Game Recap

MINNESOTA 2, DALLAS 1 DALLAS (AP) - Manny Fernandez put more stock in beating one of the NHL's premier teams than in earning a victory against his former team. Fernandez made 28 saves and rookie Marian Gaborik scored the game-winning goal late in the second period as Minnesota beat Dallas 2-1 Friday night. The victory was the Wild's second of the season against the Stars. "It's not a game against Dallas, it's a game against one of the top teams in the league," said Fernandez, who played in 24 games as a backup with the Stars last season. "To beat them for that reason is good. It's nice to play Dallas like it's nice to play Detroit and win twice." Fernandez has been the top player for the expansion Wild, improving to 17-12-2 with Friday night's victory. "Hockey-wise we weren't that great tonight, but effort-wise we were," said Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire. "We need to win against teams like Dallas and you need to have goaltending to do that. Manny gives us that." Fernandez, traded to the Wild by the Stars last summer prior to the expansion draft, was under fire in the second period as Dallas outshot Minnesota 15-3. But Grant Marshall was the only Star to beat Fernandez in the period. "The opportunities were there," said Marshall. "But we were playing non-confrontational and got outplayed in all aspects of the game ... And we know Manny can play. He's playing with a lot of confidence. We had to get in his face and we didn't do that." Marshall returned to the Dallas lineup after sustaining a concussion on Feb. 1. Marshall, who missed only one game after being knocked unconscious on a hit from behind by San Jose's Owen Nolan, scored on a slap shot from the right circle at 2:49 to tie the game at 1. Gaborik broke a 1-1 tie at 16:21 of the second period, skating in on a breakaway and lifting the puck over Stars rookie goaltender Marty Turco. Turco, Dallas' backup, made nine saves in place of usual starter Ed Belfour, who was given the night off. The Wild went into a defensive shell in the third period, limiting the Stars' chances. "They play a simple style and teams get frustrated," Stars center Mike Modano said. "We knew it would be a 2-1 game, we just didn't know who'd have the two." The Wild handed the Stars a 6-0 defeat in the teams' first meeting on Dec. 17 in St. Paul behind Fernandez's 24-saves. Minnesota Wild 2, DALLAS STARS 1 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- Minnesota 1 1 0 2 Dallas 0 1 0 1 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Minnesota, Dowd 5 (Pellerin, Gaborik), 9:51. PENALTIES: O'Donnell, Min (roughing), 10:06; Morrow, Dal (roughing), 10:06; Johnson, Min (roughing), 13:56; Modano, Dal (slashing), 17:47. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 2, Dallas, Marshall 7 (Van Allen, Bouck), 2:49. 3, Minnesota, Gaborik 14 (Pellerin), 16:21. PENALTIES: Kuba, Min (cross-checking), 6:09. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: None. PENALTIES: Hogue, Dal (interference), 3:45; Morrow, Dal (hooking), 16:56; O'Donnell, Min (roughing), 20:00. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- Minnesota 5 3 3 11 Dallas 11 15 3 29 POWER PLAY: Minnesota 0 of 3; Dallas 0 of 2. GOALIES: Minnesota, Fernandez 17-12-2 (29 shots-28 saves). Dallas, Turco 9-5-0 (11-9). Referees: Dave Jackson, Tom Kowal. Linesmen: Greg Devorski, Dan O'Rourke. A: 17,001 (17,001).