's not going to hang his head. The team didn't help him out tonight." Dallas defenseman Richard Matvichuk left the game late in the first period after taking a puck off his jaw and did not return. He was taken to Baylor University Medical Center for X-rays, which showed a likely fracture. New Jersey Devils 4, DALLAS STARS 1 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- New Jersey 4 0 0 4 Dallas 1 0 0 1 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, New Jersey, Holik 10 (Pandolfo), 5:44. 2, Dallas, Modano 15 (Zubov), 7:31. 3, New Jersey, Niedermayer 3 (Sykora, Elias), 10:10. 4, New Jersey, Sykora 16 (Elias, Arnott), 10:48. 5, New Jersey, Mogilny 26 (Brylin), 11:21. PENALTIES: Pandolfo, NJ (interference), 1:28; Pandolfo, NJ (interference), 16:26. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: None. PENALTIES: Sydor, Dal (hooking), 5:30; Mogilny, NJ (hooking), 9:35; Holik, NJ (slashing), 20:00. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: None. PENALTIES: Van Allen, Dal (holding stick), 4:15; Stevenson, NJ (high-sticking), 7:29; Rafalski, NJ (roughing), 14:25; Marshall, Dal (roughing), 14:25; White, NJ (roughing), 14:42; Modano, Dal (hooking), 14:42; Daneyko, NJ (tripping), 15:54. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- New Jersey 11 4 4 19 Dallas 7 15 11 33 POWER PLAY: New Jersey 0 of 3; Dallas 0 of 6. GOALIES: New Jersey, Brodeur 24-8-8 (33 shots-32 saves). Dallas, Turco 9-4-0 (7-3), Belfour (11:21 first, 12-12). Referees: Dave Jackson, Greg Kimmerly. Linesmen: Brad Kovachik, Mark Wheler. A: 17,001 (17,001).