Game Recap

VANCOUVER 6, DALLAS 2 DALLAS (AP) - The Dallas Stars might have been a little too impressed with their five-game winning streak, which came to a sudden halt at the hands of the young and speedy Vancouver Canucks. Brendan Morrison, Denis Pederson and Bryan Helmer scored second-period goals over a span of 4:34 as the Canucks cruised to a 6-2 victory. "Maybe we came in a little overconfident," said Stars goalie Ed Belfour, pulled from the game late in the second period. "That happens sometimes when you're on a winning streak. You let up a little." Morrison snapped a 1-1 tie and Pederson scored 61 seconds later to give the Canucks a 3-1 lead. Vancouver, 4-1-1 in its last six games, went on to hand Dallas its first home defeat of the season following a 4-0-1 start. "Dallas is a tough team to play against," Canucks coach Marc Crawford said. "They challenge you physically. We answered the challenge as the game wore on. Dallas doesn't give you much free ice but we were getting to the puck with a purpose." Brett Hull of the Stars notched his second goal of the night and 618th of his career at 15:05 of the second period to make it 3-2. But Vancouver defenseman Bryan Helmer beat Belfour, who was late returning to the crease after playing the puck behind his net. Trent Klatt came away with the puck and fed Helmer, who boosted the Canucks' advantage to 4-2 at 17:55 of the second. "I went out to play the puck, but it wouldn't sit down for me," Belfour said. "We've got to put this behind us as a team and learn from our mistakes." Stars coach Ken Hitchcock sent in rookie Marty Turco to replace Belfour, who gave up four goals on 12 shots. Third-period insurance goals by Todd Bertuzzi and Matt Cooke (shorthanded) extended Vancouver's lead to 6-2. The six goals were the most by a Stars opponent since a 6-4 defeat to Toronto on Jan. 20, 1999. "I thought we were outplayed from top to bottom," Hitchcock said. "We had far too many no-shows ... We looked very disjointed. They're a very, very good club. That's the best club we've played this season by far." Vancouver scored first at 11:26 of the opening period when rookie Henrik Sedin knocked in the rebound off a shot by his brother Daniel. Hull's first goal of the game tied it at 1 at 12:15 of the second. Vancouver Canucks 6, DALLAS STARS 2 1ST 2ND 3RD FINAL --- --- --- ----- Vancouver 1 3 2 6 Dallas 0 2 0 2 FIRST PERIOD - SCORING: 1, Vancouver, H.Sedin 3 (D.Sedin, Klatt), 11:26 (pp). PENALTIES: Lachance, Van (high-sticking), :49; Matvichuk, Dal (holding), 4:12; Jackman, Dal (slashing), 7:47; Brashear, Van (roughing), 7:47; Lyashenko, Dal (slashing), 10:38; Langenbrunner, Dal (hooking), 13:53; Pederson, Van (slashing), 15:26. SECOND PERIOD - SCORING: 2, Dallas, Hull 7 (Lukowich, Modano), 12:15. 3, Vancouver, Morrison 4 (Naslund), 13:21. 4, Vancouver, Pederson 2 (Aucoin, Schaefer), 14:22. 5, Dallas, Hull 8 (Morrow), 15:05. 6, Vancouver, Helmer 2 (Klatt), 17:55. PENALTIES: Cooke, Van (hooking), :34; Naslund, Van (tripping), 5:07; Zubov, Dal (hooking), 7:36. THIRD PERIOD - SCORING: 7, Vancouver, Bertuzzi 3 (Cassels, Helmer), 5:32. 8, Vancouver, Cooke 2 (Baron), 11:00 (sh). PENALTIES: Nieuwendyk, Dal (holding), 5:55; Morrison, Van (hooking), 9:50; Naslund, Van (holding), 13:04. SHOTS ON GOAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL --- --- --- ----- Vancouver 6 9 10 25 Dallas 9 8 7 24 POWER PLAY: Vancouver 1 of 5; Dallas 0 of 6. GOALIES: Vancouver, Essensa 4-0-0 (24 shots-22 saves). Dallas, Belfour 5-2-1 (12-8), Turco (17:55 second, 13-11). Referees: Mark Faucette, Brad Watson. Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Wayne Bonney. A: 17,001 (17,001).