Game Recap

DALLAS 3, CHICAGO 0 CHICAGO (AP) - The Dallas Stars couldn't afford another loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Protecting a small lead over the San Jose Sharks in the Pacific Division, Dallas backup Marty Turco made 27 saves and Ted Donato had a goal and an assist Tuesday night in a 3-0 victory over the Blackhawks. Last week, Dallas lost to Chicago -- the fourth-place team in the Central Division -- but moved three points ahead of San Jose with this victory. Donato tipped Sami Helenius' slap shot through the legs of Jocelyn Thibault to open the scoring at 11:50 in the first period. Donato's sixth goal of the season, on Dallas' third shot, proved to be the game winner. "Sami made a great play keeping it in," Donato said. "He got a shot and I just tried to get a stick on it and change the direction." Turco earned his second shutout of the season and his 10th win. "Turco's played great for us," Stars coach Ken Hitchcock said. "As a young goaltender, he's played great all year. If you do not get to him early, you're not going to have an opportunity." The Sharks are not letting up in the chase for first place, and Hitchcock knows how important first place is. "We spent the whole year chasing them," Hitchcock said. "We caught up, and it's a real good focus for us now." Roman Lyashenko scored his fifth goal to put the Stars up 2-0 at 16:58 of the first period. After eluding several Chicago defenders behind the net, Lyashenko fired a back-hander past Thibault. After a Boris Mironov turnover, Sergei Zubov skated to the middle of the left circle and passed to a slashing Grant Marshall. Marshall scored his 12th goal of the season and third in two games at 5:36. "They got a couple breaks, and we couldn't get any breaks," said Thibault, who stopped 15-of-18 shots, dropping his record to 26-26-6. The Blackhawks best scoring chance was a 3-on-1 breakaway with just more than nine minutes to play in the second period, but Michael Nylander's high wrist shot did not get past Turco. The Blackhawks, who are 28th in the NHL with the man advantage this season, also failed on four power play chances, and are 0-18 over the last four games on the power play. "We've been struggling on the power play," Steve Sullivan said. "We had a couple of chances and you hope one goes in. Unfortunately, we got three hot goaltenders in the last three games." Dallas Stars 3, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 0 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- Dallas 2 1 0 3 Chicago 0 0 0 0 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Dallas, Donato 6 (Helenius), 11:50. 2, Dallas, Lyashenko 5 (Van Allen, Donato), 16:58. PENALTIES: Lyashenko, Dal (holding stick), 3:46; Nylander, Chi (ob.-hooking), 8:39; Muller, Dal (holding), 12:45. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 3, Dallas, Marshall 12 (Zubov), 5:36. PENALTIES: None. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: None. PENALTIES: Lukowich, Dal (high-sticking) 6:12; Hull, Dal (slashing), 12:12. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- Dallas 5 9 4 18 Chicago 7 10 10 27 POWER PLAY: Dallas 0 of 1; Chicago 0 of 4. GOALIES: Dallas, Turco 10-6-0 (27 shots-27 saves). Chicago, Thibault 26-25-6 (18-15). Referees: Marc Joanette, Richard Trottier. Linesmen: Kevin Collins, Andy McElman. A: 15,306 (20,500).