Game Recap

DALLAS 5, EDMONTON 4 EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - The Dallas Stars are best equipped for low-scoring games. They were able to adapt after falling into an early hole against the Edmonton Oilers. Brenden Morrow and Joe Nieuwendyk each scored twice as the Stars rallied to beat the Oilers 5-4 Friday night and clinch their fifth straight division title. "Down two goals isn't a good thing for this hockey club the way we score goals," said Morrow, who also had two assists as Dallas extended its unbeaten streak to nine games. "We tried not to change too much," Morrow said about falling behind 2-0 before the game was five minutes old. "We just kept plugging away and got some bounces." The Stars, 7-0-2 in their last nine games, have won the Pacific Division in three straight seasons, after capturing the Central Division in the two previous campaigns. "People have said this isn't our best year," Morrow said. "But since the All-Star break, we've turned things on and played some pretty strong hockey." In the eight games before Friday, Dallas outscored its opponents 27-6, setting a modern NHL record by allowing one goal or less in eight straight games. The overall record is 10 games, accomplished by the Montreal Canadiens in both 1927-28 and 1928-29. When the Oilers scored on their first two shots of the night, the streak was over but the Stars didn't quit. "They came out and hammered us early on," said Nieuwendyk, who also had an assist. "Then we settled into our game." With the score tied 3-3, Richard Matvichuk scored the go-ahead goal at 5:12 of the final period. He skated in off the point, circled the net and lifted a shot over goalie Tommy Salo. Morrow added some insurance with his second of the night and 19th of the season at 12:58, ripping a shot past Salo from the circle. Doug Weight made it 5-4 with just 3.1 seconds left. "It's very disappointing," said Georges Laraque, who had two first-period goals and an assist on Weight's goal. "A team like that, with a lot of depth, it's not over until 60 minutes are done. "Two goals are not enough. It's better to be a lesson in the regular season than for this to happen to us in the playoffs." Mike Grier also scored for the Oilers. The Oilers have 89 points and sit in fifth place in the Western Conference. Edmonton is one point ahead of the sixth-place San Jose Sharks. The seventh-place Vancouver Canucks are tied in points with San Jose, but the Sharks have a game in hand on Vancouver. Dallas Stars 5, EDMONTON OILERS 4 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- Dallas 1 2 2 5 Edmonton 3 0 1 4 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Edmonton, Laraque 12 (Brewer, Murray), 3:57. 2, Edmonton, Grier 19 (Poti), 4:55. 3, Dallas, Nieuwendyk 26 (Sydor, Morrow), 13:03. 4, Edmonton, Laraque 13 (Murray, Horcoff), 16:54. PENALTIES: Moreau, Edm (goalie interference), 1:21; Matvichuk, Dal (hooking), 14:08; Smyth, Edm (unsportsmanlike conduct), 14:08; Modano, Dal (hooking), 19:04. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 5, Dallas, Moreau 18 (Marshall, Nieuwendyk), 1:43. 6, Dallas, Nieuwendyk 27 (Matvichuk, Ledyard), 11:57. PENALTIES: M.Comrie, Edm (tripping), 3:11; Lehtinen, Dal (boarding), 8:00. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: 7, Dallas, Matvichuk 3 (Zubov, Morrow), 5:12. 8, Dallas, Morrow 19, 12:58. 9, Edmonton, Weight 22 (Laraque, Smith), 19:56. PENALTIES: Morrow, Dal (roughing), 8:11; Smith, Edm (roughing), 8:11; Morrow, Dal (roughing), 16:13; Smith, Edm (roughing), 16:13. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- Dallas 6 9 6 21 Edmonton 6 4 13 23 POWER PLAY: Dallas 0 of 2; Edmonton 0 of 2. GOALIES: Dallas, Belfour 33-20-7 (23 shots-19 saves). Edmonton, Salo 35-24-10 (21-16). Referees: Kerry Fraser, Brad Watson. Linesmen: Mike Cvik, Randy Mitton. A: 17,100 (17,100).