Game Recap

DALLAS 8, ANAHEIM 0 DALLAS (AP) - The playoffs are approaching and Brett Hull is on one of his scoring streaks. That's the kind of timing the Dallas Stars hope for. Hull scored four goals to move into seventh place on the NHL's career list as the Stars routed the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 8-0 Wednesday night. Before collecting three goals in Sunday's 5-1 victory over Ottawa, Hull managed only two goals over a 15-game span. He hadn't had a hat trick in his nearly three seasons with Dallas before Sunday. Now he has seven goals and two assists over his last three games. "To have a night like this, it's a great feeling," said Hull, who has 647 career goals. "Neither team played real exciting in the first period, but in a game like that, as soon as someone gets a goal, that opens things up." Hull got things started in the second period on the power play, and Grant Marshall also netted a goal with the man advantage 2:15 later. Hull added his second of the night later in the period, again on a power play, to help the Stars increase their Pacific Division lead over second-place San Jose to nine points. Hull completed his second hat trick in three games with 10:03 remaining on a blast from the left circle, then completed his four-goal night from the right circle with 6:21 left. Fans littered the ice with hats and programs to celebrate Hull's third and fourth goals Wednesday. Hull had his first four-goal game for the Stars and third of his career. The other two came while a member of the St. Louis Blues. With the four goals, Hull surpassed Detroit's Steve Yzerman and Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux, tied with 644. The Red Wings and Penguins were idle Wednesday night. Mike Modano assisted on three of Hull's goals, giving him 30 points in his last 20 games. Ed Belfour made 17 saves for his eighth shutout of the season and 57th of his career to help the Stars sweep the five-game season series from the Mighty Ducks. Mike Keane, John MacLean and Marshall added third-period goals for the Stars, 7-2-1 over their last 10 games. Hull's one-timer from the inside edge of the right circle at 4:01 of the second period got the Stars started, and Marshall's rebound at 6:16 made it 2-0. Hull's one-timer from the bottom of the left circle extended Dallas' lead to 3-0 at 13:12 of the second period. Anaheim was 6-2 over its previous eight games before the disastrous trip to Dallas. "Their leadership is really coming together the closer they get to the playoffs," Mighty Ducks' coach Guy Charron said of the Stars. "There have been some stories about Brett's slump lately. I was afraid he would come out of it, and he did." DALLAS STARS 8, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 0 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- Anaheim 0 0 0 0 Dallas 0 3 5 8 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: None. PENALTIES: MacLean, Dal (cross-checking), 11:44. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Dallas, Hull 34 (Modano, Marshall), 4:01 (pp). 2, Dallas, Marshall 13 (Langenbrunner, Lehtinen), 6:16 (pp). 3, Dallas, Hull 35 (Modano, Sydor), 13:12 (pp). PENALTIES: Trepanier, Ana (holding), 2:45; McInnis, Ana (hooking), 4:48; Crowley, Ana (holding), 7:33; Hrkac, Ana (ob.-holding), 11:07; Anaheim bench served by Cummins (unsportsmanslike conduct), 12:15. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: 4, Dallas, Keane 9 (Hatcher, Muller), :59. 5, Dallas, Hull 36 (Zubov, Sydor), 9:07. 6, Dallas, McLean 4 (Keane), 9:54; 7, Dallas, Hull 37 (Modano, Lehtinen), 13:39. 8, Dallas, Marshall 14 (Donato), 17:45. PENALTIES: Matvichuk, Dal (hooking), 4:13; Cummins, Ana (cross-checking), 6:53; Lukowich, Dal (cross-checking), 18:00. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- Anaheim 4 6 7 17 Dallas 7 11 12 30 POWER PLAY: Anaheim 0 of 3; Dallas 3 of 6. GOALIES: Anaheim, Giguere 10-15-2 (24 shots-18 saves), Naumenko (9:54 third, 6-4). Dallas, Belfour 31-20-6 (17-17). Referees: Brad Meier, Richard Trottier. Linesmen: Dan O'Rourke, Dan Schachte. A: 17,001 (17,001).